Famima!! Opens and People Show Up

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, October 31, 2006, at 12:46PM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I realize doing two Famima!! posts in a row throws me well into the Curbed.LA "all famima!! all the time" mold, but I think this is worth posting about. As promised, the new store did open today at 800 S. Figueroa and I wandered by just now to check out the crowd.

First impression: they have customers. That's a big deal, obviously. Many times you see a spot open soft and build via word of mouth. Today was their first day and it was already busy inside, both with people buying stuff off the shelves and people buying prepared food. In the photo you can see customers at their tables along the windows. I like the idea of having eat-in at a convenience store.

The night crowd is going to be tougher. As raymond mentioned in the comments, they'll be open 6am to 10pm during the week and 7am to 10pm over the weekend. I'll be very interested to see what sales are like in the 6pm to 10pm hours.

Comments

Jason McCabe writes:

This place is has plastic wrapped sandwiches, grocery store sushi and a TINYconvienence store. LAME. That little grocery store in Japanese Village Plaza (Little Tokyo) is MUCH better.

# on Oct.31.2006 AT 04:11 PM

Scott Mercer writes:

Okay, getting back to the point at hand...

I've been to Famima before, so I knew what to expect. This store is actually slightly bigger than the other ones I have been to (Hollywood and Pasadena), so it has a few more tables, which is nice.

Yes, it is convenience store food, but it's very good convenience store food. Best sushi I have ever had in a c store. I know that sounds like damning with faint praise, but the food is better than some restaurants I've been to. And they have Pocky!

Actually, the best thing about it (I thought) was that it was going to be open late. But, unlike the other locations, which stay open until 2 AM, this one closes at 10 PM. BOO!

The mini market on Main Street is open until 10 PM, so I have very little reason to trundle over to Figueroa, unless i have a sushi jones.

But anyway, welcome to Famima!! It's a good addition to downtown, nice to have around, and I will be buying there from time to time. Check it out if you're curious.

# on Nov.01.2006 AT 10:41 AM

Whitman Lam writes:

I stopped by the new Famima on Figueroa. Just one word EXPENSIVE. $3.00 for an "organic" chocolate bar, $3.75 for a bottle of juice, $5.50 for a small sandwich ? I wish Trader Joes will be appearing soon, this place needs some competition, and hopefully they will start dropping prices. I can't afford this place.

# on Nov.01.2006 AT 05:57 PM

FredCamino writes:

I've been there around 10pm the last two nights and there's always been about 4 or 5 other customers in the store with me at the time.

I doubt Famima is going to drop its prices Whit, but remember a 7-11 will be opening soon so you can opt for a snickers bar instead of the $3 bullshit bar.

For the record, I'm a big fan of most of Famima's offerings and the concept of the store... I think it's a great addition to Los Angeles, esp. downtown.

# on Nov.02.2006 AT 12:33 PM

Jason McCabe writes:

You can't have good, fast and cheap. You only get two of the three, take your choice. The probem is with Famima is you get stuck with just fast and that's just not good (or cheap) enough.

# on Nov.02.2006 AT 12:54 PM

Dan writes:

Speaking of Trader Joe's, does anyone here know if the rumors of 2nd and Broadway hold any water?

# on Nov.02.2006 AT 11:50 PM

David Kennedy writes:

What is the rumour about Trader Joe's?

# on Nov.03.2006 AT 10:51 AM

Dan writes:

I heard from more than one person that Trader Joe's was surveying the lot on the southeast corner of 2nd and Broadway. Anyone else heard anything about that? That would be handy for the Douglas/PanAm(if they ever get it done...)/Higgins crowd.

# on Nov.05.2006 AT 01:18 AM

Whitman Lam writes:

Does anyone know where I can buy a can of "Vegemite" the Australian spread ? My Australian friends said I should try it before making any crude judgement.

I promised my mom I would try to go vegan, but I need a good meal option like "Vegemite" to keep me on that green track.

# on Nov.25.2006 AT 12:24 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

As someone who has tried Vegemite I'd say look elsewhere, but if you're still inclined to find it you'll be glad to know that the FDA has not banned its import, as had been recently reported:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20641682-401,00.html

# on Nov.25.2006 AT 12:55 PM

Famima!! Opens and People Show Up

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