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The year 2008 may just be known as the year the world took notice of our little burg — or at least reluctant Angelenos who otherwise may not have ventured Downtown that often.

Sometimes it just takes facts and figures to really quantify what’s happening, even if you see it day in and day out.

So despite the underpinnings of a flailing economy that began last December, over 67 restaurant and nightlife projects in the pipeline have been seen through to a grand opening.  Those business owners took a risk and deserve our recognition for making it happen.

On the flip side, nine notable closures remind us that it’s tough work to keep a restaurant afloat.

In that vein, angelenic presents 2008, The Year of the Restaurant, the guide to the restaurants and drinking establishments that have opened — and closed — this year in Downtown (organized by neighborhood).  Bon appetit!

What’s your favorite new restaurant of 2008?  Let us know in the comments!

Huge list sorted by neighborhood after the jump…

You’ll be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed at all the openings, announcements and events happening in Downtown LA this week and next.  But I may just be projecting a little.

Openings

LA Live’s grand opening ceremony last night means there are now a dozen restaurants and venues in various stages of completion, with several already open, including ESPN Zone sports bar, Starbucks, the Conga Room, and Lucky Strike Lanes.  The GRAMMY Museum opens on Saturday.  LA Live; 800 W Olympic Blvd

Sixth Street is abuzz with activity now that the Association has opened quietly in the below-ground floor of the Pacific Electric Lofts.  Described as “a proper boozer” by owner Ashley Joyce at both Eater LA and the Times’ Entertainment section (both publications got some serious details), the Association can only be identified from the street by its black door and lion’s-head knocker.   The Association; 110 E 6th St (at Main); 213-627-7385

Originally opening in 1908, Cole’s has planned a large centennial party in celebration of its debut following a year and a half of renovations and cleanup. The “originator of the French dip” is back in business, and in keeping with the “100” theme, sandwiches will be priced at 100 cents this Saturday.  Cole’s, Originators of the French Dip; 118 E 6th St (at Main); 213-622-4090; Opening day celebration Saturday, December 6, 12:00pm-4:00pm

A closure and neighborhood block party after the jump…

Broadway’s only Zen-style teahouse celebrates its grand opening this evening with festivities open to the public and a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Valley Economic Development Center’s Historic Downtown Retail Project.  Special guest Councilman Jose Huizar, whose district includes the Broadway corridor, will be speaking.

SipTea opened quietly last month with a large collection of over 30 teas, labeled and lined up on a counter for patrons to decide on based on smell — and can be ordered hot, iced or as a tea soda or tea latte.  Additionally, light cafe fare is served with some vegetarian options thrown in for good measure.

If you haven’t gone yet, now’s your chance to check out the shop and try a few free samples.  Owner Laura Stewart knows a thing or two about tea and isn’t afraid to let you know the benefits of drinking it.

Now that it’s official, welcome to the neighborhood!

More info on the public event after the jump…

Broadway’s first teahouse opened for business today — finally! — according to owner Laura Stewart. SipTea’s storefront first appeared back in February, but delays due to permitting and inspections pushed the opening date back by several months.

An Asian-inspired Zen theme — Stewart prefers the term “urban hip” — defines the small joint near Broadway’s intersection with 9th Street, in stark contrast to traditional English tea parlors defined by flowery teapots. Organic and eco-friendly touches also play a big role in the overall concept.

Quick bites like sandwiches, salads and desserts are being served, and the shop naturally boasts an extensive collection of teas from which to choose, many award-winning or selected for their uniqueness. Teas can be ordered blended or as a soda or latte, hot or over ice.

As previously reported, coffee will not be served due to its strong aroma interfering with the tea experience, but free WiFi may be enough to win over some of you stubborn espresso drinkers.

Store info and more interiors after the jump…

New announcements, grand openings, permit delays and some projects dead in the water — it’s all an indication of a very active local dining scene here in Downtown LA. Oddly enough, none of these has to do with 7th Street’s “Restaurant Row.”

Got a restaurant tip? Let us know!

Caffe Primo: In the ground floor of the Pegasus Apartments, the “next-generation cafe” should begin construction this month after recently obtaining construction permits, according to a company representative. Opening is planned for April 2009. [Wilshire and Flower]

Crown Cafe: Permit delays have held up the opening of this Los Angeles Street cafe / coffee shop, and with only one more holdout remaining, owner Robert Kashefi hopes to fling open the doors this month. [523 S Los Angeles Street]

Drago Centro: Celestino Drago’s contemporary-Italian eatery will open by late September in City National Plaza, according to publicist Emily Wilson. The bank’s “historic stone-walled vault” (but the building was built in 1972?) is being converted into a private dining room. The private dining area will be called, what else, “The Vault.” Did I mention there are vaulted ceilings? I’m not making this up, folks. Buildout is estimated to cost a total of $7 million, and a new website shows some construction progress. [525 S Flower Street]

Hygge: Construction begins this month on Luma’s ground-floor retail space, which will eventually house a new Danish-inspired restaurant and bakery. Don’t be swayed by the pronunciation of the restaurant’s name (sounds kind of like “hoo-guh”) — I’m sure there will be more unpronounceables on the menu. Owner Ray Lee is planning an ambitious year-end opening, but we all know how that goes. Either way, I’m filing this one in our “can’t wait” file; South Parkians can’t keep going to Panini Cafe every night. [11th and Hope]

A whole lot more after the jump…

We have a saying here at angelenic: “Add two months to any restaurant’s planned opening date.” City permits and construction tie-ups have a tendency to roll through even the most conservative of grand-opening estimates.

Originally planning a June opening, SipTea proprietor and tea afficionado Laura Stewart is wrapping up permit delays and aiming for a mid-August soft opening, to be followed by a grand opening celebration the first week of September.

The Zen-style teahouse’s curious bubble-themed interior has been visible on the corner of 9th and Broadway for some time now. Teas can be ordered hot, iced, blended, as a latte or even as a “tea soda” — and don’t even think about asking for a coffee.

Last time we wrote about SipTea, some commented on the dockworkers in the rendering. Say what you will — it’s a nice deviation from the usual wine-toting alternative.

The usual, after the jump…

Spurred by changing expectations on the block, owners of the Ninth and Broadway Building have decided to reposition its commercial space with a more classy aesthetic.

Uniform retail signage has upgraded several storefronts once littered with oversized banners and dated light boxes. Metro PCS, Connie’s Cut & Style and Vista Art Gallery have adopted the fresh new look first given to upcoming tenant SipTea (now expecting a late July opening), along with two other freshly-revamped spaces advertised for lease.

Also fitting the bill is new-comer Nails on Ninth, replacing furniture show-space Room Eighteen on the building’s 9th Street side. According to the owner, the stylish nail salon may arrive by the end of the month.

The Payday Advance business on the corner is the only tenant yet to make the switch.

Remembering what it used to look like…

Next time you’re there, look around. Investment dollars, adaptive-reuse projects and other little touch-ups are putting a sparkle back into Broadway’s timeworn landmarks, one building at a time.

With each new transformation project, some area residents may expect to see an “out with the old, in with the new” shift from the Broadway of recent decades to the vision inspired by the popular Bringing Back Broadway initiative.

But what exactly is being brought back?

Higher-end shops and cafes? Maybe just a diverse place for all citizens of Los Angeles to enjoy?

[Read more →]