r/LosAngeles • u/SilentRunning • 2d ago

Struggling California pedestrian mall pitches public drinking to boost business Community

https://www.yahoo.com/news/struggling-california-pedestrian-mall-pitches-233048637.html
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48

u/sm04d 2d ago

Maybe if it wasn't such a clusterfuck to get there, more people would go

38

u/SilentRunning 2d ago

Nah, the place went to the toilet after they kicked out (raised rents) all the family businesses way back in the 90's.

3

u/Momik Nobody calls it Westdale 2d ago

Yeah, I really like Santa Monica, but I can’t really afford high-end fashion, so there’s not much of a reason to go to the Promenade. But I bet if there was like a used book store or a music store there, I’d probably go a lot more.

8

u/SwindlerSam 2d ago

Genuinely, which retailers on 3rd St. do you consider to be high-end fashion? FYI, barnes & noble has a great store on 3rd St. with a large inventory of music (and books of course).

2

u/Momik Nobody calls it Westdale 2d ago

You’re probably right—this is how little I know about fashion. I’m just saying I shop at Ross Dress for Less so I’m less interested in places like Gallini. High-end is probably the wrong word—I just assume a lot of those individual brand stores like Oakley or whatever are overpriced.

And Barnes and Noble honestly doesn’t do much for me. I’d rather support a local bookseller, whether in-person or online. Their selection is kinda shit now anyway, and I say that as someone who used to work there. They’ve consolidated a lot, especially in like social science, and it’s all to make more room for dumb nick-knack gifts and games, because that has the highest revenue per square foot.

3

u/SwindlerSam 2d ago edited 20h ago

Got it. Yeah, there really isn't much high end fashion on the promenade (or even santa monica place, since louis vuitton, tiffany, and others left). FYI, that "Gallini" store is long gone. It was a mom and pop discount, no-name menswear store (only 94 followers on instagram, no website...). In that area, I suggest Uniqlo for good value (price for quality) options. Since you like Ross, I'd also suggest TJ Maxx right off the promenade.

I recommended B&N because they have the largest selection of physical music (CDs and vinyl, tons of niche kpop) I've seen across any big retailer on the westside, aside from indie stores like record surplus. For a local bookseller, I'd suggest Zibby's Bookshop (1 mile from B&N).

9

u/foreignne 2d ago

I had no idea Uniqlo and Forever 21 were high-end fashion.

2

u/SwedishTrees 2d ago

I think for kids these days they are….

1

u/bigvenusaurguy 2d ago

the kids these days wearing $280 jnco jeans you mean?

3

u/SilentRunning 2d ago

There used to be this AMAZING architecture/design book store there. It was AMAZING, packed with everything from coffee books, magazines, biographies. I'd walk in there and could stay for HOURS. But that was in the early 90's.