A new Starbucks will replace a music store at the corner of 6th and Spring in Downtown LA
Spring Street’s indie streak is now officially over. Starbucks becomes the first international corporate chain to open on a street dominated by independently owned businesses. Starbucks will replace, Stereoline, a music store at the corner of 6th/Spring on the ground floor of the Hayward Hotel. The music store, which sold a variety of musical instruments like guitars and drums, will still be in the area as it relocates to 518 S Broadway. Starbucks joins a crowded list of other cafes along Spring Street including Groundfloor Cafe, Spring for Coffee, Coffee Bar, Syrup Desserts, and newcomer Tierra Mia Coffee.
Once considered the “Wall Street of the West Coast” in the early 1900s, Spring Street has evolved into the most densely populated residential neighborhood in Downtown LA. Historic buildings lining Spring Street, once housing early-American corporate offices, have been converted to thousands of new residential lofts.
Indie businesses of all kinds have popped up over the last several years along Spring Street in response to the large population growth. Businesses ranging from galleries and pet stores, restaurants to bars, computer repair shops to clothing stores, psychics to nail salons have contributed to a unique and vibrant urban neighborhood unlike anywhere else in Los Angeles.
Starbucks’ arrival into indie-rich Spring Street is definitely another sign of constant change and evolution as Downtown LA continues to revitalize. Whether it’s viewed as good or bad for this particular neighborhood is up for debate.
Spring Street residents and business owners sound off:
“I’m actually happy [about Starbucks coming to Spring Street]. People will continue to support their places, but the ones who live on Spring Street and who like Starbucks will just go there now. Plus, it’s open later, makes the area feel safer, prettier facade. etc.” — Joshua Levi, Resident
“The paint on Tierra Mia isn’t even dry yet, and here comes the big gun. In any other scenario, I would celebrate a new Starbucks. But at 6th & Spring, I have mixed emotions. What’s next? A Gap at 7th & Spring? Also, what do you think the Spring St. locals will think about this?” — Jeff, Resident
“I feel sad for the 5 coffee places within 1 block from there. A new one just opened where Night Toast was last week. How much coffee, cocktails and food do we need here? Still not enough retail.” — Caryn Hofberg, Owner of Flea Store
The new Starbucks will open on the corner of 6th and Spring at the Hayward Hotel
This is Jane Jacob’s theory of “Destruction of Diversity” playing itself out. Nice to see the neighborhood is maturing. Some things will be lost, but I feel more will be gained.
I totally agree with you. Good reference to Jane Jacob as well.
In the article, Caryn Hofberg says “How much coffee, cocktails and food do we need here? Still not enough retail.”
First of all, I think Cary is only looking at these stores in terms of quantity. What she needs to understand is that there are thousands of people crossing those areas on a regular basis; many not even living there and many regulars who frequent these places daily. During my travels in Asia there are many stores of similar goods/services in such close proximity of each other. And yet they survive. Why? Because they cater to what is out there; the needed goods and services of the traffic density that supports them.
True, there may be not enough retail. But as with any businesses, wise entreprenuers always do their due diligience. We must not force unnecessary risk on anyone, especially independent stores who carry less capital and more risk than large corporate giants. At the same time, we must have patient for the movers and shakers to make their first move. Downtown is still growing its residential base. Retail stores will not sprout everywhere all at once to accomodate these new residents. Their will be a lag, and sometimes delays (economy, regulatory hindrances, etc.). Just look at the proposed Wal-Mart store near Chinatown. People complain it will destroy the mom-and-pop stores, and yet Caryn Hofberg says there’s not enough retail. There are so many facets of urban development that we must learn and adapt to.
I believe this is better for the neighborhood… yes international companies is a common thing and may bring others to Spring st… but its just for the better in my opinion.
Something for everyone!
I am a little sad for the other coffee shops but being an owner of a vintage designer shop a step away, I welcome all businesses to the neighborhood. I do believe that the more stores opening up whether it be clothing, electronics coffee shops or markets and restaurants, Will add more life and traffic to probably the City Center Corner of 6th and Spring st. I welcome the traffic and we will all benefit from this. I still will be a Spring for Coffee and Syrup customer.
This is absolutely better than what was there before..That store was an eyesore. There really aren’t many spots in DTLA where Starbucks WOULDN’T benefit the neighborhood in.
Now if they could just get rid of the couple low income apartment buildings on Spring..
There are mostly decent folks in those low-income apartment buildings you’d like to see gone. Different folks add to the mix of downtown. That is part of the reason you’re here isn’t it?
“Now if they could just get rid of the couple low income apartment buildings on Spring..”
Yeah, that’s the classist spirit.
I hated the music store blaring commercial FM radio through it’s speakers onto the street, and yeah, it was ugly too. The street will become more attractive and will feel a tad safer. But more f&^%ing coffee?
perhaps *now* trader joe’s will take us seriously.
I echo other comments here. This will be a good addition to this corner and will be better for the neighborhood than the previous tenant. There’s room for both chains and independent businesses downtown and those who are loyal customers to existing indy coffee establishments like Syrup or Spring for Coffee will still patronize them. Meanwhile Starbucks will offer something familiar to customers seeking that. In the end, I fee like it’s good for this intersection and the surrounding area.
I welcome the new Starbucks and any business to the neighborhood! There’s always room for growth and opportunities. Starbucks will attract even more people and theres a job opportunity to those who need a job! Now if they get rid of the ugly green lane, that would make Spring St. even better, it’s barely even used. A Trader Joes would be nice as well!! :)
Stereoline already provided jobs and that “ugly green lane” is an effort to actually make DTLA more green and less car-centric. Where do you people come from?
I too welcome a Starbucks to the neighborhood. Something consistent where you know what you’re going to get. I like most of the other coffee shops too, but let’s remember, Starbucks is more than coffee, it’s merchandise, sandwiches, desserts, breakfast and more. Other coffee shops (that offer good, friendly, consistent service will survive just fine.
And dare I say it… I’d love to see a couple other nationally known brands in the area. They’re not the bad guys. As a 7 year resident of Spring St., bring on the commercial stores to mix with our wonderful independents. It works in other cities. (NW Portland is a prime example on 21st & 23rd St.)
Not to argue, but the last thing I want when I go for coffee are crappy cds from 90s leftovers. I could care less about their merchandise. The other two coffee places on spring all offer consistent service and consistently awesome coffee. The only consistency that Starbucks brings is its consistently awful coffee, especially espresso. They just don’t care about making espresso drinks. They can’t steam our pour milk to save their lives. It’s a painful experience to watch and taste.
I’m all for some chains downtown, but this is not one I want. If you love coffee and like the independent feel of spring st, visit one of the four coffee shops on Spring within a three block stretch.
Yay! Looking forward to this :D
I welcome this to the growing historic core, but I would like to see more barber shops in the area, people need haircuts to you know.
This is awful if you actually like decent coffee. Spring for Coffee and Coffee Bar both offer amazing coffee of all types. Spring has an awesome customer base and great service, it’s my morning stop. Coffee Bar has a well-designed interior and great outside seating. It’s my favorite place to sit back and enjoy my drink. It’s the 90′s playing out all over again. The only espresso worse than Starbucks is Coffee Bean, which is pretty much undrinkable. I won’t make the chains are terrible comment, this is purely on a qualitative basis. The only plus out of this is that maybe…ugh…there’s no plus.
@Brudy – Coffee is one those things where everyone has their preference I think. I know people who despise Starbucks and others who love it. I personally don’t drink coffee so it’s all kind of lost on me, however I appreciate having something like a Starbucks that can activate that corner in a way that a messy DJ Equipment/Music store can’t. Coffee fans who prefer Spring for Coffee and other indy roasters will likely still patronize them.
My issue with Coffee Bar is their hours. I think they close at 6, which is just ridiculous in my book. Also – the patio area is nice, however upkeep isn’t always great. Last time I was there all of the plants in the planters were dead and things generally looked a bit unkempt. Again, I can’t comment on their coffee since all coffee tastes the same to me (I know that’s blasphemy to coffee drinkers!).
I totally agree that Coffee Bar’s hours are way too limited. Perhaps this will force them to stay open later. And while Spring for Coffee is open later, it will be beneficial to have a place people can sit in at night (presumably this SB will be open nights).
As someone who loves coffee, one of the great things about downtown are all the options (the ones mentioned here plus Handsome in the arts district) and as soon as something like Starbucks appears, I just don’t feel like they can all survive. Starbucks brings an unfair advantage as they can wait out the competition then buy out the space. I remember in philly at one point there were two Starbucks cattycorner to each other. Both were previously independent shops. I’d hate for that to happen here.
This Starbucks is probably more needed on Broadway than it is here, but at it least it shows big names are getting interested in areas east of the Financial District!
I’m glad Starbucks is providing more options to this location. At the same time, I do feel concerns about the other independent coffee places. These places need to really assess their strengths and weaknesses to the local market. These independents should really look into the value propositions of their products, whether its their ambiance, specialty flavors, or price points on unique locally made items. I’m sure there are alot of changes these small independents can implement (and much faster than the processes of a corporate giant). Customer service plays a big part in this. As one commentor, Lawrence, alludes to it is just not about the coffee flavor.
If you’re talking about offering a triple half-soy frappa wacka wacka, I’m glad the local places are more purist in their offerings. This IS what differentiates them from Starbucks. They care about what they are selling and know it well. I’ve had nothing but really great service, especially from Spring for Coffee. And part of customer service is understanding how to make your product correctly, something Starbucks just doesn’t do. But at least I’ll know where to go when the next Tori Amos cd comes out.
I hate this opening! This part of Spring needs another coffee shop like it needs a jewelry store, and they’re already 3 blocks up on 6th! This really looks like cheap business tactics.
What makes me love this neighborhood is all the independent store owners that are passionate about their fares. Starbucks and Wal-Mart moving in are just going to drive them away little by little. I really don’t see how this is going to make the neighborhood better. Sad.
That’s what irritates me most about this. This is a clear play by starbucks to dominate the neighborhood. Independents vs chains will never be a fair fight as Starbucks can hold out while they bleed the indies dry.
As a small retail business owner on Spring St. I really hope all the independent places stay! I’ve been to all the coffee shops and love what each has to offer. We strive everyday to make sure all our business are customer friendly, especially to our neighbors who are our regulars. I guess it just means we got to have our A game on and do whatever it has to take to progress – and continue to thrive! I don’t believe in packing up and giving up. I was in the Military so I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make my goal in a positive way of course.
You should have voiced your concerns when Starbucks started sniffing into Spring Street. Too late now. Allowing Starbucks onto the block demonstrated the neighborhood’s total lack of interest and backbone in maintaining the local economy.
In no time, DTLA will be The Grove.
eater reported that another coffee place (from san francisco) looked at coffeebar’s space, so perhaps the limited hours for coffeebar reflect some waning interest from its current owners. weren’t coffeebar going to expand their hours when they got a beer and wine license? and wasn’t it supposed to be the prototype for a new chain concept?
I purchased my home on Spring St. 7 years ago. Needless to say, I’m completely upside down in my mortgage on a home I bought based on the Grand Ave. Project breaking ground. They still have not broken ground.
I am so excited to see things finally happening on Spring St. after years of regretting my purchase.
A new restaurant coming at The Douglas Building. A new restaurant coming at The El Dorado. A park that FINALLY is getting worked on. And yes, I’m thrilled a nice clean corporate run Starbucks is opening soon.
Coffee Bar – Terrible rude service, mediocre coffee and minimal food offerings and hours. Can’t sit outside because of the buzzing flies everywhere.
Spring for Coffee – Awesome service, awesome coffee, nowhere to sit and enjoy.
Groundwork – Dirty rustic interior, mediocre coffee & service.
That place next to White Gloss Gallery – snotty service, stale food.
Starbucks – Mediocre coffee, consistent food & service, multiple food offerings, clean setting.
While I respect everybody’s preferences and opinions, a neighborhood will not thrive without a mix. There’s probably well over 2000 residents on Spring between 3rd and 8th. One more coffee shop won’t shut down the street. We need a mix of independent and chain for the neighborhood to grow. Any successful thriving city neighborhood with a residential area has a mix of businesses. Until downtown gets some chain stores (outside of that awful mall of course), nobody (tourist or local) wants to come down here. I welcome Starbucks with open arms to the historic core. I embrace the independents that will continue to thrive and grow.
Grow Spring St., Grow.
Old Town Pasadena – a mix – thriving
NW 23rd in Portland – a mix – thriving
Gaslamp Quarter – a mix – thriving
SoHo in NY- a mix – thriving
Notting Hill in London – a mix – thriving
Historic Core of LA – soon to be a mix – soon to be thriving
I can definitely understand not wanting to be underwater mortgagewise and I agree that you need a mix of chains and indies. But many of the neighborhoods you’ve listed are not necessarily places I’d want to live. Many of them are just outdoor shopping malls dominated by chains. While it’s great that Old Town and the Gas Lamp Qrtr have turned around, to me they feel fabricated and lacking in authenticity. They seem to be mostly tourist destinations, separate from the rest of the town. Soho is truly one giant mall, although architecturally it’s incredible. The village (at least the west village) is also well on its way to blandness. All these neighborhoods have the same international stores/brands that you can find anywhere in the world. You can get a condo at the Americana @Brand for the same kinda thing (although that’s an extreme example). I’d like to see a mix of the Lower East Side, meatpacking district, maybe West 3rd st from here – more of a mix of living and independent retail with some chains. Soho 10 years ago, the village 15. And downtown LA has great infrastructure to support a neighborhood that looks and feels authentic. But there’s a lifecycle to neighborhoods and gentrification. There’s probably a perfect moment to live in a place before it goes one way or the other, and with so much money being thrown around by developers, the moment might be short. I don’t think downtown is quite there yet, but we should enjoy some of the grittiness while we still can.
@ brudy, you make some good points but have you operated a small business before? I have and have know several people who have.
I agree that large chain stores can be detrimental to the liveliness and charm of independent stores. Big corporates, when left unchecked, can destroy the mixed diversity of goods and services from other smaller businesses that give local neighborhoods their popularity and appeal. I think this is where city leadership comes in where developers must be guided in preventing the destruction of diversity. There can be balance between large and small stores, but their locations must be assessed and scrutinized (as you have been doing). However, we can all do our part in supporting independent stores without blaming the larger ones. We can also support leadership that can influence (or subsidize) developers to build infrastructure that cater to the smaller businesses. In the end however, it will be the consumer (all of us) who will play the bigger part in determining what gets shaped and formed in our neighborhoods. We participate in this every time we make a purchase.
Hi John – I’ve run my own freelance design business, but not a storefront. I completely agree with everything you wrote. There is definitely a role for government, local leadership, planners. I would look to them to guide and foster sensible development and set up small businesses for success (as best they can anyway). I do think chains and independents can coexist, if the playing field is level.
But you’re right in that ultimately it’s consumers who play the largest role. People clearly like Starbucks or else it wouldn’t be as successful as they are, and some people just don’t care about supporting local businesses or are afraid to try something that’s not cookie-cutter to them.
I had a conversation with one of the guys who works at Spring for Coffee this morning. He said he thought the Starbucks was a good thing – it would bring more people to the area and maybe get more people into their place and become more educated about coffee and more refined in their preferences. He said that there are people now who think there’s no coffee on spring st. I thought that was interesting.
Thanks for your reply brudy. I’ll definitely check out the other coffee places when I come around in that area.
As far as your conversation with the guy who works there goes, I think he’s right. A new Starbucks will most likely attract more street goers in that area, and that doesn’t mean larger groups of people will only go to Starbucks, away from the independents. If that was the case, then that would be a ZERO-SUM mindset; what one gains another loses. I hardly see that case. As you state, as consumers know more what they want, independent stores can definitely open the opportunity for competitive advantage against the large giants. I’m sure Starbucks will be looking and listening closely as well. However, it will be a matter of utlizing one’s strengths that can really make the place very lively and attractive. In general, I think it would be great if large chain stores could sort of co-op with smaller independents in some way/fashion more often; just like organic grocery markets that work with local producers.
@John – maybe I’m more cynical, but I do think large corporate competition ultimately eats its own. Borders and B&N destroyed the indie bookstores, only for one to be killed and the other struggling by Amazon. In the 90s it was corporate record stores, only to be eaten by itunes and their own avarice. In the 2000s Starbucks (at least in philly, where I spent most of that time) really did decimate the local cafe scene. But in all these examples, after the large corporations have digested themselves there becomes room for small independents to re-appear. LA has a growing record shop scene, some bookstores have outlasted Borders and the Last Bookstore here in downtown expands. The coffee scene has really blossomed as tastes become refined and people still search for that “third space” to spend time. It seems there’s something of a renaissance in small, independent businesses. Perhaps people are tiring of the generic sameness of corporate retail, although I kinda doubt it.
Brudy, good points. I do understand about large corporate competition eating its own and the demise of small businesses. Perhaps this is also a reflection of the shifting and dynamic demographics that make up the economic consumer base in these areas. I say this because having traveled to Asia and Europe, the culture and demographic make-up does shape the form and function of a city’s infrastructure. There can be tons of large corporate brand stores out there in dense cities (like Shanghai or Beijing) and they are accepted because the wealthy consumer class is there. At the same time, the lower income folks are slowly squeezed out but city planners don’t enforce the same rigorous standards like we do here. Hence, you’ll still see vibrant districts full of small warehouse vendors, back-alley dim sum carts, and family-owned restaurants (to name a very few) all interspersed among major retailers. In Europe, such as London, the cities long history of mercantilism, drinking (pubs), and couture has always been the basis for the government and local public to support small businesses that fill all the nooks and crannies in the streets.
Here in Los Angeles, I’m sure we will go through our own gentrification cycle. However, we can mitigate it if we can be continouosly be open to new ideas, not be stuck in catering to one specific demographic class, or following outdated government regulations. In many of the international cities I have visited, the residential base does play a key component. What is even more interesting (and important) is that the employment centers and job growth commensurated the influx of city residents. How do we accomplish that here? I think as DTLA’s residential base grows, the pool of talent and skills will eventually reach a level that will be the catalyst for more employers to settle in downtown. Once we see more job growth in our city center you can expect to see more vibrancy in our streets that will enable small independent retailers to thrive. They just need to be ready and offer their value-propositions and maximize their competitive advantages against the giant retailers.
Grittiness
Exactly the problem.
You summed it up in 1 problematic word.
I know what you mean. There are days when there’s definitely too much grit downtown and I want to flee to anywhere else where I can go 24 hours without seeing somebody pissing in the street or some junkie snorting coke or shooting up. On the flip side, I want to live somewhere that’s creative, passionate, doing things, where it’s not all sparkly and clean or sanitized for your protection. The Gas Lamp and Old Town feel particularly suburban to me. Maybe it’s the Cheesecake Factories or the slow moving herds of tourists, but they feel so artificial, so manufactured. They are places to shop, and not much else. I desperately want more retail in downtown, but I’d also hope that it feels like a real place, not one dropped onto a game board in SimCity. We need a strong mix of retail, restaurants, but also services and places for locals to keep downtown from feeling like an attraction, rather than a real neighborhood.
I think downtown is on the right trajectory over all, especially as a lot of these parking lots start to be filled in and more residential gets built. It doesn’t feel like we have critical mass yet. I do hope the Grand project gets going, even if I never could afford the prices talked about. That part of downtown could be a nice quiet place to live but still close to the action.
was just at Gaslamp about 6 months ago (DT San Diego)- totally cheesed out. completely gutted of everything that was cool about it 15 or so years ago- now— Little Italy down there has remained very quaint and interesting. and, honestly- i feel the same about Old Town Pasadena- i think its really cheesy.
i think a “coffee row” like what is happening can not have enough coffee shops- i think the more the merrier with this type of place, more coffee shops usually means more interesting place.
There is nothing to fear for the local coffee shops, really. Their coffee is essentially no more “expensive” than Starbucks’, so if someone likes Coffee Bar or Tierra Mia, etc. then they will still patronize those places.
Big chain retailers are who drive local retail out of business. Not big chain coffee.
Relax people! 1 Starbucks is not going to ruin the neighborhood. Columbia City in Seattle is an excellent example. Old and rundown a few years ago. La Madusa restaurant took a chance and moved in. More local businesses moved in. Then Starbucks moved in and everybody cried foul. Well to this day starbucks and all the independents are still thriving.
One thing I will say is dt LA needs major chain retail. It doesn’t need to be on Spring or Main, but it needs to be there. It makes no sense to leave downtown to do major shopping.
I heard a rumor that Coffee Bar is on the verge of going out of business, so it will be interesting to see what ends up in that space. Coffee Bean?
Too bad it’s not Peet’s!
Starbucks is generally a good neighborhood steward and c’mon, I’m sure everyone was glad to see the previous shop go. Yes, the historic core is gentrifying but that’s inevitable “progress”. With that said, the SRO’s a block away on Main will always keep things diverse & lively.
I do feel bad for the other coffee retailers, this can’t be good news.
Well to be honest … Starbucks is the ONLY REAL CLEAN coffee shop. The others have people trying to be so cool their actually rude and unprofessional ! …. Coffee Bar is a REAL COFFEE NIGHT MARE !!!! , COFFEE BARS SERVICE IS SO DAMNED RUDE ! THAT I DONT EVEN WANT FREE WATER FROM THAT EXSPENSIVE ….. RAT HOLE ! ( TOO TOO MANY FLIES ! AND CRAPY SERVICE EQUAL …. I WILL NOT BE PAYING THE OF A GALLON OF GAS FOR A TERRIBLE CUP OF COFFEE AND A DRIED OUT CHOCOLATE CROISSANT !!! …. Coffee Bar is the TITANIC to the coffee shops !!! ALL BLOW AND NO SUCK ! …. THE OTHER COFFEE SHOPS ! . The other coffee shops are like tiny flies that hangs around the mules ass ! … EXCEPT !!! THE NEW SPANISH / COLUMBIA COFFEE SHOP ON THE CORNER OF SPRING AND 7TH …. ( THEY ARE GREAT !!! ) AND THATS STARBUCKS ( ONLY COMPITION ) …. IF YOU KNOW REALESTATE …. THEN YOU KNOW STARBUCKS DO THEIR MATH BEFORE THEY MOVE ANYWHERE …. AND SO DOES RALPH’S AND THE OTHER BIG MOVERS AND SHAKERS …. IT’S NOT EVEN OPENED YET AND IT LOOKS REALLY NICE ! … ADD’S VALUE TO A GREAT BEAUTIFUL CORNER THEY ARE NOT MY FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP …. BUT THE SERVICE IS GREAT THE PROPERTY IS CLEAN AND SO IS THE INSIDE OF THE STORE …. BUT LETS NOT LET OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS TAKE OVER …. AT LEAST NOT ON THE INSIDE AND NOT ON THE COUNTER CORNER …. I CAN SEE DOGS PEEING OVER THERE AND OWNERS WALKING AWAY NOW …. AND THEN COMES THE FLIES! !! ( COFFEE BAR ) PART TWO !!! …. PLEASE NO ! .
IMA DOIT ALL CAPS LIKE CRAIG
its open today :)
Yep :) Best thing to happen to Spring Street in recent memory for sure. All the people thinking its the end of the world should just move :-P
A Starbucks opening in an almost exclusively independently owned business street is the “best thing to happen” to you?
Ok.