Rite-Aid Move an Aesthetic Boost
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —
The new Rite-Aid location in the Jewelry Trades building at 5th and Broadway is looking very close to opening. This location replaces the one just across Broadway, on the southwest corner of that intersection.
Now that the new location has received its external signage I think it's worth comparing the two to note the visual improvement this store will bring to the corner. In short, the new store is everything the old store isn't: inviting, transparent and in character with the building as a whole.
I really like the new store's understated signage and clean glass exterior. The light spilling out onto that corner will be a welcome addition, and will help serve to make night-time Broadway less of an intimidating alley of roll-down doors. I also think the all-white Rite-Aid sign will go much better with the red neon Jewelry Trades blade sign above it.
Stores like Rite-Aid are great to have in residential neighborhoods, but only if they're appealing to enter. The current store was one I would go out of my way to avoid. Hopefully with this move that'll no longer be the case.
Tommy on January 08, 2007, at 02:08PM – #1
All an improvement; but will that Rite-Aid be open later than 8pm?
Rico A on January 08, 2007, at 03:39PM – #2
What the Rite Aid will bring to that corner and Broadway in general is amazing -- but what will happen to the old location?
lastraphanger on January 08, 2007, at 04:56PM – #3
3 cheers for this much better Rite-Aid! Can't wait till it opens and refreshes that terrible NE corner of 5th/Bway. I thought I read something on this blog that the old location across the street will become a parking garage?? I hope not. Broadway needs retail frontage, not more blank walls or the noses of cars staring at the sidewalk! Contrary to popular opinion, Dwntwn does not need more parking structures.
D on January 08, 2007, at 06:46PM – #4
The new store looks about 50 times better! thank God. hopefully the old building will get a rehab similar to the new location and can attract new exciting retail.
Kenarch on January 08, 2007, at 11:58PM – #5
Serious improvement. I can't stand those '80s garish corporate color signs. The Rite-Aid in Santee Court also has nice signage - the neon vertical sign really helps LA St. all the way from 6th down to its location at 7th. As for hours - yeah, it would be nice if it was open beyond 8 pm - but just a few years ago there was nothing open after dusk - much less dark... so things are getting better.
Isn't Rite-Aid changing to CVS though? If so, I hope the CVS corporate types maintain sensitivity with the signs. Is the LA Conservancy or a City agency that CARES involved with this? It seems as though someone who gives a rat's tail is involved, and that's a good thing...
Fred Camino on January 09, 2007, at 07:51AM – #6
That signage is AMAZINGLY reserved. I'm impressed! That's almost State Street in Santa Barbara quality corporate signage.
David Kennedy on January 09, 2007, at 08:27AM – #7
I've noticed the Rite-Aid on 7th Street is open until 9 p.m. most evenings. I've made a couple emergency baby supply runs and been pleased to find it open past 8 p.m. and quite busy, too.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on January 09, 2007, at 08:44AM – #8
Kenarch: I believe you're mistaken on that merger.
JJ on January 09, 2007, at 01:22PM – #9
The old Rite Aide is going to become a parking garage for sure, I live in the building. The small parking garage they already have for our building is full of double stacked cars and reluctant valets. Hoping the new garage will make it easier for me to get home!
jim on January 09, 2007, at 01:38PM – #10
kenarch: it was sav-on that was bought out by cvs/pharmacy. most of their locations appear to have changed over already, including the one near chinatown.
Joel C on January 09, 2007, at 03:02PM – #11
"The old Rite Aide is going to become a parking garage for sure, I live in the building."
Hopefully, they'll leave a tiny bit of retail space in the front, just enough to sell lots of socks and knock-off perfume. That'll be a real boon to the neighborhood.
Scott Mercer on January 09, 2007, at 07:17PM – #12
Too bad that nice "clean glass exterior" has already been defaced by a-holes who destroyed the windows with scratchiti. Probably can't see it if you're driving by in a car, but pedestrians can easily make it out while strolling by.
I was just in the old Rite Aid today and the manager said the new location would be opening "in a couple of months." I find it hard to believe it's going to take that long, but knowing the delays in downtown construction, that might be a reasonable length of time.
Scott Mercer on January 09, 2007, at 07:18PM – #13
Hey trivia! What does CVS stand for?
"Consumer Value Stores." Wow.
Joel C on January 09, 2007, at 10:03PM – #14
"I was just in the old Rite Aid today and the manager said the new location would be opening "in a couple of months." I find it hard to believe it's going to take that long, but knowing the delays in downtown construction, that might be a reasonable length of time."
Not just construction time, but also getting fixtures and refrigeration units in place, plus stocking, hiring and training, etc.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on January 09, 2007, at 10:52PM – #15
Joel: You're forgetting that they're replacing a store that's right across the street. I'm sure they're just transferring staff.
I don't see it taking months. They're moving way too fast on the new space for that. I'd say one month.
Tim Quinn on January 10, 2007, at 12:16AM – #16
Government approvals can slow things down incredibly. (and I am not saying they should skip it, just be a lot quicker.)
Dennis Smith on April 29, 2007, at 05:35PM – #17
After catching Ozomatli's short set at the stage set up at 7th&Hill, I went strolling down Broadway and found that the new RiteAid is now officially OPEN. It's clean and brightly lit if still a little understocked and staffed by the same personel that manned the old place.
In a related development, El Huarache Veloz, a fine little restaurant that had once been part of the block of buildings on Broadway that was burned out a few months back has managed to quickly reopen (like a sandals clad phoenix) in the space just south of the new RiteAid.
David Kennedy on April 30, 2007, at 01:26AM – #18
Yeah, I saw the place is open now. Looks nice. Alas, the ice cream counter was shut down by the health authorities. Seems they didn't have the right permit.
Dennis Smith on January 08, 2009, at 12:29PM – #19
The rumors keep surfacing that the southwest corner of 5th & Broadway will soon be the home of a new 7-11 store. The Z Best Electronics store that had held the corner space in the SB Grand Building for decades has been moved four doors down to the south to clear the premium space on the corner for a larger retailer with windows facing out to both Broadway and 5th streets. Building management has remained officially mum on the subject but they don't deny that 7-11 is the prospective new tenant.