Paris Landen said she arrived at El Cajon’s concert venue, The Magnolia, by accident.
“It’s all a big mistake,” Landen, general manager of The Magnolia, joked. “I had thought that I was gonna work in restaurants my whole life.”
Landen got her bachelor’s degree in hospitality, with an emphasis in restaurants, from San Diego State University.
One of her first managerial jobs was at the eatery West Coast Tavern in North Park as the general manager. The restaurant is connected to an old theater, The Observatory North Park, which was renovated and turned into a concert venue.
In 2015, Landen became the general manager of The Observatory, which is now operated by Live Nation.
“All of a sudden, our thing kind of evolved from just being a restaurant space to a concert space,” she said. “That kind of increased the amount of shows we were doing, and I’ve been on that side ever since.”
Landen has been working at The Magnolia since 2021. Previously known as the East County Performing Arts Center, it reopened in 2019 after an $8.2 million renovation and after being closed for about 10 years. The Magnolia now acts in partnership with Live Nation and the city of El Cajon, hosting about 100 events per year, such as concerts, comedy shows and community events.
Landen says it’s been one of her favorite entertainment venues in El Cajon since she was a child growing up in Lakeside.
“I remember coming here with my grandma to see the ballet, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’” Landen said. “I remember really enjoying the community theater and shows as a kid. I think that’s what is really special about The Magnolia. And because of the partnership between Live Nation and the city of El Cajon, we get to be heavily involved in the community involvement with shows like the mayor’s benefit concert every year and events with the parks and rec department.”
Landen describes El Cajon as a community with a “small town feel even though it is a larger city. The community is very tight-knit and there are lots of cool local businesses here.”
She added that people “are just really welcoming and friendly and excited to have people from out of town come in. It definitely has a vibe of hospitality.”
Here are places Landen recommends visiting in El Cajon.
Paris Landen is the general manager of the concert venue The Magnolia in El Cajon. (The Magnolia)
Q: Where is your favorite dining option?
A: Sultan Baklava on Main Street. This is a locally owned business that brings authentic Turkish desserts to the heart of El Cajon. It’s a quick walk from my work, providing a little escape during the work day. They serve delicious baklava, cakes and savory pastries, plus handcrafted coffees and teas. Sometimes we get their desserts for our artists who are performing at the venue, and they’re always a big hit. I also love Yogurt Mill. It’s a classic frozen yogurt spot that has been in El Cajon since I was a kid. Their building is a classic landmark in the city. They change their flavors every day, you can check their Instagram to see the current flavors and their socials are really funny. All the flavors I’ve tried are good, and I like that they always do a low-sugar and dairy-free option if you like.
Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?
A: My favorite small retail business to support is Sophie’s Gallery. I love that it’s a creative space where students make everything from jewelry to wood and glass pieces to traditional paintings. There’s always a really fun variety of items for sale up front, and I think it’s awesome that the back of the space is where all the crafting actually happens. It feels good to support a place that’s doing something meaningful, that offers many classes for people with disabilities, while also putting out really beautiful, handmade work.
Q: Where is your favorite open space?
A: My favorite open space is Wells Park. They have a great dog park with areas for small or large dogs. I take my dog Alfie there, and he loves running around and playing with the other dogs. Wells Park also has pickleball and basketball courts, a workout area, a children’s playground and lots of open space with grass and trees to relax or take your lunch to enjoy.
Murals are seen along El Cajon’s Arts Alley, Dec. 22, 2025 in El Cajon, Calif. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?
A: My favorite piece of artwork is the mural behind SC Fine Art called Eyes of the Valley. It’s in El Cajon’s Art Alley between Magnolia Avenue and Sulzfeld Way. I love it because it’s beautifully done, and knowing that Carlos Castrejon, the owner of SC Fine Art, painted it with his family makes it feel really special and personal. It’s one of those pieces you can’t help but stop and look at when you pass by.
Q: Where is your favorite entertainment attraction or historic landmark?
A: Downtown El Cajon has a really cool event during the summer at the Prescott Promenade. It’s a summer concert series called Music on Main, and every Friday for like three months, the community can come out and enjoy public concerts.