New Hours Seem to Say More of the Same
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — As they've worked on the new Broadway Rite-Aid I've hoped that the shiny new store would signal an improved Historic Core presence for the drug store. That hope has tempered a bit as the months have dragged on and the store hasn't opened. And if the newly posted hours are an indication, business at the new store will be the same as at the old.
Rite-Aid's Downtown hours are a bit of a mystery to me. The store at 7th/Hope, in the middle of office buildings and not too close to (currently open) housing, is open until 9pm. On the other hand the store at 5th/Broadway -- within two blocks of thousands of residents -- is closed by 8pm.
How does that make sense? Aren't residents likely to need something in the evening? Certainly they're more likely shoppers than the office workers who have long gone home by 9pm.
This isn't even just a Rite-Aid phenomenon. Famima!! has their store at 8th/Figueroa open later than the one at 6th/Grand, even though the latter is far closer to residents. I realize hours are the sort of thing that can change, but shouldn't these companies have caught on by now?
Dave Bullock on April 22, 2007, at 05:51PM – #1
I am going to say no, the companies shouldn't have caught on by now. They way they see it, their stores are down here for people who work in office building and potentially for weekend shopper on Broadway (in the case of RiteAid). It is unfortunate that they don't really know the demographics of the neighborhoods their stores are in. I wonder where they get this information from?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on April 22, 2007, at 06:08PM – #2
I'd suspect they get their data from Film LA.
David Kennedy on April 22, 2007, at 06:49PM – #3
I've also noticed over the years that sometimes the posted hours are ignored and the stores are closed early. Not sure why. Gotta be careful if you're running things close.
MB 302 on April 22, 2007, at 06:52PM – #4
I would think the amount of business a store receives at a particular hour will greatly influence the way management wants that store's hours to be set. If a RiteAid at 5th and Broadway, or anywhere else for that matter, is ringing up a noticeable number of sales on many days around 8:55 pm, and that store's closing hour has been 9:00 pm, there's a greater likelihood that schedule will be pushed forward. However, one thing that might work against that is if the store's operators believe their location is exceptionally vulnerable to problems with late-night shoplifting or robbery.
Benjamin Pezzillo on April 22, 2007, at 07:35PM – #5
I tend to agree with MB 302; corporate stores will tailor their hours to match their business, or lack thereof, and risks at each distinct location.
Fred Camino on April 22, 2007, at 08:03PM – #6
The 8th/Fig Famima was originally open till only 10pm (9pm on weekends), but patronage, from residents and/or otherwise, pushed them to add an extra hour rather quickly (within a month I believe). The Rite Aid at 7th/Hope is always busy, and I often see them pushing people out and telling people they can't come in as they close up shop at 9pm.
Benjamin Pezzillo on April 22, 2007, at 10:13PM – #7
I've heard it said most crime occurs between 10p and 2a.
I'm not surprised Rite Aid on 5th and Broadway closes its doors, and thus stops its alcohol sales, at 9p.
Mike on April 23, 2007, at 09:50AM – #8
I reeaaaalllly hope the new Ralphs doesn't fall into the same annoying habbit of closing around 8pm. I'm barely getting home after a long day of work around 8 or 9pm usually and unless I have food at home manytimes I have to go hungry because everything is freaking closed!!! I'd be willing to pay alot more if all it took was for the stores to hire some security in order to stay open late...
Haven on April 23, 2007, at 10:48AM – #9
I suspect that MB and Benjamin are right: - that it is the lingering shoplifting and crime problem (or likely perception of problem) in the later hours that owners would rather not deal with, so they avoid the issue by closing early.
And the reality of downtowns new residential market hasnt yet sunk into the minds of the owners.
Im glad for the few places that do actually stay open later: the convenience store in Toy Factory Lofts is open until 11pm weekdays and 12midnight weekends. And of course Petes, and the shops around it.