walgreens deal falls through; 7th and hope retail space remains vacant
The signing of Walgreens, a national pharmacy and drug store with locations in 49 states, is now on hold, according to Derrick Moore, Vice President of CB Richard Ellis’s Urban Retail Properties division.
A slowing economy has recently prompted the company to place a moratorium on nearly all new locations, including a Downtown store at 7th and Hope.
Across the street, RiteAID Pharmacy has been operating since 2001, so residents, workers and visitors can still buy the sundries they need in the neighborhood.
Though rumors swirled last year that retailer Urban Outfitters was looking at the space, representatives decided to pass on the location.
Moore states the landlord is now looking at all available options for the ground floor — which has remained vacant for over ten years — including breaking up the space for multiple tenants.
If I ask what retailer would work in this location, will you promise not to say Target?
52 comments
American Apparel or Urban Outfitters
Please … did anyone really think this was going to happen? Walking home yesterday I noticed the Yoshinoya on 7th shut down too. Downtown is looking up!
I remember hearing that the owner was not considering restaurants – better start now. Long live ‘Resaurant Row’.
Ruth’s Criss, Cheesecake factory even.
so many posts with bad news for downtown this week -angelenic should go on a vacation and stop posting for a while! makes me reconsider my 600K loft I invested in 2 years ago
A clothing store would be perfect for this location – H&M, or any of the Gap Brands (BR, Old Navy, Gap).
Whole Foods… or Trader Joes!!
Trader Joe’s PLEASE!!!
I caution readers to take all this with a grain of salt. The economy is bad right now, and it’s not just limited to Downtown LA. The best thing you can do is to keep supporting your favorite local businesses while these things work their way through the system.
I’ve got a lot of good news to report too – so it’s not all bad. Many new restaurants are opening up, so we’ll continue to see Downtown progressing into the new year.
I knew this would be happening after the new year. Hang in there.
I’d love to see a Target Express fill the space.
Norm!
He told us not to use the T word!
Ugh, this is terrible news. I can’t stand the Rite-Aid at 7th and Hope – the lines inside are always incredibly long and the staff is usually less than pleasant. I thought a Walgreens would be a great addition.
Hope bout some decent shopping options? Urban Outfitters just opened an AMAZING STORE on Cahuenga in Hollywood. Something like that would be great. H&M would be a dream come true.
this is actually good news. we dont need a walgreens in that location. we need one of the stores that have been mentioned above or a large bookstore. that is the ideal tenant in my opinion.
That would be a good place for Barney’s Beanery, or 40 Duece
How about the bookstore everyone was talking about? Barnes and Noble or Boarders?
Most of the staff from 40 Deuce went to a bar in Manhattan beach, the name of which escapes me.
I would love to have H&M here. Downtown Women need a clothing store darn it! lol I hate having to order stuff online and then they arrive and I don’t like them.
We need a shoe store too…. ahhh sallivating…
The Yoshinoya on 7th/Olive is not a loss! It was one of the most ghetto and dangerous restaurants I have ever been in. I used to work across the street and would go there for a quick and cheap lunch. Let me tell you: I was THREATENED there by a homeless guy! I was eating my food and he asked me for money and I said, “No thank you” and instead of leaving me alone, he started YELLING AT ME and then saying how he could “Fuck me up right now!” He was “all up in my grill” lol and his spit got all on my food.
Then I saw another guy tell the cashier that he wanted “free food” and when the cashier said “I can’t do that,” he said he would come back and fuck him up.
So Downtown LA is definitely NOT hurting when these ghetto ass stores decide to shut down. GOOD RIDDANCE!
Sorry, the previous message was FOR RICHARD
The best retail option isn’t a specialty store like Urban Outfitters where the need for constant shoppers is imperative for its financial success.
What we NEED (not want) right now in Downtown LA are more businesses that are relevant to our EVERYDAY NEEDS like grocery stores. The perfect tenant would actually be either another casual restaurant (like Norms) or something like Fresh & Easy/Trader Joes.
Retailers are like sheep. A business like Barnes and Noble is not going to open up shop first and act as a pioneer. They have very strict standards when it comes to opening up new stores in up-and-coming neighborhoods like Downtown LA. Besides, the LA Public Library is such a huge asset to the region and should be considered when you’re starving to hold a book in your hand.
H&M sounds great. Love that Susana!
Also, Cost Plus World Market, the always sought-after TJs, a nice bookstore (the space would be great with a loft second floor full of books! Or several retailers could come in. I think nicer retailers are hesitant b/c there isn’t a critical mass yet and the Macy’s Plaza is going nowhere. Maybe if a few joined up it would remove the hesitation about being the first one to act.
Yay! More locations for my proposed troupe of post-apocalyptic squatters. Lol@ all the negative “downtown is ghetto” comments. You ain’t seen nuthin yet.
In all seriousness, the silver lining here is that retail space will hopefully become a lot cheaper downtown, allowing small, independent shops to move in and thrive. All the calls for more big box chain stores are just silly. It’s not going to happen, and it would be tragic if it did.
This space has been vacant for 10 years and the best suggestion you guys can come up with is an Urban Outfitters? Why not push for these empty spaces to become community centers? Cheap offices for non-profits? A homeless advocacy center? Community artist spaces? Something that actually serves the neighborhood instead of vampirically capitalizing on the independence that’s made the area so attractive?
the area is not ripe for serious retail like urban outfitters or H&M… we can dream though… it should be ready when the next wave of redevelopment hits
Refreshing to hear a voice from someone who doesn’t want to generify downtown. It’s sick that all you people think about is inviting charmless corporations into downtown when you can have those places ANYWHERE (in other words, where you came from). Target is the best thing you can come up with when thinking of filling a vacant space? Dammit, people. Take the fucking Red Line 12 minutes to Hollywood and Highland or the Gold Line to Pasadena and all that crap is yours everywhere. You already have such easy options to this stuff one r/t subway ride away.
And Urban Outfitters? Check the record on that foul company.
Fresh and Easy would be cool.
Even better something completely unique would be nice, although it’s a pretty big space to be filled by independent shoes.
How about a performance space? Would be a fun location to see a concert, especially since its close to the 7th st. Metro center.
I also think a fresh and easy would work in that space.
And Rich..keep reporting the news- good or bad..positive or negative..it is what it is.
People need to deal with it, i am and have.
My favorite saying as told to me by my psychiatrist: “life is full of changes and nothing lasts forever”.
I think it would be hard to have a clothing store unless there were 4 or 5 other clothing stores on the same street. I guess that Macy’s mall is sorta close, but I doubt you’d see a clothing store go in there.
I’d love a Sunglass Hut!
MillionsOfDeadYupsters is either suga or Echo Park.
OMG a homeless advocacy center would be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, all. I know you may be surprised that I’m posting here. But my daughter told me about your blog and it sounded kind of hip. I don’t leave Malibu much but sometimes I’ve seen downtown from David Geffen’s house.
Many of you will be happy to know that I’ve decided to bring back Sanctuary, my line of exquisite gothic furnishings and my CFO has just signed the lease on this very space you’ve been discussing. I hope you’re not disappointed that it won’t be a Target (Chastity loves the one in West Hollywood) but there is a bright side: Target doesn’t sell my line of exquisite gothic furnishings. Our showroom and retail center will be operating Mid-March and we’re bringing back all of your dark side favorites: blackout curtains in 5 shades of double-thick velvet, the Iron Cross headboard, and deer antler salad tongs I designed myself.
xo
C.
You guys are really making this hard for me.
Can you do Eli Broad?
If Eli funded my art-life, yeah, I’d do him.
I know Metropolis Books on Main street isn’t a big bookstore like Borders but they are usually willing to special order titles. They’re very accommodating so don’t forget about ‘em. My vote goes to Fresh n’ Easy or TJ’s on that corner. It would be …so nice.
^^^
glad to hear celebs are investing in downtown
while Cher’s line sounds interesting, it’s not really my cup of organic tea. I prefer furniture that has simple lines, contemporary, and european. But kudos to Cher.
trader joes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about a restaurant incubator like the successful Mercado on Expo near USC? They also sell local crafts and have music / events. We could funnel local art and jewelry in here.
Or, Trader Joes.
TJs already exist not far from downtown. Go to them.
We need more art spaces so that our gallery identity isn’t ghettoized to what is becoming Haight Street Craft Explosion around 5th and Main. Went to “art walk” the other night — what the hell is that?
Downtown branch of Amoeba!
YEAHHH!!!!
Here is a list showing the abundance of Trader Joes in and around Los Angeles, to make it easier for you to find one painfully and already close to downtown. Downtown does not need one.
http://www.traderjoes.com/Attachments/SC_loc.pdf
Equinox gym
Urban Outfitters. Just had to say it again.
Yes, I agree we actually need more art galleries downtown because art galleries are actually good and interesting and anything that matters at all in any percent. Actually.
Cyb, no one wears shoulder pads like you do.
how bout a bar…. a BIG ASS BAR!
I miss the days when bars and clubs made you wait outside interminably if you dressed in conservative clothes.
I just have to add — I’ve been rather sick the last couple of days…and reading the comments here lately have been a real source of laughter for me.
Line of the week: “I don’t leave Malibu much but sometimes I’ve seen downtown from David Geffen’s house.”
Thx Cher!
That said — I’m down with the idea to split the space up into multiple retail/dining opportunities.
I don’t like the idea of Urban Outfitters. You can find much more exciting options in the Fashion District as long as you are a bit more adventurous. I actually think a furniture store like Crate and Barrel or West Elm, or CB2 would be great. I would be even more happy with a Trader Joe’s, but it would be a shame to see the windows become boarded up or blocked as they normally do with supermarkets.
or a GIANT RADIOSHACK!!!!
my DREAM would be an outback steakhouse
How about a Barney’s CO-OP.
It’s the right size for that location and they sale suits for the “suits” , and also sale street clothes and shoes.
CO-OP!!!!!
Of course, H&M would be the holy grail of retail for that space. It would be like a sweet retail dream come true to have a downtown H&M.
Anything really, I live down the street, and it’s just a shame to see empty space. It’s a really nice ground floor space too. I agree, something needs to go there keeping the windows open, it’d be a tragedy otherwise.
Happy to report that this location will become a Walgreens after all (as reported in The Downtown News, 4/13 edition). I’m glad to see this long vacant spaced filled. Even though there is a Rite-Aid just across the street, it will still bring another dead corner to life…and for that, we should all be glad!