Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Patterson.
Hi Pam, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
We bought our place on the river in 2013 from a man named Noah, who came to LA from a bad part of Chicago in his mid-90s. He’d owned it since the 60’s. Early on, his ex-wife and kids lived here after the couple separated. Later, he was a repo man and used the lot to store and repair cars. It was a dump, both literally and figuratively. He was long retired, and for over 20 years after his own businesses, he rented to roofers.
We cleared out all of the years of working and living, scraped the lot nearly clean, took the building back to the studs, started over, installed a gas fire pit, turned the loading dock into a stage and 15′ x 30′ movie screen, invested in 200 comfortable outdoor chairs and four heating lamps, installed a store called Toad in the back of the lot for gifts and snacks, added some picnic tables, a ping pong table, a 1966 canned-ham trailer named “Peaches” who gets along well with tarot readings, and four family-sized bean bags. It’s like our own private park.
We can show movies, host concerts and DJs, put on plays, have gatherings, serve food, eat, drink, and be merry. Located just steps from the river if you want to explore around a little. The building has a food service area and food service window with three restrooms. We are ADA-compliant. There’s room for food trucks. And most everyone who visits has a good time, whatever it is they’re doing.
I have owned an ad agency for many years. We bought it during a fortuitous year after eyeing it for over 10. The business still operates out of the upper level of the structure and is now focused on building a new regional lifestyle magazine based in LA called Hiii for people who partake.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Would I say the journey has been fairly smooth? I suppose if you judge by the conclusion of events, it’s easy enough to say. As humans committed to progress, we can choose to forget the pain and focus on the result. If we didn’t, there’d be no such thing as siblings! But accomplishing anything these days is tough work. If you’re blazing any trail: money, sexism, fear, time, inexperience, naysayers, and people who can’t see the vision–you will be challenged. In some instances, more than others. Just getting out of bed in the morning, committed to taking another step toward a goal can be a challenge in and of itself. I believe the entrepreneurial spirit can be summed up as resilience. When you feel resistance, plan another path to that goal. And never underestimate the power of mentors and advocates. For anyone who has had to navigate gatekeepers, it’s all about getting creative and strategic. Where there’s a will, there’s likely a way. Anyone looking for a “fairly smooth” journey doesn’t belong in the entrepreneurial world. Because perhaps that’s part of the fun.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The good news is that I don’t think there’s much that sets me apart from others. I think most people are capable of accomplishing their dreams. The trick, perhaps, is to have a super clear vision of that dream. Who does it include, what does it mean, how does it influence, where does it grow, how does it pivot, where might it expand and change? And if you have battles like systemic sexism or racism, etc., the battle never ends. If anyone had told me that it would take until I was nearly 60 to achieve some of my dreams, twenty-year-old me would have thought that was a complete fail. But the truth is, every step towards a goal, on the path, when you take time to appreciate the accomplishments on the journey. That is the magic. There’s actually not a whole lot of magic in having a million dollars in the bank.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Love crows.
Love rivers.
Love to witness creativity.
Hate racism.
Hate pollution.
Hate haters.
Pricing:
- Starting at $1,500 for certified non-profits
- Send word for pricing on extra services.
Contact Info:
- Website: theriverla.com
- Instagram: @theriverla
