When Vahe Atchabahian came to the US from Lebanon over 30 years ago he was hoping to escape the violence that filled his homeland. With little money and no plan, he set out to succeed. Although it wasn’t always easy, Vahe ultimately created his own success through the binding of books, according to the Pasadena Star-News.
In 1990, he struck out on his own and opened his own book-binding business, VA Bindery, at 2335. E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena.
“We do book-binding and restorations,” he said. “My big customers are the print shops. They print the material and we bind it for them.”
The work requires lots of specialized machinery.
“We have a folding machine, a cutter, a glue machine, a stitching machine and machines that do scoring and punching,” Atchabahian said. “It’s all done in-house.”
Atchabahian’s interest in the book-binding business grew out of his love for books.
“I like to read books, newspapers … everything,” he said. “I’ve also published articles in Pasadena.”
Atchabahian, who serves as a Pasadena human relations commissioner, additionally worked to build a youth center in Pasadena where students can gather after school to receive tutoring and participate in sports.
The H. M. Armenian Athletic Association is designed to provide kids with after-school activities and keep them out of trouble.
“I’ve known Vahe for almost seven years now,” said Nat Nehdar, who also serves on the city’s human relations commission. “He’s really a very gentle and caring human being, and very much involved to provide youth activities for all ethnicities.”
Photo by austinevan