Rebuilding Altadena
One Macaron at a time…
Help us Build
Kat’s Macaron Café
Altadena is unique. It is a place, tucked away in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains on the edge of Los Angeles, where residents can enjoy baseball games at the local parks as well as the rugged hiking trails in the national forest. Where black bears, peacocks and bobcats roam and are welcomed by the neighbors. Where families new to the area can meet those who have been here for multi-generations. It is a place where artists, musicians, and even a few famous actors, can pick up fresh produce at the local farmers’ market or enjoy a concert in the park on a summer evening. It is a place where neighbors look out for neighbors, always offering help, even if they don't know each other. It has a history of being one of the first places where newly freed slaves could purchase a home and build a family. It is a special place. Which is why, on January 7, 2025, the Eaton fire destroyed so much more than the buildings housed within.
With approximately 80% of the town destroyed, residents and business owners alike are currently facing the enormous task of deciphering insurance policies and government programs to find the necessary funds to rebuild. They are navigating through which contractors and architects are not only trustworthy and affordable, but who is best to rebuild their home or business, all the while protecting what little we have left from thieves and scam artists. We are facing challenges and obstacles that we never expected to face.
Everything changed on January 7, 2025.
My name is Kat, AKA the “Altadena Macaron Lady”. I have lived in Altadena, CA for almost 13 years. In 2022, I started a home-based baking business “Kat’s Macarons & Stuff”, specializing in designer French macarons and other confectionary items, such as marshmallows, caramels, and pralines. Everything I sell must be unique. It must be an interesting flavor combination or design. It must have a “wow” factor and be different from almost anything else on the market. I have been very active in my community since the start of my business, including selling at the local farmers’ market, providing sweets or gift certificates for local schools and businesses as part of their fundraising efforts, and protesting the building of a sports complex that would have greatly impacted the environment of our little community of Altadena, CA.
Picture a café where the romantic charm of shabby chic, the free-spiritedness of bohemian, and the vibrant, historic allure of New Orleans intertwine.
Given the urgent need for a communal space as Altadena rebuilds, my goal is to open the café by the end of 2026.
After researching potential costs of rent for a location, permit fees, equipment, build-out, and basic operating costs, I have estimated that I would need between $100,000 and $150,000 to open my doors. In addition to this fundraising campaign, I am looking into grants and other financial resources.
Your support not only helps my business, but it will help all of us who have been affected by the fire.
Altadena needs a place to gather, to connect, and to heal.
My business goal is to move my business from home-based, where it has operated from the beginning back in January of 2022, to a brick-and-mortar Macaron café. This café is intended to be a local gathering space for the community, featuring delicious food, as well as an artist corner for community artists, jewelers, and sewers to display and sell their work. Teas, coffee, and other ingredients will be sourced from local tea houses, coffee shops, and other small businesses located within a 5-mile radius of the café, when possible.
Kat’s Macaron Café is planned to be a boutique café specializing in authentic French macarons, both sweet and savory, confectionary items, and high-quality beverages, aiming to provide a relaxing and memorable experience in an inviting, contemporary yet bohemian/creative setting, with references to New Orleans and Louisiana, which is my heritage.
