Financial Institutions
Asian Pacific National Bank and Mega Bank are headquartered in San Gabriel. Along with 31 branch banks, the city is one of the largest concentrations of banks in Southern California per population and geographic size.
The largest minority-owned banking sector in Los Angeles is Chinese-American banks.
They have played an instrumental role in commercial lending, especially in the San Gabriel Valley (Wei Li et al, Chinese-American Banking and Community Development in Los Angeles, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 92(4), 2002 pp. 777-796.)
Food
There are over 100 ethnic restaurants in San Gabriel.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 2003 that the largest concentration of Chinese restaurants in the country is on a 1.5 mile stretch along Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel (1-15-03).
Jonathan Gold, the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Winner, LA Weekly restaurant critic, and author of Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles (2000), lists 19 San Gabriel restaurants among his favorites.
Traditional & Non-Traditional
Health Care & Wellness
In addition to the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, there is a concentration of physicians, dentists, medicinals and botanics, acupuncture and chiropractic clinics, and foot-massage businesses in the city.
In 1998, the San Gabriel Valley COG determined that the health-care technology cluster in San Gabriel which was ranked at number eight in the region was growing.
Electrical & Plumbing Supplies
San Gabriel has 16 full-service electrical and plumbing supply houses complimented by seven hardware stores. |
Tourism
There are currently an estimated 56 tour operators based in San Gabriel.
As of January 2005, there were 19 licensed businesses in the city that offered traveling services, of which three had “Buses for Hire” licenses. In addition to round trips to the American Indian tribe casinos, Nevada casinos, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and other destinations, there are same-day trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.
Pick-up and drop-off locations are along Valley Boulevard including the San Gabriel Superstore, Hawaii Supermarket, Sunny Plaza, and Hilton Hotel.
On December 7, 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported on home-buying trips that are becoming one of the more popular tour packages in China. The San Gabriel Valley was mentioned by some potential buyers as a place of interest.
Fashion & Designer Jewelry
Valley Boulevard is a shopping destination for visitors interested in purchasing designer jewelry, handbags, and apparel. In 1998, the San Gabriel Valley COG determined that the fashion cluster in San Gabriel which was ranked at number seven in the region was growing.
In this study, the fashion cluster is defined as textiles, apparel, specialty operations, accessories, leather goods, textile machinery, and fashion wholesale. In addition to fashion, stores selling designer jewelry are popular.
Landscaping & Gardening
San Gabriel has a long history in supplying the region with quality and rare flowers, plants, garden equipment, arborist services, and landscape design.
Many of our local businesses service the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden and Descanso Gardens, among others public gardens. |
