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Our inbox constantly being fed information on new retail tips around town. A lot of the time it's not enough to report on, but now we've gathered enough fragments to compile into a sizable list. Here's what we known on new businesses coming to town:
HERON BUILDING
Showbiz Ribs, a one-stop shop for pulled pork, tri tip, sausage links, burgers, chicken, shrimp and sandwiches has staked its claim on a retail space across from the Pacific Center. The meat-heavy restaurant coming to 520 W. 6th Street (near Pershing Square) and will feature live music and a comedy night.
RANDOM RESTAURANT NOTICES
An alcohol permit application has been filed by Camacho's Inc. for a new cafe at 608 N. Main Street, along Olvera Street. The company is known for its Camacho's Cantina brand (with locations in Hollywood and City of Industry) and manages El Paseo Inn and Liberty Grill.
A restaurant called Crown Cafe is in the works for Downtown, but no further details details are available.
Main Street Grille, a no frills eatery at 5th and Main that debuted last fall, is being rebranded as Cafe Royal. A temporary banner on the stucco building's awning announces the name change.
PACIFIC ELECTRIC LOFTS
Coming to the Los Angeles Street side of the residential building is Loft Cleaners, a neighborhood dry cleaning business.
Work began last month on the new basement bar known as The Association, which a reader (and resident of PE Lofts) states will occupy a portion of the old Cole's Sandwich shop. Interior designs for "the dark, sexy, sophisticated” venue were created by (fer) studio, the boutique firm behind Fred Segal Cafe and Father’s Office, among others.
The Association will offer loft residents a ‘Goodfellas’-style private rear entrance in addition to the public street entry.
SKYLINE CONDOMINIUMS
Panini Restaurant has been announced to fill a portion of the Skyline Condominiums’ ground level directly across Ralphs on the corner of 9th and Hope. Preliminary research confirms this Panini Restaurant is not affiliated with the eatery on Wilshire Boulevard in Miracle Mile of the same name.
SANTA FE LOFTS
Art Murmur Gallery opened early this year in a recessed retail space accessible from 6th Street. Nightlife mogul Ced Moses has a tequila bar in the works for the vacant unit next door.
On the corner of 6th and Los Angeles, a basketball shoe boutique specializing Adidas footwear will be kicking off soon. Sporty storefront decals have already been placed in the shop’s windows.
EASTERN COLUMBIA BUILDING
As recently reported, entrepreneurs Joy Plas & Judy Hong are bringing Pilates Downtown LA to Broadway this April. The ladies have relayed to us that an art gallery from Beverly Hills may be filling a space close by, although recent reports state the deal may have fallen through.
TOY FACTORY LOFTS
A New York art dealer is launching a new 1,600 square-foot gallery space called Untitled beside Royal Claytons. Expect an April 2008 opening.
SHY BARRY LOFTS
Six storefronts along Broadway between 5th and 6th are being constructed out of the old Rite Aid space. Yaniz Abiner, a representative from the building’s sales office, states that jewelry-related tenants are being sought for lease. No contracts have been signed.
888 S. FIGUEROA STREET
The office tower on the northeast corner of Figueroa and 9th contains an conditional use permit application by Elizabeth Peterson to convert 8,000 square-feet of currently occupied retail space into three restaurants, a cafe and two gourmet shops. The application was filed just last year.
Thanks to all the readers who contributed to this report!
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14 comments
I’m excited for Olvera Street. It’s a perfect place to have restaurants open past 8 pm.
Hey, y’all—I’ve tried twice to be put on your list; luv your publication. Hoping third time’s a charm! D.
Sorry, David — which list are you referencing?
any news on that eyesore building 845 Figueroa right across the street from 888 Figueroa?
I might be opening a casual Mexican Grill with beer and wine, loungy but modern industrial atmospere. Not Table service…more like order at the counter so it will be fast for the lunch crowd… but comfortable enought to want to linger at night and maybe have a few drinks. Near 5th and Spring. Does downtown need this place?
Does anyone have any more info on Chapman groundfloor retail besides Kelly’s Coffee?
Last time I heard (and this was short while ago), The Chapman was courting a restaurant and day spa business. I don’t think anything is concrete yet.
Way to go SHYBARY! Just what we need….MORE jewlery stores. Im sure that is exactly what the city had in mind too for the future revived Broadway!
i wonder if the name change for main street grille comes with a change in ownership. it’s not a great location, but that place has always been empty when i’ve gone by. i think i could count all of the customers i’ve ever seen there without having to take off my socks. it’s too bad, because it looks like they did a nice job of rebuilding the space.
i’m not sure that 5th street around spring and main is a great restaurant location yet, but i have heard they are also looking for a restaurant tenant to take over the billy’s coffee shop space in the rosslyn hotel. maybe that stretch will pick up when the rowan lofts open up.
Not only that, Main Street Grille is not good. The food is average and the service is worse. I’m guessing the word spread quickly. I went once with the boys and vowed to never go back.
Art gallery at Eastern Columbia is dead for certain and if anyone knows a store who would go into Barry’s 5th and Broadway building - let me know. We need something that will be open at night on that corner.
The Chapman has a jewelry store going in on the corner of 8th/Broadway and the day spa pulled out.
Say what you will about more jewelry stores, they seem to make a living and I would prefer those to more places selling cheap CD players or $5 women’s clothing. I just hope they can hold themselves back on the signage and facade and do something (at least a little bit) restrained.
And Main Street Grille was not great. I wanted it to be. I gave it a chance at least three times. The quality of the food wasn’t horrible, but it didn’t knock my socks off. It was merely acceptable. And yes, the service was awful.
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