little tokyo mall rebounds, grabs vegetarian haven
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My first visit to the hulking Little Tokyo Shopping Center several years ago was a daunting experience. Rows of storefronts were shuttered on an early Saturday afternoon, and those store owners lucky enough— or desperate enough — to stay open had only a smattering of customers.
These days, however, the shopping center’s fortunes have largely turned around. An influx of shoppers and diners at the disconnected intersection of 3rd and Alameda is another telling sign that Little Tokyo is back.
Trendy new Japanese businesses have made their homes in the 1980s cinderblock bunker including places like Beard Papa’s, the cream puff vendor that’s made a splash here in the States, and Shojin, an organic Japanese vegetarian eatery set to open later this month (blogger toliveandeatinla got a sneak peak of the restaurant).
Photo by flickr user stevenwilliams
Representatives from the Little Tokyo Shopping Center were unavailable for comment, but the uptick in traffic and sales is apparent and encouraging. Now, if a few cosmetic updates are made to the drab space, the Little Tokyo Shopping Center may become another chapter in Little Tokyo’s success story of Downtown revitalization.
-little tokyo: downtown’s bigger success story
-coming this month: beard’s papas (September 8, 2007)
4 comments
Absolutely, this place is screaming for a design face-lift. The exterior serves to obscure the retail activity going on inside. I’d love it if there were some in-your-face banzai graphics to give some life to the drab exterior. Heck, even some colorful advertising would be an improvement. Historically, Little Tokyo has been a tad too sedate for its own good. Yep, it seems like they are putting it together.
I recall decades ago reading about a brainstorming effort in Little Tokyo to overcome perceptions that it wasn’t safe. One idea was to install a life-size Godzilla replica in the community. I loved the idea! Imagine every time you visited Little Tokyo, Godzilla was lurking in the background. Alas, it never even made it beyond the brainstorm. ‘Twas a pity, as all little boys understand.
Shojin looks awesome! I can’t wait.
Sushi Go 55 in the mall is pretty extraordinary.
I just got to attend an awesome sneak-peak dinner service at Shojin, and it was wonderful! Check out the post at my blog for a review of the event and lots of yummy pictures. Can’t wait for these guys to open to the public… I know I’ll be stopping by often!
(you’re welcome!)
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