Syrup Desserts Getting Set to Give Downtown a Sweet Hangout
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Stan Lin and Steven Seav stand inside the soon-to-open Syrup Dessert space in the ground floor of the Hayward Hotel on Spring street.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Spring street will get a lot sweeter this month, as Syrup Desserts opens in the ground floor of the Hayward Hotel. The eatery and coffee shop is currently going through final preparations and inspections, and the owners hope to be open late in July.
In the meantime, we thought it might be nice to get to know a little bit more about what should be a tasty addition to the Historic Core.
After a recent chat inside the almost-finished Syrup space, owners Stan Lin and Steven Seav answered questions via email.
ERIC RICHARDSON: In an email to me, you described Syrup as a dessert bar / coffee house. What's the concept, and where did the idea come from?
SYRUP DESSERTS: Our adventure started off with us looking for a high foot traffic area with the likes of Hollywood and some of areas of the west side in mind, but none of those places had the neighborhood feel and charm of the Historic Core. With one of the owners having graduated from nearby USC it sealed the deal for downtown.
We currently have a target soft opening of late July with a grand opening and completed menu hopefully sometime in August. We are starting with espresso, dessert waffles/crepes, and gelato and then working in bistro sandwhiches and fresh salads later on.
Eric, you have been a witness to downtown as a whole and specifically Historic Downtown organically growing into this cohesive and vibrant community over the past few years. We want to be a valuable contributor to that growth in the community with our dessert bar.
And we felt that nothing said community more than a warm-friendly place where people could meet for great conversations, to cap dinner or the night off, or just to hang out with friends and have a good time.
And how better to do that than over some great dessert and coffee?
ER: Taking a peek into the space last week, I thought the loft area looked like a really comfortable place to hang out. Why did you go with couches instead of just tables and chairs?
SYRUP: With all of Spring street basically being converted bank or office buildings we wanted that same kind of urban and lofty vibe for our establishment.
That's why we designed the interior to be versatile enough so you that in one section of the space you could have a customer enjoying some gelato or cereal in a bright and clean area. But at the same time with the loft area we wanted to offer a dimmer, soothing, and relaxing setting: for friends to enjoy some board games over coffee, for people wanting to get some reading done, or anyone that wanted to just come hang out to watch the game or news.
Hence the lounge seating and the couches.
ER: You're on a block that has suddenly turned into quite the late-night stretch, with L.A. Cafe, D-Town Burger Bar and the market all offering late hours. Are you planning to jump into late night?
SYRUP: Absolutely! Another Eric who is one of the owners of the building is a great friend of ours and we all set out several months ago with the idea of turning this corner into vibrant area for nightlife. We are going to do our share and do plan on opening late on Thu/Fri/Sat. We hope to get to a point if there is enough support to have no set closing time on the weekend.
ER: What's one dessert that you think people are going to be particularly excited about?
SYRUP: We will have a wide range of food and dessert from ice cream sandwiches, to sweet grilled cheese sandwiches, and all the way to crepes. But one of the owners spent a part of his childhood in Germany and there he fell in love with the sugar waffle. We serve a version of the this Belgian delicacy and we think people are definitely going to love drinking a cup of espresso while biting into a warm Belgian waffle.
ER: Open question: What would you like to say to your Downtown soon-to-be-customers?
SYRUP: Downtown is leaps and bounds beyond what anyone thought was imaginable only a few years ago. Let us become part of that growth and this community by stopping by when you are in the area.
We promise that you will be served with a extraordinary service, a smile, and leave with that sweet tooth satisfied.
JBV on July 07, 2009, at 09:44PM – #1
Yay! I can't wait! I'm going to be there all the time to get my sweet tooth satisfied!
Will there be WIFI at Syrup and will you guys have outdoor seating??
H on July 07, 2009, at 10:03PM – #2
I wish a new place downtown would have some Vegan options.
kdizzle on July 07, 2009, at 11:30PM – #3
WOW YOUR PLACE IS AWESOME!!! GREAT SERVICE AND GREAT DESERTS IM LOVING IT BIG TIME ! =D plus you two are hot !! =D
SYRUPdesserts on July 08, 2009, at 02:37AM – #4
Definitely will have WIFI and we will be looking to add outdoor seating also. This stretch of Spring is really exciting right now with everything on our corner and the bars opening across the street.
AL on July 08, 2009, at 05:03AM – #5
I have been following up with Syrup Desserts since the very beginning, and I am proud to say I know the owner, and is very much looking forward to the opening. I am sure he will not let the public down in serving only the best.
sarah on July 08, 2009, at 09:15AM – #6
Sounds like a great concept! Good luck!
Jamison on July 08, 2009, at 09:29AM – #7
will there be free parking?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on July 08, 2009, at 10:32AM – #8
Jamison: As of right now, meter spots in the Historic Core are still free after 6pm. That's as much free parking as you're going to find in the neighborhood.
Ida on July 08, 2009, at 01:59PM – #9
I've walked by this place and wondered what was going into the space. I'm pretty sure I've seen the owners milling about as well. I'm excited to finally know what is going to be there and look forward to checking it out as it is walking distance from my apartment!
Chris Vazquez on July 08, 2009, at 02:19PM – #10
Cool. I'll definitely check it out :)
LOFTLIVING on July 08, 2009, at 06:57PM – #11
I have walked by this place several times and have talked to these guys. They are very nice guys interested in the neighborhood and yes they are handsome too!! I will be stopping by and the waffles they let me try were delish. :p
It doesn't hurt that I live one block away and absolutely love HOT CHOCOLATE.
Jonathan Hizzoooles on July 08, 2009, at 07:46PM – #12
This place is crazy good. I tried their waffles and it was delicious!
happygoer on July 08, 2009, at 07:49PM – #13
ill definetly be visiting this savvy chill place when i get a sweet tooth craving!
Gary on July 08, 2009, at 07:49PM – #14
I've known one of the owner for most of my life. He's a great and responsible guy. I'm sure that this place will be booming with business once it opens. I'm definitely looking forward to the grand opening and will definitely be one of the first few customers there!
sydney on July 08, 2009, at 07:50PM – #15
i cant wait to drop by and use their wifi =)
Sean on July 08, 2009, at 07:50PM – #16
This sounds amazing. I'm a big fan of deserts, especially gelato. I hope this place opens soon. I can't wait to check it out!
MAITAI on July 08, 2009, at 09:50PM – #17
oh i live around the corner i cant wait till it opens. its great to see a new place here!
Henry on July 08, 2009, at 10:25PM – #18
Excellent, welcome to the hood! I peeked inside recently one evening and the interior looks great and welcoming - a good place to hang out. And thanks for trying late-night hours, I look forward to that. Great location. Any word yet on Rowan retailers btw?
DownTown Gurl on July 09, 2009, at 12:08AM – #19
Syrup Desserts sounds absolutely AWESOME!! This is just what downtown needed. What a vibe! Relaxing, comfortable, and such a great hangot. Espresso, dessert waffles, and even crepes. Need I say more? YUMMY!!! I can't wait!!!
Audrey on July 09, 2009, at 12:52AM – #20
I’ve been waiting for this place to open forever! It seems like they have been taking forever. =) Places like this, Bottega Louie, Cole’s, and Infusion Café made me want to move to Downtown. The author is right, the area has changed a lot for the better.
Although I like the character of the historic core, besides Art Walk, it can be intimidating for a female to walk alone in the area. Hopefully if more places start to open that will change. Has anyone had any major issues walking in this area at night?????????
Veronica Myers on July 09, 2009, at 06:13AM – #21
SYRUPdesserts - Do you have a website/menu posted online?
Molly on July 09, 2009, at 11:09AM – #22
"Has anyone had any major issues walking in this area at night?????????"
Carrying a can of pepper spray is a savvy idea for everyone, especially the homeless.
SYRUPdesserts on July 09, 2009, at 12:15PM – #23
We don't have a website yet. But I will post menu when I get the chance. We are doing some small taste testing today so come by between 6-8:30p to try some of the crepes/waffles we will be passing out.
Melanie on July 09, 2009, at 12:17PM – #24
Bummer- just as we move out of Downtown, this opens up in Downtown! Well - all the better for my waistline. :) I'll definitely sneak on by there though for an Art Walk night.
Audrey - I'm 4'9" and lived in Downtown 4 yrs. I walked to the Redline stop at Pershing Sq. a few times around midnight and although I stayed on guard, I was safe.
Jazzy on July 09, 2009, at 10:17PM – #25
Welcome to the neighborhood!I tried the waffle samples that you guys handed out tonight. They tasted delicious. Something that I will definitely come back to have some more. You guys are so friendly. Good Luck!!
Audrey on July 10, 2009, at 12:03AM – #26
Went to the Art Walk this evening and dropped by Syrup Desserts. I thought the cafe was designed very nicely with a modern appeal. I tried the sample waffles...and although it was a little on the sweet side for me, I have to say it was mighty tasty. Yum...=P
RE: Molly/Melanie,
Glad to know that this area is safe at night.
javagirl on July 10, 2009, at 02:30PM – #27
Thank you guys for the samples yesterday. Everything was great and I will definitely come by and visit when you open.
I would probably recommend some signage on the outside though because my friends and I would not have known what your place is had it not been for this blog. But everything else was great!
Louie Cuevas on July 11, 2009, at 02:37PM – #28
This is just what we were looking for at the last Art Walk !
casey on July 13, 2009, at 08:33AM – #29
vegan options would be great!
foodiegal on July 16, 2009, at 11:21AM – #30
Do you have a web site or phone number?
estudioG on July 16, 2009, at 12:05PM – #31
Looking good guys, don't forget to give estudioG some luv.
Stan Lin on July 16, 2009, at 12:34PM – #32
Gino I have to say thanks for your help in the design of the place. Stop by when you get the chance. Your next project will be waiting for you.
SB_Karen on July 19, 2009, at 10:53PM – #33
There is a lot of excitement about this dessert/coffee place. Myself included.
But in the last couple months, Ma Petit, Sip Tea, Infusion Cafe, and Crown Cafe have either shut down or are for sale. Do you guys think downtown in general or the historic core has the critical mass to allow these places to survive??
I know whether a business is profitable or not is usually specific to that business. But it seems that every Hollywood/Manhattan-esque business that comes to this area is not able to stay open.
I just wish I could find a permanent comfortable place to use wifi. I wish Syrup the best of luck but it seems like they have a tough road ahead! If history is a good indicator they will be gone in six months!
Moore on July 20, 2009, at 09:25AM – #34
Most of my money I spend downtown for cafe kind of stuff goes to Bottega Louie. They're one of the few places that have opened that do it right. They get what I'd like to see more of in downtown LA -- quality goods in an environment that could only attract Eurotrash like Urth in West Hollywood but has proven to draw a wide X-section of people, both local and not. Finally, good bread downtown. I thought I'd never see the day.
Ma Petit had undrinkable coffee and Lot 44 or whatever its called is too expensive to make a habit and the room isnt that interesting. The others got the double whammy: mediocre ideas / execution, plus arrival at a bad time.
I have wireless at home so I guess I don't look for cafes in which to camp out for hours.
I wish Syrup much success. If they open with a rock steady, quality menu, people who care will come from near and not-so-near.
Rich Alossi on July 20, 2009, at 10:31AM – #35
SB_Karen:
Let's take a look at those businesses which unfortunately have failed or are currently failing.
Some statistics state that 90% of all restaurants fail within their first three years. It's well known that the food industry is tough to begin with, much less when you've got a concept that is already well served in the area, as in the case of Crown and Infusion.
Crown Cafe never really took off simply because of location. That stretch of Los Angeles Street after dark is hardly a place for a cafe, and the daytime customer isn't necessarily looking for high-end cafe fare.
SipTea is a tough one, and one I'm personally saddened to see leave. Laura's concept was great, but in the end she was too far ahead of the curve. Those who wanted organic and hard-to-find teas may be coming in from places in Hollywood, Pasadena and the Westside in addition to Downtown, and parking was a problem in that case. There were issues in securing a permit to cook food, so all the food was pre-made (in other words, no hot food items) or light cafe fare. That was a problem with the configuration of the space itself.
Ma Petit and Infusion are on the fringes of the Historic Core, and many people will tell you that Ma Petit was plagued with service and quality issues from the start. I personally loved the pastries at Ma Petit, but I can attest to the service problems that never got worked out. It's too bad it couldn't last until the LAPD headquarters opened.
Infusion's an interesting space. It too may be 'ahead of the curve' in the neighborhood though. I can't blame them for their odd hours (sometimes closing at 3:00 or 4:00, depending on how many customers they have), but I can't go to a cafe one day at a certain time, then the next day see that it's closed at that time. That happens a few times, and I'm no longer going to think of that place when asking myself "Where should I eat?" It's a tough one, trying to set correct hours in that particular edge of the Fashion District/Historic Core. The Fashion District empties out by 5:30, and the residential customer base is only beginning to move into the units now. Best of luck to them.
If you're looking for free WiFi, Lost Souls Cafe just extended their hours once again to 10:00pm Monday through Saturday (5:00pm on Sunday, I think). It's in the alley off of 4th Street between Main and Spring.
SB_Karen on July 20, 2009, at 09:24PM – #36
@Rich Alossi:
That is a good point about the area being saturated with light fare food options. Perhaps, we need dinner options. I’m sure the burger place on 6th is doing well.
I think another problem is not enough people are choosing downtown as a dining destination. Besides Bottega Louie, would anyone actually drive to downtown to eat at a cafe? Maybe that will change if everything continues to develop, but it seems like every time one store opens, two stores close.
I will also check out Lost Souls Cafe, but I’ve been intimidated by the alley.
Rich Alossi on July 20, 2009, at 10:40PM – #37
I think people drive Downtown to the places that have momentum behind them: Wurstkuche, Bottega Louie, Church & State, Pete's and Nickel Diner...
The real issue isn't necessarily getting people to drive Downtown; I'm still convinced we need to keep the people who are already here (Financial District, Fashion District and Civic Center workers) longer into the dinner/happy hour period.
I'd also like to see a coordinated, regular "Dine Downtown"-type event, with decent specials or discounts for those venturing to the neighborhood on a certain night, possibly once a month.
I still feel there are more openings than closings. For every Tranquility Base we have a Drago Centro and Rivera. And places like Lime Cafe can close, but we've got the Must Bar in its place now. Downtown is really reaching that critical mass of dining destinations now.
Beth Topping on July 20, 2009, at 10:56PM – #38
Wow... between this and Babycakes opening on 6th, there's a lot of "sweetness" goin' on. Love it.
Clipperloft on July 21, 2009, at 12:05AM – #39
This actually is a very complex issue that deserves its own thread. Its a problem that involves both retaining the foot traffic that is already in downtown for more than just lunch but there also needs to be a certain amount of people that travel to downtown, park there car/metro, and walk around.
And this is true for Old Town Pasadena, The Gaslamp in San Diego, or Manhattan. They need a mix of both. It is a balance that we need. SB_Karen brings up the issue of us taking one step forward and two steps back. Maybe if we get diagonal parking to increase the ease of parking and reduce car traffic, get more bike lanes and bike racks, more greenery, then this will begin to happen. Another important factor is outdoor seating.
Maybe Rich is right and evolution will take its course and the Lime Cafes of the world will become The Musts. And at some point there will be that critical mass that the aforementioned cities have.
What I do know is thanks to Bert Green and the Art Walk, there alot more people are being introduced to downtown. A poster once mentioned having "Summer nights on Spring", the market in the Douglas are all a step in the right direction.
Dylon on July 21, 2009, at 12:07AM – #40
Even in communities where there are countless thousands of people within a radius of a few miles or certainly blocks, businesses will open and close, permanently. So it's that much tougher a situation when an area like downtown doesn't have a large enough population to begin with. It's getting there, but it's still tens of thousands below what you'll find in many other major urban centers.
Also, visitor-friendly areas -- certainly based on criteria important to most people in LA -- often have a lot of easily accessible and, better yet, free parking. Does that description fit downtown? In too many instances, no.
Add to the mix the overly fringy nature of many sidewalks in downtown, where unpleasant odors and bizarre street people may linger for hours on end, and the long history of people in LA wanting to drive up, not walk up, to the front door of a business, and the notoriously unpleasant burdens imposed by city government, and you have one major hurdle facing many new retailers in the central city before they've even opened their front door.
All of these problems probably are a major reason Trader Joe's, even today, continues to be so hesitant about opening a location in downtown.
Moore on July 21, 2009, at 09:39AM – #41
The City really boned downtown by jacking up the cost of meter parking.
In some cases, a meter costs $ 4 an hour. This instantly just slashed a population of potential customers coming from outside of downtown: money downtown desperately needs.
Because the dining options are somewhat limited downtown for a resident (unless you like eating at the same few places), I find myself going to Hollywood, Monterey Park for variety and to see new faces / places.
Anita on July 24, 2009, at 08:29AM – #42
isn't it supposed to be stan lim, not lin? =P haha
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on July 24, 2009, at 08:47AM – #43
Anita: I don't believe so. I had Lim originally and got emailed a correction.
As an update, while no opening date is set yet, last I heard inspections were going well and it was close.
Deb on July 26, 2009, at 10:58PM – #44
Would you provide your location address! I couldn't find you!
Alex Brideau III on July 27, 2009, at 08:34PM – #45
But don't the parking meters become free during prime dining-out time? I'm not sure the meter price hike would affect dinner-goers in that case.
Billy Miles on August 17, 2009, at 10:24PM – #46
WOW!!! I went to this spot for the artwalk a few days ago and ordered a strawberry crepe with vanilla bean ice cream and it was delish! The staff was extremely couteous and friendly which is VERY IMPORTANT to me and my friends when visiting any eating establishment! I was craving another one of their crepes last night but they aren't open yet! PLEASE OPEN SOON!:o)
joy on August 18, 2009, at 01:29PM – #47
in response to a comment about downtown safety for women-i've been living in the historic core for three years, and have never felt unsafe. i take all the normal precautions at night, but have grown to feel a real ownership of the area, and walk around with that in mind. as more and more people discover the fun of downtown living, i hope the streets become filled with "owners"!
Naomi on November 20, 2009, at 01:39AM – #48
WOW! did you see the renders on estudioG's website? that's amazing, how come the actual place didn't follow the designers design?? It's great!