Johnny's Sport Shop

Established in 1954, Johnny's Sport Shop has everything you need for your next fishing trip. The shop sells rods, reels, live bait, and over 20 different types of frozen and live lures for fresh and saltwater fishing. What sets Johnny's apart from the rest is their vast knowledge of fishing, which is passed down through employees and their customers, and their tendency to go above and beyond. They also sell fishing licenses and Adventure Passes for hiking in National Forests such as the nearby Angeles National Forest. The employees (sometimes even the customers) can even teach you how to cast in their parking lot, show you how to inflate your nightcrawlers, set up your kayak, or help you fix your reels. After returning from the internment camps during WWII, Johnny Ota relocated his family to Pasadena and sold fishing advice and tackle out of his garage. After his wife kicked his operation out of the garage, Johnny built a store in front of their house for $6,000, where it lives today. Over the years, Johnny's sold barbies, camping gear, team apparel, and a variety of goods. Local legends like Jackie Robinson and Michael Cooper purchased their Converse shoes here at at that time. It was in the 1980s when the store sold exclusively tackle gear.