the ma petit bakery factor for 3rd and spring
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No fresh baked breads and desserts — not just yet.
Even though the Douglas Building’s long-awaited Ma Petit Bakery is dressed up and camera ready, the usual culprits are holding back a green light for business.
Owner/chef Nary Lee tells us that after three years of planning, the dream of making Ma Petit a reality is finally within reach, but pinpointing an official date is difficult until final inspections have passed.
Taking a step back to consider the market she’s eager to enter, Ma Petit’s ever-elusive grand opening may be the least of her worries.
Still, that day can’t come soon enough for Lee’s neighboring businesses, Lot 44 and Origami, who see the bakery’s arrival as the final installment of a three-part team to lure Downtown residents to 3rd and Spring.
Lot 44’s Ariel Graham says attracting people to that corner has been an uphill battle since her shop first appeared in May, and the owners of Origami Bistro & Bar are getting increasingly aggressive with patron incentives — the latest offering free dinner entrees with a small $10 purchase.
It’s a story being heard everywhere these days, and flexibility to appeal to today’s money-conscious customer is essential for any successful business — even ones holding fast to a high-end identity.
This reality is particularly upsetting to brand new Downtown businesses sold on the neighborhood by impressive demographic figures, the likes of which are not impervious to an economic downturn wreck.
To many, a high-profile location and a steady passing of heels will be enough to keep business afloat, but for those a step off the beaten path — like those at 3rd and Spring — the struggle is that much harder.
That’s not to downplay the beautiful French-style cafe Nary Lee and her partners are about to unveil. Regardless of the circumstances, Ma Petit will be a major boon to the block and greater Historic Core area. The question is, will the old strength in numbers adage work to make the Douglas Building a destination for Downtown?
Do you ever pass by? Tell us what you think about this new retail pocket!
Ma Petit Bakery & Cafe
257 S, Spring Street (inside the Douglas Building)
Los Angeles, California 90012
mapetitla.com
Planned hours for Ma Petit Bakery & Cafe:
Mon-Fri: 6:30am-9:00pm
Sat & Sun: 7:30am-8:00pm
Art Walk Day: 6:30am-11:00pm
14 comments
I love the look but it appears to be way too fancy for what they are trying to accomplish. I hope this is a catalyst for more businesses in that area and the entire historic core for that matter although both Lot 44 and Ma petit seem too large and empty.
I despise business (and the media) who blame a lack of business on the economy when it has absolutely nothing to do with the economy. What happens is that potential new business owners staking out downtown hear things like this then reconsider on Downtown. This is very irresponsible.
The problem with Lot 44 isn’t the economy or the intersection…its the coffee and the environment. The cafe is as cold as an operating room, a regular cup coffee is way too expensive, and it (brewed by the cup) takes forever to make…then served with a bit of attitude. Who wants that?!
In the morning, when people are in a rush they want no-nonsense convenience…a quick, affordable cup of coffee on the go. It’s difficult to get that at Lot 44. I understand their concept but, damn it!, find a compromise between your “concept” and your customer. As the late great Marshall Field said…. “give the lady what she wants!”
As for Origami…they’ve covered up all the windows with curtains and bamboo so you can’t see any street activity from the inside and people on the outside can’t see inside. In a place like downtown its critical to be able to see people inside and outside the restaurant. A part of the joy of dining in the city is feeling as if you are part of the energy. By covering up its windows, Origami is sending a message - and not a good one.
Then there is the issue regarding Origami’s outdoor tables - which are always empty because they don’t have a license to serve alcohol outside…so no one sits outside therefore the place looks dead. Origami should have waited until they got their license before they put up tables in front of the restaurant.
Origami would have been better served by displaying their interior more dramatically through their large plate glass windows and illuminating the space with candles or some other dramatic lighting effect to pull your eye into the space.
Neither Lot 44 or Origami thought through their positioning very well.
Its not a lost cause. Both businesses need to listen to their customers, look to other success stories in the area, and then give their customers what they want. As a business you can’t deliver a concept unless its something the customer wants. Its one of the first rules of business.
I pass by 3rd and Spring at least twice a day (sometimes w/ my dog, however, so I would not stop), and you can find me in Origami 3-4 times a week, especially now w/ happy hour on weekends. But I don’t have much use for a bakery, nor for a coffee shop for that matter. If I am going to waste calories, it will be on a burger and fries, not sweets, but that’s just me.
^^Hovton made some great points- I wish Origami would open up the windows for both folks on street and customers. And the tables outside should have waited for liquor license as they sit empty and send the wrong message. But first and foremost, I like their food, and I like the happy hour prices, so long live Origami…
I am excited about being able to get some french onion soup and a chocolate croissant on a Sunday morning without having to deal with non-existent and snooty service at Angelique Cafe. I can’t wait for this bakery to open up!
Also, Origami’s bar food happy hour specials are great—the $1 “Kobe Beef Style” tacos are great!
My family has eaten several times at the Origami, and the quality of the food is superb. Once you’ve eaten at the Origami, Pete’s seems like just boring diner food, and for the same prices. But I can drink on Pete’s patio…. For heaven’s , sake, get the Sake going on the street at the Origami.
What’s this $10/free entree deal with Origami? Anyone know the deets (days, hours)?
I’ve had two terrible outings at Origami so far, but keep hearing good things, so I think I’m just cursed. But I’m willing to give it one last try, especially if there’s a sweet deal attached.
I’m excited about this bakery opening up right down the street from where I work/live. I’ve only been to Lot 44 once, and sorry to say, wasn’t blown over by the coffee or the prices(….or the service, to be frank.) But I’m not a big coffee person, either, so I’m more interested in the two surrounding places.
I always wondered why the patio seating at Origami’s was always empty. Mystery solved.
They need to aggressively market to the Civic Center crowd, they are within walking distance for all those thousands of City and County employees. Maybe even get those folks to stop by for dinner on their way out of City Hall for the day.
The word on the street is that Ma Petit will have VERY reasonable prices and all types of food, not just pastries and other baked goodies. Hopefully, that combination will get people into the Douglas Building.
Huge space! Friendly and accomodating. Quality Food! Free Wifi
Nice alternative to the Nickel.
My girlfriend and I had breakfast here over the weekend. Love the enormity of the space and there’s an effort made into wanting to make it comfortable. Had some eggs with salad. Cheap, yes. Memorable? No. The tomatoes in the salad were nearly white. Hello. It’s winter. Tomatoes aren’t in season. Isn’t it smarter to the omit disgusting tomatoes entirely? Also, mon petit, in France, bread is a given. You sit down for food: boom! — there’s the basket of bread, whether its good bread or not. Bread should come with breakfast, period. The coffee was terrible. The orange juice — from concentrate in a plastic bottle. (My girlfriend wisely had tea.). Love the idea of bakeries opening downtown but our experience was lackluster.
Regarding the rest of that buildings offerings:
I’ve had good meals and great service at Origami. Yeah, the points above about covering up the windows is something I never thought of, but I totally agree. Rip those shitty Pier One pothead room screens off the windows and show off the interior and people eating.
aLOT4coffee44:
Closed on Saturday and Sunday? Oh dear. Falls into the WhatTheFuckAreYouThinking? Category. To me, a cafe closed on the weekends reads as the kiss of death. But honestly, the only thing I really like about that place is the one worker named Princess. She’s great. Just saw a KrispyKremes “proudly” being served there sticker on the door. Dumb. Dumb donuts, dumb idea, lazy way of absorbing lame corporate hype so that you don’t have to source a quality product.
I’m glad to see Nickel Diner doing well. I love eating there. And that damningly delicious pink donut they sell…..
I have been to Ma Petit about 4/5 times over the last ten days and have to say that they have become a lunch staple for me and my officemates. You are not going to get anything much different than Urth Cafe or Toast, but the major difference is THE PRICE. I mean, honestly, it is cheaper than a combo meal at Arby’s. You can get a Half Chinese Chicken salad for 5.25 and the full for 7.75. I used to go to a Chinese fast food a block away and it was the same price - for FAST FOOD. Their Nicoise salad is also really good and in the 8 dollar range - and it comes with Seared Ahi Tuna - not tuna salad out of can that you get with most salads in this price range.
Because they are not open yet, they are serving a limited menu, but one of my co-workers asked for the fried chicken and the owner (i think) said they would call her the next time it was on the menu. He called her that evening and told her to come in the next day and he would fix it especially for her. And he did! Now that is the kind of business that we want in the neighborhood.
If you are a foodie waiting for some grand experience, this is not the place you will find it, but if you want good, fresh food, for an insanely reasonable price, this is the place.
we were in for lunch on a weekday in january and the place was very busy and they seemed to be a bit short staffed. there was only one person up front, named scott, who was working the register, answering the phone, serving food and selling bakery items. even though he was extremely busy, he took the time to make us feel welcomed and went out of his way to accomodate us. he made what could have been a bad experience into one that will make us definetly try ma petit again. the food came out of the kitchen slowly, but was worth the wait.
The food is excellent and so cheap! For breakfast, I recommend the stuffed french toast. You can add eggs, bacon and hash browns for $2.00! Croissants are also a must.
We go here at least once a week. Check it out!
I used to LOVE the hot chocolate at Ma Petit. Creamy, not too rich, topped with big old marshmellows that melted into the steamed milk. I brought some friends there the other day to show it off and they had changed their recipe. Boo! Now its chalky, too rich, and watery. The head pastry chef said people didn’t like the origional recipe. Well, I guess you can’t please everyone but I’m wicked disapointed. Wicked.
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