Boasting an impressive $10 million renovation, The Magnolia is now equipped to host 1,200 fans for unforgettable performances throughout the year. But behind the scenes, an East County native recognizes the value of bringing in world-class entertainment while understanding the impact it has in the local community.
The Magnolia General Manager Paris Landen developed her appreciation of the arts while attending the former East County Performing Arts Center as a child with her family.
“I grew up in East County, in Lakeside. I remember going to the theater as a little girl with my grandmother when it was a performing arts theater to see ballets at the time. That was very impressionable on me,” she said. “Growing up, my first job was at a coffee shop in Coronado, and I moved my way up through restaurants, serving, bartending, managing. I found I had a passion for hospitality and providing guests with fun and rememberable experiences.”
Landen graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Hospitality Management. In 2015, she embarked on a career in live entertainment, becoming the general manager of the historic Observatory North Park.
“I worked with the Observatory North Park for five years and it was purchased by Live Nation, and I became a Live Nation employee,” she said. “Coming back from COVID, there was no manager at The Magnolia. I fell in love with The Magnolia. It is a beautiful venue. The city renovated in 2019 before reopening it. It has upgraded lighting and sound systems, great continental seating, and a gorgeous outdoor plaza that we can use to expand our footprint. So, the time came when they said I could manage the Observatory or The Magnolia.”
Landen said she jumped for the opportunity to work at the Magnolia. She was ready for something new and has been at The Magnolia since. Taking charge after the venue’s first renovation since 1977, Landen’s mission extended beyond organizing outstanding performances. She aimed to put The Magnolia on the map, turning what some view as a location inconvenience, into a strategic move to bring arts and entertainment to a vibrant, residential, and historic neighborhood, fostering community unity.
“We have a wonderful partnership with the city of El Cajon which has been so rewarding,” she said. “It really allows us to offer a diverse array of programming. We have everything from A-list artists to small community events,” she said. “This weekend I have the Parks & Rec recital. We do the annual East County Transitional Living Center and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells to raise money for them. We have dance troupes. We try and give the community what it wants, and it is amazing because they want all of it.”
Landen has not only brought renowned names like Elvis Costello, Pete Davidson, Patti Labelle, Lindsey Buckingham, Seth Meyers, Judge Reinhold, and more to The Magnolia but is also redefining the theater experience. Introducing elevated entertainment add-ons, guests can now enjoy a stunning outdoor plaza with specialty cocktails, wine, beer, snacks, and local food trucks before the show. For a VIP experience, The Magnolia offers a VIP Lounge with an aerial view, featuring wine, beer, cocktails, snacks, complimentary popcorn, and additional seating or dancing room for live concerts.
“I think it is exciting that we continue to grow and diversify the venue,” she said. “Our goal is to have more concerts, more community events with the objective of bringing more people into the El Cajon community. Not just to see our shows, but to explore and dine at local restaurants and to see what East County has to offer as a vibrant community that it is.”
The Magnolia has several events coming up with Lyle Lovett, Sofia Nino de Rivera, Jorge Falcon, Alicia Villarreal, Kevin Hart, and Steven Ho. For more information, visit magnoliasandiego.com.
