New Vespa Dealership is a Stylish Return to Roots
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Marketing/Sales Coordinator Amelia Sellers and General Manager Roger Miyakawa inside Downtown's new Vespa dealership at 3rd and Central.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When looking to open a Vespa dealership in Downtown Los Angeles, Roger Miyakawa didn't have to think hard before settling on Little Tokyo. After all, his grandfather was one of the Nisei pioneers who helped found the neighborhood. "These are my roots," he said.
After two years of planning and process, the dealership at 3rd and Central finally opened last week. A Sunday grand opening will offer food and test rides.
While Miyakawa hopes to convince Downtowners of the way a scooter fits into the urban lifestyle, first he had to convince Vespa about Downtown. That process took months, and Miyakawa even enlisted Councilwoman Jan Perry to write a letter praising the neighborhood's revitalization and its potential.
Early signs have been promising. Miyakawa said the store has sold four scooters in the first week and a half. Models range from $2,000 to $9,500. The average setup runs approximately $4,000 and gets 80 to 100 miles per gallon while going 60 miles per hour.
Miyakawa worked with Rosaline Bernstein of MODBOX design to create a shop that didn't look like your average car dealership. Wood and imported light fixtures give the space the feel of a fashion boutique. Striking photos on the walls were taken by Miyakawa, himself an accomplished product and fashion photographer.
The store does carry clothing and accessories for the fashionable scooter rider, with jackets that offer a rider protection while still matching the Vespa's Italian aesthetic.
Miyakawa hopes to see 3rd street become a more retail-oriented stretch, but isn't necessarily concerned about being slightly out of the way. "It's not really an impulse buy," he noted. More important was the site's parking lot.
Those who have already bought into the scooter idea can bring their rides into the dealership for maintenance. The store is an authorized Vespa service center, but Miyakawa isn't picky about what they will handle. "We'll fix anything," he said.
Sunday's festivities run from 1 to 5pm and will feature DJ's, food, drink and free test rides.
Vespa of Los Angeles / 301 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013 / 213-620-0022
Edgar Varela (EVFA) on November 20, 2009, at 08:13PM – #1
Welcome to the neighborhood, we are excited to have a new business in the Little Tokyo/Arts District neighborhood. I hope everyone comes out to the Sunday celebration to welcome VESPA, Amelia and Roger to Downtown LA.
Zach Behrens on November 21, 2009, at 11:30PM – #2
I think a Vespa is a great form of transportation in an urban area like downtown.
jorgie on November 22, 2009, at 08:47AM – #3
Welcome to the hood! This place is changing for the better thanks to visionaries like this! Vespas are parking friendly and a good way to get around downtown! We have to support these businesses in our community and keep them here! Love the store! Great job and good luck with your awsome business!
Brady Westwater on November 22, 2009, at 01:22PM – #4
Perfect fit for Downtown.
blahman on November 22, 2009, at 07:12PM – #5
Vespas are nice, but anything between a bike and a car would be cha-ching for thieves. These things would be only a smite harder to steal than bikes, and not as hard as cars, and net them a nice profit - i.e. a truck could easily pile in a couple vespas.
bromike666 on November 23, 2009, at 06:43AM – #6
Went by yesterday afternoon. Nice people, nice shop and the head mechanic used to wrench at Pro Italia. I'm trying to convince Crystal to buy the 500cc MP3 so we can ride together. It's fun and all but but I'm sticking with full sized motorcycles for now.
1234 on November 23, 2009, at 08:45AM – #7
I'd love one of these, but I wonder about blahman's comment. I always see these on the sidewalk and parked around DT. Do they get stolen often ? Can you look that up on the LAPD site? I'm guessing you could tie them up, but then you'd have to deal with vandalism. Not sure if it'd be worth it with a 2k+ bike.
gojirasan on November 23, 2009, at 10:04AM – #8
About the theft thing, you don't have to worry too much. Vespas now have the electronic key that Mercedes cars also have. Meaning, the ignition key has a microchip that immobilizes the engine when it's not in use, making the scooter hot-wire-proof.
Secondly, they do have a steering column lock; you can't straighten the wheel to "pile" it into a truck, without the key, so they would have to damage the product steering column to steal it. Plus they weigh more than people think, so it would be pretty tough to lift. Combo this with a good quality motorcycle chain and you should be good.
Finally, just go ahead and pay a little extra for theft insurance! On a scooter, it's not that much more expensive, especially if you have a combo insurance policy that also has other vehicles or even a home or renter's insurance on it. With the money you'll be saving in gas (these things get something like 60mpg), you can afford it.
Ankur on November 23, 2009, at 04:24PM – #9
Also, you can lock it to something else anchored to the ground.