Industriel, after a long wait, finally opens this week at Sixth and Grand in the Financial District
The sign went up in October of 2011, and after almost a year and half since Industriel was first announced that it would replace Carl’s Jr at 6th and Grand in the Financial District, it is now finally nearing the finish line as the new French restaurant prepares for its grand opening tomorrow on Friday.
On Wednesday night, servers were getting the hang of things during a soft opening. Industriel owner, Armen Hakobayan, tells me that he invited many of the loyal customers from his Pasadena restaurant Green Street Tavern to come down and try out his latest culinary endeavor. The crowd inside the restaurant quickly grew after 6PM filling in the industrial, yet warm and cozy, space. Oysters, a variety of quiches, escargots, and pork sandwiches were served.
Hakobayan, who now has five restaurants under his belt (including two in Armenia, one in Moscow, another in Pasadena, and now Industriel in Downtown LA), brings another great dining option to Downtown LA that helps keep downtown at the forefront of LA’s competitive dining scene. And knowing me, I was especially glad to see this corner, once derelict and seedy, cleaned up and activated. Nothing makes me happier to see our urban center being revitalized before my very eyes.
Industriel opens officially on Friday, May 18, 2012 according to Hakobayan.
Industriel uses warm tones such as wood to provide a balance to the industrial design
Simple, elegant, and industrial make up the design theme of the restaurant
Jars filled with a variety of fruits and veggies (just for design) greet diners at the entrance
Stairs lead up to the mezzanine level where an intimate bar lounge is located
The bar lounge on the mezzanine level is furnished with vintage inspired pieces and dimly lit for a very intimate atmosphere
Windows from the mezzanine level provide visual connection with the city bustle outside but still remain quiet and relaxing on the inside
287 "honey bears" hang above a claw foot style bath tub
Crates against the wall add to the industrial theme of the restaurant
Perhaps the most salient feature of the restaurant are two vintage style portraits that adorn the front entrance
It’s taken a long time for all the fast food leases to expire in the improving parts of Downtown so the new crop of restaurants could appear. Enough food courts are still around in office complexes to feed those who are still addicted to fast food while allowing for new restaurants – which are open nights and weekends – to occupy prime corners and prime pedestrian paths.
Not all of the food courts stay open late or open on weekends. It’s quite a shame that some residents, like myself, have to drive out of downtown just to get fast food. The point of being in downtown is to have it all there. Losing this Carls Jr. wasn’t a loss because there’s plenty downtown. If we lost all of the fast food joints it would be a huge disappointment. I love the restaurants too, but sometimes I want something quick and cheap and the mom and pop places aren’t cutting it. There’s plenty of room for all of it.
I totally agree Jamie. We need easy, cheapish food in downtown. Especially at night and on weekends, I wish Saffron were open especially…
Fantastic! Thank you for eating and writing your way through DTLA for us!
So excited to see this corner activated.
This puts my shop (Clark’s Gallery) right between two vibrant dining streets. 6th with great places like Urbano and and now Industriel and 7th with great places like Bottega Louie, Mas Malo & more! Let’s hope the evening foot traffic along Grand and Hope continues to increase with new destinations, and ultimately some retail shopping for all those diners and drinkers!!!
Finally! Pictures look great, although when i looked inside from the street the other day, i noticed red chairs that look kind of tacky. Anyways, this will do wonders for that corner and is a massive improvement over the Carls jr. Any plans to redo the outside entrance area?
Nice photos, Brigham! Any idea if their menu is vegetarian-friendly? Either way, it looks like a nice spot for a glass of wine after work (for those of us who work in the Financial District).
I went down 7th street today and even though there are a lot of restaurants, there is no sidewalk seating, so I couldn’t tell where and which were the restaurants. I think L.A. is lacking on bringing people to the sidewalks, and by putting a few tables and chairs out on the sidewalk I think will realy liven up the street/sidewalk environment.
when you open your own restaurant you can do whatever you want