2006 in Review: January

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, December 20, 2006, at 12:29PM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — 2006 has been a fascinating year for Downtown LA. In the upcoming days I’ll recap what I view as the most interesting stories we covered here in each of the past twelve months. You can also view all of blogdowntown’s January posts.

Goes Around, Comes Around: Several of January’s stories are once again pertinent. The year started off with Giant Village being cancelled, saying they weren’t sure about refunds, finally saying they would give refunds, and then proceeding to take a full year do so.

The tie-in to today is that Giant is again hosting a New Year’s event Downtown, this time on the vast parking lot slated for Metropolis development. Ticket holders (including my former roommate) that have been strung along for an entire year of saying they would get refunds are now being offered tickets to that event instead of the cash they’ve been out.

On January 7th I posted a shot of cabling running into the Palace Theatre. I believe that shooting was for Dreamgirls, which opens wide Christmas day and features scenes from both the Palace and Los Angeles theatres.

Gone: January 18th I posted about the McDonalds in the Fine Arts Building. That’s gone now, to be replaced with something more upscale.

Still Around: January 19th I posted about the guy selling mix tapes in front of Macy’s Plaza. One year later and he’s still here, though sometimes more sporadically than at others. Yesterday he was selling christmas music.

Pictured is the Produce Market, site of a fire on January 23rd.

Comments

Joel C writes:

About the closure of McDo's and BK, here's some pure speculation. I wonder if they are planning on reopening in the Roosevelt Building once it has been rehabbed? It seems like a good fit for fast food, being right about the Metro. Of course, the rents might be too high for that very same reason.

# on Dec.21.2006 AT 08:51 AM

Coleman writes:

The rumors I have heard is that Citizen Smith (upscale restaurant) will be moving into one of the retail spaces at the Roosevelt. Not sure about a McDonald's, but it doesn't seem to fit the upscale feel that they're going for.

On a side note, isn't Wokano moving into either the old BK or McDonald's space?

# on Dec.21.2006 AT 10:42 AM

Dr.B writes:

For Dream Girls, they changed the neon "Palace" and replaced it with "Detroit", the rest of the exterior remained the same. Thankfully they put the "Palace" back when they were finished.

# on Dec.21.2006 AT 10:51 AM

D writes:

yes, what i was told by the Roosevelt people is that citizen smith will be there. also, wokano is opening across the street somewhere. i saw the sign, i just dont remember.

# on Dec.21.2006 AT 12:59 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Wokano is going into the old BK space, but from a glimpse I got in yesterday it looks like they've still got a lot to do.

Roosevelt will still have the La Salsa since that lease has time on it. Not sure what else is staying from their old line-up.

# on Dec.21.2006 AT 01:22 PM

csadler writes:

$30 for 3 fish sticks? I'm appalled.

# on Feb.13.2007 AT 08:22 PM