Roosevelt Fast-Tracking Retail?
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Development on the Roosevelt Lofts has been moving steadily since they got started (at least externally) back in January. In the last two weeks the retail spaces seem to have been put on overdrive, as all of a sudden the building went from where you could see straight through it to today having glass on the front.
This is a welcome change from so much other residential development Downtown, where the retail lags the housing by months (or more). I'm hoping for something in the way of fast food. I know the Roosevelt wants to "upscale" their former tenants (La Salsa and Great Steak and Potato), but we're running out of fast food over here. Qdoba's great, but I can't eat there every day.
Past Roosevelt posts:
D on October 03, 2006, at 12:39PM – #1
Im actually looking into buying at the Roosevelt, and from my understanding, the Sales Center is going to be there until the building opens, then it will be an upscale restaurant. The Sales Center was suppose to open at the end of Sept. but it looks as though its being pushed back a bit.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on October 03, 2006, at 02:13PM – #2
That would make a lot of sense. From the way the space is getting pushed forward I would think they could have an office in there within a week or two.
Whitman Lam on October 03, 2006, at 08:14PM – #3
I wish the ground floor space can be more than just Restaurants, which the area is already saturated with. There are already so many food joints clustered around 7+Fig plaza and Macy's Plaza.
We need more non-food services Downtown, like shoe stores, hair salons, video stores. These are services that Downtown residents have had to seek elsewhere.
I think the building managers should consider renting to a Fantastic Sam's, a Blockbuster Video, Big 5 sporting goods, or even a tanning salon. Something else besides food can be profitable and add more variety to the street scene.
Joel C on October 04, 2006, at 12:51PM – #4
Or somebody resurrect Fowler Bros. (books and stationery). I loved that store, was very sad when it closed down in the early nineties.
While I do think there is a great need for community-oriented retail in the Downtown, I don't necessarily think Metro Center is the right place for it. I think that stretch of Seventh Street should be oriented more toward commuters. I'd like to see a newsstand, shoe shine, flower stand, convenience store, currency exchange, and MTA store, etc. Also, as I said above, a bookstore would be great. In addition to some fast-food places.