Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 30, 2011

7

Around The San Gabriel Valley

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 30, 2011 

SIERRA MADRE RESTAURATEURS OPEN TWO 
NEW BURGER PLACES… OUT OF TOWN, BUT 
NOT FAR

THE BURGER SHACK

By Chris Bertrand

It’s another family affair. Expanding their eatery empire, the Kefalas brothers, owners of 
Sierra Madre’s Only Place in Town and Barney’s in Old Town Pasadena, have joined their 
Podley Realtor cousin, Luther Tsinoglou and his brother, Akis, to open Monrovia and 
Pasadena burger and fast food restaurants.

Though Luther Tsinoglou is well known as a Podley Realtor in town, he and his brother 
aren’t new to the restaurant business. Since the 1990’s, they’ve been rehabbing and bringing 
new life to tired restaurants. Between the four of them, the two sets of brothers bring a wide 
array and decades of experience. 

“We’re serving quality food fast, says Luther. “We make almost everything fresh in-house. 
It’s food we would serve our own families, including some of the family’s own recipes.” Even 
Tsinoglou’s father gets into the act, preparing the restaurant’s chili from his recipe.

“We are doing things slowly, so we haven’t done our grand opening yet. Breakfast was big, 
with lots of families on our first Sunday opening last weekend. We completed the kitchen 
work first. Now we’ll work on the exterior and signage while the restaurant is open,” reflected 
Luther.

The Burger Shack menu is a wide combination of Burgers, American, Greek and Mexican 
fare, which should satisfy just about every appetite. Monrovia’s Burger Shack (Formerly 
Tom’s Drive-In) is at 880 West Foothill Blvd. (626) 303-0533. In Pasadena, they’re located at 
1130 E. Walnut. (626) 568-3277 or find them on the web at www.TheBurgerShack.net.

Stan’s Monrovia 
Bicycles

Diabetes is His Reason to 
Ride

Groups of riders in 
brightly colored outfits 
are a common sight at 
Stan’s Monrovia Bikes 
at the corner of Myrtle 
and Chestnut. Located 
just two blocks north 
of Huntington Drive, 
proprietor Stan Pitts 
has created quite the 
gathering place for 
Southern Californian’s 
simply interested in 
staying fit while having 
fun. “We’re a social 
group of riders who 
simply want to get better, 
we’re not trying to see 
how fast we can ride,” 
says Stan. As a result, a 
portion of the parking 
lot is transformed 
into a regional hub of 
friendly exchanges and 
excitement as groups 
of customers convene 
to ride five to six days a 
week.

Stan’s Monrovia Bikes 
has been in business 
for ten years, moving to 
the current location six 
years ago. Like millions 
of Americans, he says 
that he was once obese, 
but decided to lose 
weight. His business 
provides him with the 
added bonus of keeping 
fit while being attentive 
to two of his passions, 
bike riding and social activism. His store’s 
riding group formed the “Monrovia Cyclists 
Against Diabetes,” which had already raised 
$52,000 for this year’s “Tour deCure – Ship 
to Shore” fundraiser sponsored by the 
American Diabetes Association. 

By the end of April, his group had raised 
more money than any other participating 
riding group, exceeding the amounts raised 
by any single corporate riding team. They 
raised $15,000 for their 100-mile ride in this 
annual fundraiser in 2010.

Diabetes is a very personal matter for Stan, 
as he stated, “Everyone in my family, except 
me, has diabetes.” He’s lost loved ones as 
a result of the disease, including one of 
his nephews who died two years ago. His 
store also participates in other fundraisers. 
Last year, they sponsored four riders for 
AIDS Life Cycle, a week-long ride from 
San Francisco to Los Angeles. It is the 
biggest annual fundraiser for the L.A. Gay 
& Lesbian Center and the San Francisco 
AIDS Foundation. Headed by customer, 
Lutz Kunze, they have also been involved in 
raising funds for multiple sclerosis, raising 
$18,000 with 33 riders in 2010.

Stan credits his inspiration for community 
activism to his meager beginnings as the 
youngest in a household headed by a single 
mother who worked hard. He recalls the 
kindness, caring and generosity of neighbors 
and others in the community who provided 
additional assistance to this family when it 
was needed. If he had his way, there would 
be no need for the government to provide the 
basics of shelter, food, clothing or medical 
care. “I know it’s not going to happen, but 
it would be ideal if people would be willing 
to extend themselves to take care of others,” 
said Stan, “I feel blessed with what I have 
and I want to do my part to give back and 
help others in some way.”

Before retiring to a life of biking, Stan Pitts 
made a living in the dairy business. He 
was given the moniker of “Milkman to the 
Stars,” making weekly rounds to the homes 
of Hollywood’s A-List – Hugh Hefner, 
Barbara Streisand, Priscilla Presley, Aaron 
Spelling and other famous celebrities. Born 
and raised in Los Angeles, he grew up in the 
Cypress Park and Lincoln Park areas, went 
to college and later entered the ministry for 
a number of years. He cites the two most 
memorable honors in his life. Belgium 
cyclist, Eddy Mercky came to his Monrovia 
bicycle shop and rode with the group. While 
lying frail in her bed as a double amputee 
suffering from diabetes, she sang “Happy 
Birthday” to him during one of his weekly 
Friday deliveries to home. It’s obvious that 
this man has plenty of reasons to keep on 
riding. He invites you to call or just drop 
to experience this family-owned business 
that’s “more than just a store, a community 
of cyclists who want you to discover the joy 
of riding.” 

Stan’s Monrovia Bikes is located at 880 S. 
Myrtle in Monrovia 91016. Open 7 days 
a week - (626) 357-0020. Learn more at 
stansmonroviabikes.com


Customers just returning from a midday ride on Friday, April 
29th.


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