Moving Toward a 24-Hour Broadway: 7-Eleven Now Open
Rich Alossi
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Efforts to create a 24-hour Broadway took a step forward last week, but it wasn't the theaters leading the charge. Nearly a year after signing a lease in the ground floor of the SB Grand Lofts at 5th and Broadway, 7-Eleven opened its doors last Friday to decent crowds and late-night hours, currently from 5:00am to midnight. The store will move to a 24-hour schedule once a beer and wine license has been secured.
Neighborhood residents and shoppers now have another option for late-night snacks, drinks on the go and even light cafe fare. Fresh salads and sandwiches are arranged to-go-style along a rear wall, across from signature bright pink donuts and a coffee station.
Downtown has seen an explosion in convenience stores, with upscale competitor Famima!! aggressively adding locations to serve the business sector on Bunker Hill and in the Financial District. 7-Eleven's move is the first into the residential "east side of Downtown" market.
Despite early reports that the new location would also have a more "upscale" look with outdoor patio seating and plasma TVs, the current traditional layout should nonetheless help encourage pedestrian activity on Broadway in the evenings.
Whether it can supplant less desirable activity remains to be seen. At an August meeting of the DLANC Planning committee, members expressed concerns about planned alcohol sales at the store and discussed illegal prescription drug sales taking place on the street.
The second of two stores in Downtown Los Angeles, franchisee Matt Mattu maintains an option to open four more stores in the Downtown area. At that August meeting, plans were said to be moving forward for a store at 898 W. 7th, near Figueroa.
Watch ABC News talk to Matt Mattu about his expansion plans: Convenience Store Corners the Market
7-Eleven: 312 W. 5th Street (at Broadway), Los Angeles, CA 90013; (213) 627-2117; 7-eleven.com; open 5:00am to midnight
Need Coffee Early. on September 16, 2009, at 05:36PM – #1
Why is it reported to be open 24 hours? When I'm on the bus passing it at 4:30am it's closed... lights out and gates drawn.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on September 16, 2009, at 06:51PM – #2
Need Coffee: We're checking into this. I tried to call to confirm after reading your comment, but the phone just rang...
The other location is definitely 24 hours.
downtown on September 16, 2009, at 09:02PM – #3
i was in there on saturday. i believe they said they are open 6am - midnight, or somewhere near there.
Rich Alossi on September 16, 2009, at 09:03PM – #4
My fault! The location is open 5:00am to midnight until they get their beer & wine license, at which point they'll be 24 hours. I'm updating the post to reflect that. Sorry about that.
Edit: I even spelled my own named incorrectly. One of those days.
Ginny-Marie Case on September 16, 2009, at 09:07PM – #5
Personally, I think it is a quiestionable addition to the corner. I was in the Rite Aid just the other day, as I was walking along 5th between Broadway and Spring, 3 different men asked if I needed Vicodin. It was so blatant, the way one of the sellers said it - it was like he knew he would never get caught.
It is more often than not that someone is selling some kind of prescription meds.
It is one of those corners that needs one of Captain Chow's officers hanging around for a week or so to help drive home the point.
Jadoreserge on September 16, 2009, at 11:32PM – #6
What's the point of it being 24 hours when they can only sell alcohol till 130am?Or in the other stores case,12! Just curious...
Thanks on September 17, 2009, at 03:12AM – #7
YAY, thank you. Hopefully a 24 hour business will mean more surveillance/security from drug dealers around that area.
Russell on September 17, 2009, at 11:12AM – #8
it seems dumb, but i am actually really excited about this. I am positive that store will be beating sales expectations; we have needed this for a long time.
ChattyCathy on September 17, 2009, at 12:04PM – #9
I applaud 7-11 for investing on Broadway. Something that Trader Joes won't do anywhere downtown. Here's a few more of my thoughts about Broadway... I wish I didn't have to hop over rats to get there from my apt near 3rd and Broadway.
And when I go there, if someone tries to sell me vicodin, I'm calling the purple people.
I'm really getting fiestier (sp?)these days.
Few weeks ago, I reported a drunk sleeping in front of Kelly's coffee.(Called the paramedics, not the purples, cause he initially looked dead to me... who knows?)
And every time I walk down Broadway to buy my slurpees, I think I will single-handedly clean up Broadway all by myself, from my cell phone, (without any help from the "Bringing Back Broadway" people), and report anyone seen peeing in the corners, selling drugs, or passed out drunk in the middle of the sidewalk in broad daylight.
Now that I've got my self all worked up writing this little note, now I'm thinking this.... Come on people, help me out here. Why are we so afraid to make these calls?
And if one more street-person calls me "babydoll", I'm cold-cocking them. Okay,... now I'm done
Peggy on September 17, 2009, at 12:19PM – #10
Rats and beer and Wine on Broadway - that is the scariest scenario to me. Fifth St. and Main is not far away and street people can get their lifeblood 24 hrs. a day. What a campy corner that will be. Is the city doing anything about the rats? aca-r-r-ry! I've lived downtown over a year and happily was unaware of that problem.
Sebastian Mele on September 17, 2009, at 12:23PM – #11
I'm afraid this place will attract more residents that live on Skid row.
General Jeff on September 17, 2009, at 12:30PM – #12
To ChattyCathy,
In the future, I advise you to use a technique that I often use when I walk the Skid Row streets. Whenever I see someone laying on the sidewalk( for whatever reason), I always completely stop and wait a few seconds to see if their stomach/chest area is moving up and down( or in and out). This is a great indicater that the person is not dead.
Maybe by inspecting the situation a little more carefully, you might be able to avoid calling the paramedics which ultimately strains the already limited resources of the City's emergency agencies. I'm not saying don't call, but if someone is passed out drunk in the street, the L.A.P.D. might be the more appropriate agency to contact. This will allow the paramedics to respond quicker to calls of a more serious variety, including heart attacks and overdose.
Remember, Skid Row uses the same paramedics from Fire Station #9, which last year was reported to be the busiest fire station in the entire nation.( And there aren't many fires in Downtown, go figure).
Li on September 17, 2009, at 12:46PM – #13
So far I'm not liking what that 7-11 is doing to an already dicey corner. It's a shame, since I live just a couple of blocks from there, but I'd rather use the Rite Aid on 7th and Hope and avoid all that mess.
CURT TRUMAN on September 17, 2009, at 02:50PM – #14
It's good to hear the feedback. I'm Curt Truman the Agent who put the deal together with Barry Shy and Matt Mattu, owner of 7-11. As part of the deal, we put in the contract - that a security guard will be on site during the evening hours, no single beer can sales, and no 40s.
I think it's a positive turn for the area. I also represent Mr. Hellen who owns a majority of Broadway propoerties between 5th & 6th streets on Broadway. I'm trying like mad to get Trader Joe's and other major Big Box Retailers to the area. But I'm just one person. Let me know what kind of businesses you would like to see and I'll go get them.... And please, by all means call the Purple People if you see anyone sleeping on the sidewalks, asking for money or trying to sell you drugs. It's the only way we will clean up the area...........one store front at a time. I look forward to your feedback.. WWW.CURTTRUMAN.COM CURTTRUMAN@AOL.COM
lovely on September 17, 2009, at 03:06PM – #15
now we need a good/ cute chinese restaurant, a dry cleaner, a real bank, a starbucks, and gap will soon follows
Brian on September 17, 2009, at 05:09PM – #16
Not sure a "24-hr Broadway" will be great for the neighborhood in general. In my experience, 2am-7am activities are questionable at best and if the store is waiting for its liquor license in order to stay open during those ours...well that says it all. How about a "Cultured Broadway" of which a global convenience store chain is not the anchor.
anthony on September 17, 2009, at 08:01PM – #17
I'm glad the 7/11 is there for late night needs, I don't like having to go all the way to 7th for one.
Dawn on September 18, 2009, at 08:26AM – #18
7-11 is handy but please no Gap! You can easily order boring button downs and ill-fitting jeans online if you love them so much. I would much rather see boutique clothing stores of local designers or something stylish and affordable like Veronica M or Los Feliz's Una Mae. A store with modern housewares, candles and pampering bath products would be nice.
Rumor has it that Trader Joe's has been looking downtown but every time the owner of the property finds out it's them, they jack up the price and scare them away. For now check out the market in the Little Tokyo Mall, I'm noticing they're stocking some brands you'd see in Whole Foods like Burt's Bees, Method, and Seventh Generation. They also have a great produce section and amazing take-away sushi. There's plenty of parking in the structure off Alameda. Every time I go there there's someone handing out samples at the end of each aisle which is nice if you happen to go shopping hungry.
Round Trip on September 18, 2009, at 10:02AM – #19
Curt Truman, no single cans and no 40's is a good start, but the real test will be whether or not the five notorious bum wines will be sold. They are MD 20/20, Cisco (all flavors!), Night Train (popular on Gladys St.), Thunderbird (an enduring classic), and Wild Irish Rose.
True, these are all sold a block and a half away at Grand Central Liquor, but at least that place closes at 6 pm, not 2 am.
Will the new store stock cheap fortified wines?
peenee on September 18, 2009, at 01:41PM – #20
i hate gap too but when you are inside you feel a rush of security and it's almost erotic.
Joe on September 19, 2009, at 07:13AM – #21
It's funny -- and pathetic -- how some of you only attribute alcohol and alcohol abuse to the homeless and how quickly you shift into the role of moralizer.
Ginny-Marie, have you considered that you've been offered Vic 3x because you may appear short of sleep?
Round Trip on September 19, 2009, at 11:30AM – #22
Joe, alcohol abuse runs rampant through all of downtown. That's why some us don't want the bar Haven opening on Main Street. It may feature $12 drinks, but alcohol will still be abused.
Vicocin and other prescription painkillers are sold at 5th and Broadway because the heroin users (heroin is also sold there during the day and especially in late afternoons) use it to intensify their highs. The painkiller people stand on the south side of 5th just east of Broadway. They also sell Oxycontin.
The heroin and vicodin customers generally have a different look than the average hispanic Broadway shopper. That's probably why Ginny was approached. She looked a bit out of place, which means she could have been in the right place for the medication.
Joe on September 19, 2009, at 01:03PM – #23
"but alcohol will still be abused"
Alcohol is used and abused in bars, restaurants, at sporting events, concerts, parties and at home. The chance that booze might be abused isn't remotely a valid excuse to ban a bar from opening. Period. Alcohol abuse runs rampant throughout THE WORLD. In Iceland, over 90 % of people over 20 use alcohol and alcoholism is sky high.
Stop dragging down downtown, a neighbor sorely lacking in services, with ninny finger pointing. It's a stupid 7-11 so people can buy a liter of milk late at night and a pack of smokes and a bag of Bugles.
If I want to cop dope, I'm going to do it on any corner where its available, not only one that's close to old, rotating wieners.
So nice that you can school us on the difference between a pill dealer and the "average hispanic Broadway shopper." Racist much?
Round Trip on September 19, 2009, at 01:55PM – #24
....um, Joe, didn't you write "It's funny -- and pathetic -- how some of you only attribute alcohol and alcohol abuse to the homeless"?
You moan about alcohol abuse and then you cheerlead for a new bar. Period.
Sad......and confusing.
loveandhatela on September 19, 2009, at 06:22PM – #25
If i recall correctly 7-Eleven's don't sell the hard liquor- the kind a true alcoholic craves.
Sure 7-Eleven isn't a Trader Joe's but its a step in the right direction. National chain stores are more likely to stay for a long time as opposed to a mom and pop shop. Im a former alcoholic, and as such i know that an addict will always find a way to get their fix-no matter what. What i now get at 7-Eleven are a Slurpee, lottery tickets,candy,soda or donuts.I got a major sweet tooth.
Ive passed by this new location several times and the exterior is not as nice or appealing as the 7-Eleven at 7th street. By the way- Ive been mistaken at different times thorough the years for a construction worker,student,Asian, Italian, Jewish, straight. And im none of that :)
-I love downtown LA- the good and the bad!
Employed Resident on September 22, 2009, at 02:04PM – #26
Hi Curt Truman. Thank you for providing us with a convenience store open all night and manned with security. Hopefully it will not be a hang-out for the downtown regulars, but if so I will be calling in reports as requested. Thanks.
Employed Resident
p.s. And please keep working on Trader Joe's.
Finally on September 24, 2009, at 10:21AM – #27
So great to have an active business on Broadway open late.
Step by step.