Monthly Archives: January 2012

Industriel Restaurant Plans to Open by March 2012 in Downtown LA

Posted on January 27, 2012 by | 3 Comments

Industriel replaces Carl's Jr and is slated to open within the next month or two contingent on passing the city's tough inspection process

It’s been exactly one year since Industriel was announced to replace Carl’s Jr at the corner of 6th and Grand on the ground floor of the historic Milano Lofts building. Then last October, the dark metallic “Industriel signs” were installed over the front door (way before opening) giving us a sneak peek at what was to come. Now, the signs have been lit up at night and new black and white posters have gone up over the front windows.

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Walmart Express Rumored to be Coming to Chinatown in Downtown LA

Posted on January 26, 2012 by | 4 Comments

Walmart's new urban concept called "Walmart Express" is rumored to be looking in Chinatown in Downtown LA

Late last year, a source informed me that a new urban-Walmart concept called “Walmart Express” was looking to open one of its first West Coast locations somewhere in Downtown LA. This new urban concept would be a lot smaller than their usual big box locations that are as large as 185,000 square feet–try a mere 15,000 square feet according to the WSJ.

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Clark’s Gallery Now Open in the Financial District in Downtown LA

Posted on January 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Clark's Gallery recently opened for business and is located by Wilshire/Grand Ave in the Financial District in Downtown LA

Back in Nov 2011, I posted about the arrival of Clark’s Gallery in the Financial District replacing the DowntownLAGallery, which apparently used to be a Jack in the Box fast food restaurant sometime in the 90s. Located by Wilshire/Grand Ave directly next to popular hang out spot Casey’s Irish Pub and not far from the future Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Clark’s Gallery is now open after relocating from its former location near the Bradbury Building in the Biddy Mason Park.

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Downtown LA’s Water Grill Seafood Restaurant Reopens for Dinner on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 by | 1 Comment

The newly remodeled Water Grill reopens for business this Tuesday (Jan 24, 2012) for dinner at 5 pm

It was less than two weeks ago that I got a sneak peek of all the construction going on inside the Water Grill, located in the heart of LA’s financial district. The seafood restaurant’s interior was being transformed from the dated 90′s decor it was well-known for since it first opened in 1991 to an updated classic retro vintage design that pulled from the restaurant’s original art deco elements.

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Downtown LA’s 23-Story Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn to Break Ground in March 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 by | 11 Comments

The 23-story Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn (on the right) is slated to break ground in March 2012 across from the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott at LA Live (Photo: CCA via DT News)

Earlier this month, some newer renderings surfaced of Downtown LA’s next ground up hotel, the 23-story Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn by LA Live. And now another rendering courtesy of the Central City Association (via Downtown News) gives us another perspective on how the new hotel tower will interact with LA Live and the rest of South Park. The newest rendering is a sea change from the ugly initial rendering released back in April 2011.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, hotels, pedestrian oriented, smart growth

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Fourth Starbucks to Open in Downtown LA’s South Park District

Posted on January 18, 2012 by | 8 Comments

Starbucks has leased about 1,600 SF at 9th and Flower in South Park

Back in August 2011, I reported that Chase Bank was aggressively making inroads into the Downtown LA market by putting, what seemed like, ATMs eveywhere (good for those who bank with Chase avoiding ATM fees). One of the locations that Chase was planning on opening a branch at–the ground floor corner space at the 14-story Skyline Condos at 9th and Flower–fell through. Instead, two sources have confirmed that Starbucks has signed a lease for approximately 1,600 square feet.

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Global Architect Giant SOM Returning to Los Angeles with Corporate Headquarters in Downtown LA

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | 6 Comments

Global architect giant SOM returns to Los Angeles as Downtown LA revitalization continues to centralize and tame the sprawling region

After two other architect firms recently opened in Downtown LA (Gensler and SAA both at City National Plaza), I had a hunch that more architecture firms would follow the same trend and open downtown, but I couldn’t have asked for a more prolific or prestigious one than SOM (Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill). According to The Architects Newspaper, SOM will open a Los Angeles studio in Downtown LA by February 2012 (next month) spearheaded by three former AECOM (also based in Downtown LA) architects: Michael Mann, Paul Danna, and Jose Palacios.

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The Oscar Academy Awards Show May Relocate to Downtown LA from Hollywood

Posted on January 11, 2012 by | 6 Comments

The Academy Awards is in discussions with AEG to relocate the Oscars to LA Live

The Los Angeles Times reports that AEG (owner of LA Live/Staples Center) and the Academy Awards are negotiating behind closed doors at this point, but there may still be a chance that the movie industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony will stay in Hollywood if a deal cannot be reached. Apparently, the 10-year lease with CIM Group (the owners of the Kodak Theater) is coming up and now cheaper rent is being sought by the Academy.

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Water Grill Will Reopen End of January with New Look in Downtown LA

Posted on January 11, 2012 by | 2 Comments

A new look and logo, updated menu, and $1.5 million renovation is aimed at keeping Water Grill relevant as Downtown LA continues to rapidly evolve

Yesterday, I got a chance to take a sneak peek inside the work-in-progress and construction that’s actively transforming one of Downtown LA’s most venerated restaurants, Water Grill, from a dated 90′s decor to an updated retro vintage look that successfully manages to pull from the restaurant’s original art deco elements.

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Ross Dress For Less Leases 39,000 SF in Historic Woolworth Building on Broadway in Downtown LA

Posted on January 11, 2012 by | 15 Comments

Ross Dress for Less will replace the former long-gone Foot Locker in the historic Woolworth Building on Broadway

A press release today from LA Councilman Jose Huizar’s office announces the arrival of discount giant Ross Dress for Less into Downtown LA’s nascent retail scene with a planned opening in early 2013. The new Ross will take over 39,000 SF of retail space consisting of the first floor and basement within the 1920 historic Woolworth Building (a former Foot Locker store) and according to Huizar’s press release, “Grand historic staircases are being restored and modern amenities are being added to the design to complement the existing historic fabric of the building, creating a unique urban Downtown model for the national retailer.”

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Posted in downtown los angeles, fashion, retail

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