Wetzel’s Pretzels is replacing Pure Juicery (formerly Rush Snack Bar) in the 7th/Metro subway station serving the Red, Purple, Blue, and Expo Lines
In June 2011, we broke the exciting news that LA would be getting its first business inside a subway station at 7th/Metro called Rush Snack Bar. The new snack bar excited a lot of people (confusing the LA Times enough to write an article about it) because it was symbolic of the changes occurring in LA from an unhealthy car-obsessed town to one that was just a tad bit more pedestrian — at least here in Downtown LA. Funny enough, Rush Snack Bar opened during the first Carmageddon, which spoke volumes about two completely different sides to LA. While the Westside toils in an unending traffic nightmare and is spending (or squandering) over a billion dollars to widen the 405 (as if that’ll really help right!), we here in Downtown LA are continuing to invest in our city to be more pedestrian-oriented, making Downtown LA truly the future of Los Angeles.
With all that being said, Rush Snack Bar initially had some tweaking to do. Given the fact that we aren’t allowed to eat or drink on the subway, most of the business came from people coming out of the station as opposed to people going into the station. That meant that business was best during the morning rush hour when commuters crowded out of the station for work. About a year later, the owner of Rush Snack Bar, Andrew Cohen, decided to change concept and renamed it Pure Juicery, focusing more on the freshly pressed juices that were the most popular selling items.
After almost a year and a half since opening, Cohen had decided to sell his business to Wetzel’s Pretzels, which has been doing very well inside Union Station. Well enough that Wetzel’s Pretzels understands that in certain parts of LA, you can do great business without depending on “parking!” and “customers coming by car.”
New signs announcing their arrival in the 7th/Metro subway station (serving the Red, Purple, Blue, and Expo Lines) went up earlier this week. Construction on the space will commence soon with an opening planned in the next month or two.
A “Coming Soon” sign for Wetzel’s Pretzels was posted this week at the 7th/Metro subway station entrance at 7th and Hope
Love it! I hope the new regional connector stops will be built with this in mind, and plan for below street level quick coffee/snack style shops. Sorry Rush didn’t make it, but bring on Wetzel’s. It’s gradually feeling just like a real city!
Wetzel’s products, except the drinks, are bagged and can be carried on to the train and then eaten upon arrival.