This is the second story in a new series exploring the sights, tastes and culture of stops along the newly extended L.A. Metro A Line.
Rebecca Keeler
Special to the Campus Times
When departing from the La Verne station, a 25-minute train excursion brings the rider to the small, vibrant community of Monrovia. The station, located on South Primrose Avenue, is in the center of an industrial area, and a 20-minute walk from Old Town Monrovia.
A new public transit rail line system that launches from the city of La Verne has made traveling west to the Pasadena area, then going south to Long Beach, a whole lot easier, quicker and more convenient.
Starting Sept. 19, 2025, the Los Angeles Metro A Line added four new stations— Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas and Glendora—making the A Line the world’s longest commuter line. The train traverses 60 miles from Pomona to downtown Long Beach and opens opportunities for locals to explore the culture and history of major cities along its route.
Monrovia is the home of multiple high-quality businesses, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, salons and boutiques. Underdog Bookstore, a unique community space committed to uplifting marginalized voices, sits in the heart of Old Town Monrovia. The nonprofit bookstore has been a part of the community since 2023, offering a vast array of books and events for people of all ages.
Kealie Mardell-Carrera, president and executive director of Underdog Bookstore, has worked at the shop for a year and a half. Mardell-Carrera said the store carries a variety of books written by local authors, and she enjoys sharing those publications with the community.
“We host about 20 community events and workshops a month,” Mardell-Carrera said. “We’re all about being a community space that people can use for classes, workshops, meetings and whatever else they need us for.”
Mardell-Carrera said she has noticed many customers from the Metro A Line attend events at the bookstore, and is always happy to welcome guests and guide them to their next read based on their interests.
Down the block from Underdog Bookstore is another unique business dedicated to supporting the various interests and hobbies of the community. Since its opening in 2021, Warhammer Store & Cafe has provided model kits and miniatures to individuals interested in the Warhammer fantasy game series.
Zachary Miller, a sales associate at Warhammer Store & Cafe, has worked at the shop since its opening. He said Warhammer is a British-owned company that produces model kits for users to build, paint and design with their own style.
“Here at Warhammer, we try to keep things positive and open, but at the same time we’re just silly guys putting together plastic miniatures and playing with our war dolls,” Miller said.
For beginners interested in building a Warhammer model kit, Miller recommended their Warhammer 40,000 Ultimate Starter Set, which costs $114. He said it is a first-time hobby project for two people, and allows them to build a full combat patrol setup with starter armies.
Along with unique hobby-type businesses, Old Town Monrovia encompasses a lively restaurant scene. Jake’s Roadhouse, a family-owned, Texas-style barbecue restaurant, is among them.
Miguel Banuelos is the owner’s son and the current manager of the business. He said the restaurant is known for its expansive menu and large portion sizes.
“We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Banuelos said. “Our most popular breakfast item is the lemon raspberry pancakes. For dinner, a favored dish is the baby back ribs.”
Jake’s Roadhouse offers a variety of breakfast combinations, salads, burgers, tacos, quesadillas and sandwiches averaging at $20.
Adjacent from the restaurant, Mamma’s Juicery is a popular dessert spot known for its health-focused smoothies, açai bowls and juices.
The shop offers specialty acai bowls and smoothies in flavors such as original acai, ube, mango, matcha and pitaya, all averaging around $10.
Emma Carvajal has worked as a cashier at Mamma’s Juicery for three years. She said she has noticed many customers visiting from the Metro A Line.
“People are very nice and talkative when they come in and are interested in what we do here,” Carvajal said.
Referring to the strong community presence in the city, Mardell-Carrera, Miller, Banuelos and Carvajal all agree that Old Town Monrovia would not be the welcoming city it is without the countless number of unique businesses and dedicated workers.
During my trip to Monrovia, a copy of “The Wizard of Oz” from Underdog Bookstore transported me back to my childhood, while a Warhammer starter set caught my attention as a potential new hobby. The barbecue burger from Jake’s Roadhouse satiated my afternoon hunger, and a matcha chocolate acai bowl from Mamma’s Juicery capped off my dessert cravings. I found my various experiences in Old Town Monrovia to be nothing short of a joyous and unforgettable day.
Other notable businesses within walking distance of the Monrovia station are Aquarela Gifts & Flowers, a floral design shop; Dream Decor, a small home goods store; and Saint Aesthetix, a medical spa boutique.
Additional information regarding Underdog Bookstore underdogbookstore.org, Warhammer Store & Cafe warhammer.com/en-GB/home, Jake’s Roadhouse jakes-roadhouse.com and Mamma’s Juicery mammas-juicery.com/monrovia is visible on their websites.
Rebecca Keeler can be reached at rebecca.keeler@laverne.edu.
Metro A Line: Before you Board
For rider convenience, below are answers to frequently asked questions about the Metro A Line departing from the La Verne station:
- How often does the A Line operate? Roughly every seven minutes.
- What are the hours of operation for the A Line? 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays. 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends.
- Where does the A Line go? 48 stops spanning nearly 60 miles from Pomona to downtown Long Beach.
- How much does the A Line cost? $1.75 regular fare. 75 cents for seniors ages 62+ and for customers with disabilities. Prices are for a one-way trip and include two hours of free transfers when paying with a $2 reusable TAP card.
- How long does it take the A Line to get to Monrovia? Departure from the La Verne station to Monrovia takes approximately 25 minutes.
- Is there a monitored metro alert system? There is a regularly updated L.A. Metro rider alert account on the social media platform X. The account can be found under the username @metrolaalerts.
The L.A. metro rail schedule is subject to change due to delays. Visit the L.A. Metro website for more information.
Rebecca Keeler, a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a music minor, is a staff writer for the Campus Times.
