BottleRock Wine Bar’s Lunchtime Business in the Trenches
Eric Richardson
Cones block off all but one lane of 11th Street outside BottleRock on Monday morning.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Construction is an important part of progress, but work in the street can make life tough on a small business. A multi-week construction project that has been digging up the eatery's block of 11th Street has meant a noticeable drop in lunch traffic for BottleRock, a South Park destination for fine wines and small plates.
The project, initiated by Verizon's MCI Metro unit and expected to be completed in mid-December, involves the digging of a long trench to stretch new fiber optic lines to Staples Center from a manhole at 11th and Hope.
Corwin Anthony, BottleRock’s General Manager, said that he has noticed a 25 percent reduction in lunchtime business. “Whenever [patrons] see construction going on, they avoid us like the plague,” he said.
Thankfully for Anthony, most of the construction vehicles vacate the premises by rush hour, and therefore, do not have a significant effect on evening business.
Most Downtown businesses are protected from such an impact during this time of year by the Holiday Construction Moratorium, which lasts from Thanksgiving to New Years. Unfortunately, BottleRock is located just one block south of the area covered by the moratorium.
According to Anthony, the restaurant received no notification of the pending construction project, which started just two days before BottleRock's biggest event of the year. When he asked city officials, Anthony was told that permit-holders are not required to warn local businesses of upcoming projects.
While outdoor dining is now no longer available for lunchtime diners, Anthony encouraged customers to frequent BottleRock, stressing that once patrons enter the doors, the nearby construction is not an issue — “unless they are doing the drilling,” Anthony noted.
While BottleRock’s employees admit that the construction has undeniably affected their business, they hope that, once the trenches are filled, patrons will toast to a serene wining and dining experience.
film rob on December 06, 2010, at 12:27PM – #1
i have two film locations that filed and won because they lost film revenue during construction. located near first street bridge. go after them.
Guest on December 06, 2010, at 12:54PM – #2
BottleRock got seriously screwed over by the city in the permitting and construction process (the whole process dragged out for years), meanwhile earning no revenue from their new location. Very sorry this has to happen to them again. I'll go soon to patronize their business. I've been meaning to try the okonomiyaki...
Search For J Street on December 06, 2010, at 12:55PM – #3
Construction is not what stops me from frequenting BottleRock. It's the prices that are just too high for what they're serving. They are not bad at all, but they're not that great.
Guest on December 06, 2010, at 01:36PM – #4
Bottle Rock is likely not telling the full story here as they make revenue from daytime location filming.
South Park and 11th/Hope in particular have become very popular with car commercials and Bottle Rock is frequently a backdrop. With this street work they can't engage in that lucrative business.
If their business is being impacted, they can make a claim but no one ever hears them complain about the filming outside their location.
Most of Figueroa Street on the west side has been undergoing similar work to improve connectivity of traffic signals -- did anyone ask those businesses if they felt their lunch crowds were being impacted?
As for their prices, a little on the high end but their menu does not even include hamburgers. Besides, who wants to put a wine bar on their expense account for a business lunch?
Los Angeles SEO on December 06, 2010, at 05:20PM – #5
I've seen the same thing happen to other local businesses. Even though the signs say that they are still open, business seriously suffers.
In this economy, businesses need to be as competitive as they can and if there is even the slightest reason for clientele to find another restaurant, they generally will. I've never been to BottleRock but I'll try to go soon, just to support them. I love supporting local businesses.
Guest on December 12, 2010, at 11:52AM – #6
Bottlerock would do better business if the prices were cheaper. Construction goes on all over the place, plus - that block is not someplace that benefits from heavy foot traffic anyway.
Downtowners are not blind to good quality and good value.
Guest on December 15, 2010, at 10:00PM – #7
It's not just that the prices are too high, their wine pour is the most sorry pour in the neighborhood. Who wants to pay for two glasses of wine, but only get a half glass? They should stop complaining and figure out why their business hasn't really thrived the way others in the neighborhood have.