Inside the landmark Pasadena Antique Center, just a few blocks south of Central Park, over 40 different vendors offer a diverse array of furniture, lamps, sculptures, and other art and antique treasures. One very special vendor, located on the corner of the first floor, is Dennis Haupt Antiques. Mr. Haupt opened his antique store after he retired from his job as a middle-school math teacher. His store has a wide variety of old objects from all over the world, such as decorative boxes and lion dance heads from Japan and China, as well as watercolor paintings from many different countries.

Mr. Haupt is always eager to share the origin story of his business. Even though he was a math teacher, he has always loved art, and he has an art degree. When he was a young boy, he loved to go to the main library in Pasadena and read books. He saw a lot of colorful artwork there. There was a bicycle with a huge wheel. An older lady told him many stories about the bicycle. And there are many stories in another rectangular piano, too. He began to understand that the actual price of old items may far exceed its circulation price because these items may carry the history, lives, and feelings of a person, a group of people, a family, or even a country. Coupled with his own interest in art, he came up with the idea of opening an antique shop, and he has never looked back for the past 25 years.

He said he was the only person responsible for the antique shop. There are no other employees. His biggest challenge is that he is not good at using computers, so he doesn’t know how to use the internet to promote his store. But now, online stores have a great impact on physical stores, and he also feels a little helpless about how to respond. 

His passion for his work is clear. He talked about how an object may seem insignificant, but because it carries the history and memory of the people of the past community, it actually has great significance. And he believes that it is precisely for this reason that he has been recognized by people of the community. He told us that the uniqueness of the goods is the reason why he thinks his business is enduring. When he selects antiques to sell, he looks at the unique story behind the items, which is why the goods are unique. He sells antique objects from all over the world, from South America, Asia, and Europe, and each item has a unique history and value.

Every new customer who walks into this antique store and hears the story, the history, and the cultural significance of each piece will feel inspired and want to buy one to take home and continue adding their story to it. 

Thank you to the English as a Second Language (ESLN) students from Pasadena City College for partnering with us on this special project. As part of their U.S. Cultural Traditions and Social Change class in Spring 2024, the students gathered stories and information directly from local legacy businesses, capturing their unique contributions to our community. We are proud to showcase their authored profiles and celebrate their hard work. A special thank you to Jue (Emma) Wang, Xiaoling (Eleei) Yu,  and Shanguo (Sam) Jia for working closely with The Pasadena Antique Center. Your dedication has brought these stories to life beautifully!