I respectfully disagree, as I believe adding more people downtown is exactly what we’re talking about… Restaurants and stores catering chiefly to the 8-6/M-F crowd is an issue of needed demand. More to the point, by Ralphs supermarket’s own estimation in the Downtown News, their uniquely high profits from 9th Street are due in large part to spendthrift USC students, hundreds of whom call one of the nearby “Renaissance Properties” home.

As for the aesthetics of these “fortresses,” while a number of smaller buildings might have been more geographically (and politically) appropriate, the fact remains that these developments have been a productive use of otherwise blighted sites. Furthermore, no one expects Palmer’s retail spaces to be leased until their surrounding areas become more walkable … much like BBQ King’s new and improved location.

Note that he’s making no attempts to fill his retail spaces — I think he’s got two retail tenants total out of what, six buildings? — a slap in the face to residents.

Otherwise, it’s Korean Fried Chicken at Bonchon in K-Town.

Who downtown has really good Southern-fried chicken? other than my kitchen. lol

Celia: I’ve been trying to figure that out, but they’re hard to get ahold of. I guess we’ll figure it out soon enough.