famous japanese designer brings boutique to village plaza
Just when many thought the heritage of Little Tokyo was being unraveled by a looming Korean takeover, the neighborhood snaps back with a little Japanese oomph.
Sanrio, the Japan-based creator and purveyor of merchandise featuring Hello Kitty and her animal friends, has located its newest franchise store to the heart of Japanese Village Plaza.
Doors opened Friday, offering tourists and residents easy access to a motherlode of colorful and cheery line of products ranging from stationery to school supplies to candy and room decor. Aside from everything imaginable by the greetings-happy feline, Pickles the frog, Buta : Coron and Pandapple-branded goods fill the shelves.
According to store manager Kandice Obanian, Sanrio will hold its grand opening celebration August 16.
The American subsidiary of Sanrio Co., Ltd. is based in San Francisco, and in 2005 the company opened its first high-end boutique called Momoberry inside the Beverly Center.
Sanrio
Japanese Village Plaza
335 E 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-620-0830
sanrio.com
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14 comments
celia is going to have a field day here…
I know, I emailed her as soon as I heard the news =)
It’s a Hello Kitty orgasm. Good Lord.
rich: thanks a lot.
OMG!
The presence of a Sanrio just adds to the increased corporatization of Little Tokyo. It’s the stationary equivalent of the opening of a Starbucks or Johnny Rocket’s– it doesn’t do much to add to the character of the place.
I guess there’s nothing to do but make way for the new.
My five year old daughter begs to differ with the dour Mr. Narinda. She took one look and said, “I want to go.”
I think having Sanrio there makes it all the more “Japanese-y.” Also, I grew up spending all my money on Hello Kitty stuff so seeing that makes me nostalgic. *sniff*
I guess there’s nothing to do but make way for the new.
And proclaim “hurrah!”, because it’s not like the amount of business of most stores in Little Tokyo has been zooming, zoom, zoom. It’s not like the number of customers on most days in that part of downtown LA has been making the owner of, say, South Coast Plaza in Orange County or Manhattanites around Madison or Fifth Avenues, or San Franciscans around Union Square envious and impressed.
omg I love little tokyo.
I’m glad to see Sanrio open up in LT. It’s not another “Starbucks” because there is no “indie version” of another store that gives Sanrio fans the same kind of products. When you mention Starbucks, there are definitely any number of other indie coffee shops that could provide coffee. But where else can someone get these cute products at? So think before you type Narinda.
yay chococat!
doesn’t everyone know sanrio? I mean yes i am japanese and all but in hawaii we have like at least 10 stores
I am a fan of the store. The pink is a little overwhelming, but the staff is friendly and helpful. Plus, we all need a Hello Kitty fix once in a while, so it’s a reliable staple! I would love to see a really cool Japanese gadget store open in Little Tokyo, though. And a place where you could find out about more of the latest Japanese techno/electronica music or even corny J-Pop… that’s what’s missing!!