As the Downtown Los Angeles dining scene becomes ever more competitive, target opening dates are missed, deals fall through, and businesses close — some to reopen again, others not. Rumors and unreliable information are sure to emerge every once in a while.

Sometimes, though, we come across nice little pieces of information that we just can’t brush off so easily.

All across Downtown, “For Lease” and “Leased” signs are cropping up on the windows of previously empty retail spaces. It’s with this in mind that angelenic presents Downtown LA’s Restaurant Rumormill.

According to the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, work is currently underway to secure Maria’s Italian Kitchen for the current Flower Street Cafe space. This would be the chain’s tenth location and first in Downtown. The traditional American-style Italian restaurant is known for its tasty selection of garlic-rich fare. The location is just north of Wilshire and Flower inside the 811 Wilshire Building, home to the new Takami Restaurant/Elevate Lounge.

Across the street on the southwest corner, a mid-range Mexican restaurant is being courted for the 800 Wilshire Building. We’re sure “mid-range” probably means something of the El Torito or Acapulco ilk (cringe). This type of restaurant may be popular with the day-time lunch crowd, but pales in comparison to Downtown institutions like La Parrilla or Carnitas Michoacan. On the other hand, we could establish new institutions, like say, Margarita Mondays!

The Pacific Center – an elegant, historic office structure on 6th and Grand – is displaying a “Leased” sign in the retail/restaurant space adjacent to its main entrance. Actual details are unavailable, but a new eatery is said to have inked the deal, adding to an already established two-block stretch of popular lunch-time places.

There you go, folks! The inside buzz on some of Downtown’s possible new dining establishments. Don’t take this for more than face value, but in a few months when you read about it in the Downtown News, remember you saw it here first.