downtown’s fifth famima to open in january – a sixth in february!
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Downtown continues on the path of greater convenience, with new mini-marts popping up right around the corner.
If you can’t resist a box of Pocky, a sticky bun and a decent cup of coffee at midnight, you’re in luck, because Famima’s newest location is set to open the second or third week of January at the corner of Wilshire and Hope — a mere block away from the existing Famima!! at 6th and Grand.
And according to the company’s Marketing Coordinator Naomi Hotta, another new Famima!! will be making its way Downtown for a February debut, though the exact location cannot be released at this time.
Where should the new Famima!! be located? Give us your thoughts in the comments!
Famima!! Wilshire
700 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Opening mid-January
famima-usa.com
59 comments
Awesome. I love love love this place.
When will they put one in Little Tokyo?
I think we need one in the Historic Core. Maybe somewhere on Spring between 7th and 4th.
koreatown!!!
Historic Core, pretty pu-leeease!!!
Shut down the Music/DJ store in the Hayward on 6th/Spring and put it there.
Little Tokyo! Replace Pinkberry!
I think there are too many Famina stores at this point. I’m waiting for the 7-11 at 5th and B’way. Cause I like being able to get alcohol at any given time!
Famima at Broadway and 9th
in the lobby of the soon-to-open sb tower at 6th & spring, across from the dj store in the hayward that andrew mentioned earlier. trust me i’m not a fan of that dj/music store either, but that sidewalk on the southeast corner is wider and better for outdoor seating.
but please, be in the historic core.
I think the Historic core has plenty of mini marts already. In that building of 6th and spring where the DJ store is there are 3 mini marts alone.
We need more restaurants.
“In that building of 6th and spring where the DJ store is there are 3 mini marts alone.”
Mmmmmmm…no, not the same thing as Famima.
I love Famima — an upscale overpriced 7-Eleven but for some reason i’m addicted.
isnt Famima Japanese? Can we keep in theme and have one in Little Tokyo?
City West really needs one.
South Park makes the most sense.
Why would you oust one of few real music shops in the area, servicing musicians and DJs?
Shows an alarming preference for junk food over culture.
Sick.
WhenTF are they open one up at Sunset x Silverlake?
Who cares?
I agree with tone deaf. Evict a successful business even when there are empty storefronts all around the area? Crazy.
4th and Spring would be great! Why not the Arts District, too. They’ve got an Urth Caffe now — Famima should be next.
Historic Core… anywhere on Main between 7th and 4th. I’m surprised they haven’t put one in there yet. THat’s where everyone lives downtown. Business would be booming.
12th & Grand or 11th and Hope - close to the South Group towers - thats where you have a mass of people living on one block already and many more to come as South Park developes.
Arts district would be fantastic! Anything that stays open after the sun goes down is welcome.
Another vote for Historic Core, Spring Street - anywhere between 4th and 8th. And while “the Historic core has plenty of mini marts already,” none compare to Famima or 7 Eleven, especially when it comes to selection and hours of operation.
Southpark, please!
nowhere!! aren’t there enough of them as it is?
Yeah… too much of a good thing…
South Park needs a FAMIMA now!! Next in line should be the Historic Core around 6th/Spring, followed by a Little Tokyo location (that location vacated by American Apparel would be a nice spot on 2nd st.).
1. Spring and 4th - in the Banco Popular building on the NE corner. 2. Spring street next to the falafel express and that new trendy retail shop. 3. Spring and 3rd in the state building on the SW corner there is retail space available. With Rowan and Eldorado opening soon, these spots would be ideal, and foot traffic should pick up even more.
City West!! We have open storefronts right here at Vero, 1234 Wilshire Blvd. I’m broke but I’d support them however I could. Then Little Tokyo & Arts District next.
Thank you Bert Green for being a consistent voice of reason around these parts. Apparently if it were up to the commenter’s here, downtown LA would be 7-11’s and parking lots as far as the eye could see. The irony is that the rest of Los Angeles is just that, and it’s gross.
@ Ryan—ha! agreed.
1st floor of the Eastern Columbia would be nice. Spaces have been vacant for close to 2 years! this would definitely anchor broadway.
1st floor of the Eastern Columbia would be nice. Spaces have been vacant for close to 2 years! this would definitely anchor broadway.
There could never be enough convenience stores in the downtown area which is spread out over 8 square miles. The Produce Market district could use a few as could the Fashion District and City Center West.
Spring between 7th and 8th. It’s too dark. We need to extend the safe border of spring street.
I bet the next one goes in City West, theres a vacancy nect to the Starbucks under GLO, and that starbucks is pretty busy, with 1010 there and good sam hospital
The space between Starbucks and the new steak/smoothie shop in Glo?
It has been rented out - GLO has leased out all its commercial space (and on that note, the commercial space on Bixel & Ingram in the Glo building recently got some equipment inside. Something is starting up there.)
Ryan said: “Apparently if it were up to the commenter’s here, downtown LA would be 7-11’s and parking lots as far as the eye could see.’
I don’t recall reading this anywhere here….?? Who’s pro-parking lot?
And correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there just the one 7-11 in downtown right now? Another one maybe opening up across town in the next year…I’d hardly suggest that 7-11’s are taking over downtown at an overwhelming rate if that’s the case.
In any event, the selection of food you can find at a Famima is miles above and beyond the food you find at a 7-11 or any mini-mart in terms of quality and nutritional value. Plus, I don’t even know what mini-marts on 6th and Spring were being referred to earlier, because I never see any of them open by the time I get home in the evening.
South Park has a Famima! already near 8th & Fig. I used to go there all the time when I lived in that area. Historic Core would be cool for a Famima! as long as they don’t oust any pre-existing business. It’s too bad they couldn’t have put one in the floor level at 5th & Main (?) as it’s pretty dark when the outreach centers are closed for the evening.. Spring Street would be good as well if there’s something available.
The important thing is to bring varied services to an area but not at the cost of businesses already there. I’d be against Famima! moving into Little Tokyo and some places like the historic core except that many of the convenient stores in the neighborhoods downtown close up early and still don’t see a potential for business after all the office workers go home. “Convenient” places after 10pm are limited, even in the Historic Core, Little Tokyo & the Arts District where so many folks make their home.
We need more 7-Elevens……….. they are a U.S. based company. Let’s keep jobs in America people. 7-Eleven should go in the 9th & Broadway building. They should be in the lobby of every major building downtown. Oh Thank Heaven for Seven Eleven. Rock on USA.
we need less lame 7-11s and encourage better interest in aesthetics and quality like Famima.
And check who owns most of the real estate downtown. Certainly NOT Americans.
screw this. Historic Core wants a Trader Joes! And, when I say Historic Core I mean I WANT A TRADER JOES.
I agree with Historic Core.
Maybe Main/Spring/5th/6th or Spring/2nd(there’s that building with what appears to be some open spaces.)
Little Tokyo needs a Famima like it needs another frozen yogurt place. You can get the same type of things at the existing Japanese markets in Little Tokyo. Go support them. =)
Famima is an Americanized version of the Japanese convenience store Family Mart.
I’d take a Whole Foods or a Balducci’s over a T Joes any day. Anyone been to Bi-Rite in (where else) San Francisco? T Joes has become a depressing shopping experience. Blech.
http://www.biritemarket.com/
I didn’t know that Famine-Mart was only in Southern California so far.
http://famima-usa.com/global/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famima!!
SPRING STREET!!!!!!!!!!
South park vote right here….on Hope and 11th across from the Bottlerock that has taken 2 years to build out.
In response to an earlier post, 7-Eleven was started in Texas but was about to go under in the 80s, so the parent company was bought out by the Japanese subsidiary to keep the brand alive.
How about Union Station? There’s nothing much inside the station as far as concessions and Famina’s modular design could be worked out inside the ticket hall or in the outdoor patio.
THE 7-11 - FAMIMA SMACKDOWN
It looks as if it has become a 7-11 vs. Famima thing. Very simply, I think Famima’s are great, in Korea town or Little Tokyo, but their prices are higher, they have less of the day to day items that are needed, and the SCREAM Asian. Not being partial, but 7-11’s are not only more American, but they are actually much more upscale now, and if you haven’t seen for yourself at the 7th and Olive, They have INCRIDIBLE holiday spirit and add a ton to the neighborhood. They are also now the safest as they are big on security which actually DOES makes the corner much cleaner, so no choice really.
When people think 7-11, they think of the old 7-11, the new 7-11’s are classy and clean, and the city could actually use a few more, no Famima’s need apply.
I don’t care how “classy” and “clean” a 7-11 is I just won’t shop there. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will.
As for American vs. Japanese, I don’t care. Regardless of who owns the company in question, they are hiring locals to work in them. Those are jobs that are being given to people who LIVE HERE.
Just as you can’t say “Toyota” or “Ford” is or isn’t American, a local operation or facility is just that, hiring locals and stimulating the local economy.
While I’m concerned about the proximity of the Famima! locations (like Starbucks they might cannibalize each others business) I am all for diversity and options.
South Park in one of the South Group buildings.
I don’t know about having a Famina in the Historice Core. There is already a guy there right across the streets from Pete’s and he is super cool and he is an independent businessman not some corporate crap. I hope the Historic Core stays tries to discourage businesses like Famima from coming in.
A Famima might kill his business. Yes I’d like it to be open a little later, but that kind of competition would be unfair.
I wish I knew the name of the guy’s store, but it’s right across the street from Pete’s.
And that DJ store is a music store, they have instruments there, but the DJ equipment helps them stay open.
Though I greatly prefer Famima over 7-eleven. The customer service at Famima is consistently great, 7-eleven, not so great and I see a wider variety of people employed at Famima. It seems to actually take applications from people off the street and look at them (i’ve never seen anyone just get a random job at 7-eleven) and we do need more jobs.
Browne
Browne: That is Ray. He’s a nice guy. Now that he opened the larger space, I really want him to stay open later too.
Still, competition is good. I’ve heard great things about the sandwiches they make at old bank district market.
Corporate entities are not very interested in the Historic Core. There are a lot of reasons for that, many of them are rooted in recent history and the proximity of Skid Row. There guys do their market research and determine that the demographics are not right for them. I also think there is a feeling that the revitalization of the area is not assured (in their minds).
There is no organized effort to exclude chains from the Core, but I do think a lot of people would see the opening of chains as a turning point, and not of the best kind. Note that there are no Starbucks in the Core, and other than fast food and some chain stores on Broadway, all the activity is by independents.
The strength of this neighborhood is in the independents, including the DJ store at 6th & Spring. I don’t think a Famima would be a bad thing, but look at their market, it is NOT residents, it is the office lunch crowd and the nearby businesses.
its ridiculous! they have famimas so near each other. and i see they are trying to expand but at least do it in another location. famima has enuf famimas in downtown la. but i still love it
The 7-11 / Famima debate is moot — their offerings barely overlap, which is a fine thing. They’re clustered around the high-rises because they offer slightly-upscale impulse cool/hip products aimed at exactly the sort of discretionary-income crowd that pours out at lunch and quitting time. We go to both depending on what we’re searching for. I think a Famima would be a fine addition to the Core, but am concerned it would open the door for an avalanche of overly-neon’d, cookie-cutter bland-food-and-blander-retail-options establishments. Certainly we could find a suitable place on the periphery of the core, no? Problem is, most of the core is still iffy enough no major chain will touch it. The core shall rise again! — it’s just gonna take longer cuz the RE market took a dump and money is tight.
I Love famima! They have really fresh sushi, and good soup.