Supporting the Small Businesses of DTLA, Especially Restaurants

While recovery is slowly happening, many small businesses all over especially DTLA, have suffered not only due to the the lockdowns but due to last year's protests. Help support by opting to dine at the smaller establishments, buy gifts from places like the Flower Mart and the Fashion District or Row DTLA.

Some of my faves:

1. Grand Central Market (Historic Core)

https://www.grandcentralmarket.com/. 

2. Flower Mart (Fashion District)

http://originallaflowermarket.com/

3. Raw Materials Art Supplies (Fashion District)

https://fashiondistrict.org/go/raw-materials-art-supplies

4. Birdies (South Park)

http://birdiesla.com/

5. Badmaash (Historic Core)

https://www.badmaashla.com/

6. Factory Kitchen (Arts District)

https://thefactorykitchen.com/

7. Throw Clay Pottery & Studio (South Park)

https://www.throwclayla.com/classes-1

8. Howlin Rays (Chinatown)

https://howlinrays.com/

9. Bohemian Crystal Beads Factory (Fashion District)

https://beadsfactory.com/bohemian-crystal-rhinestone.html

10. Maccheroni Republic (Historic Core)

https://maccheronirepublic.com/

11. Marugame Monzo (Little Tokyo)

https://marugamemonzola.com/

12. Broken Mouth (Fashion District)

https://www.eatbrokenmouth.com/

13. Le Box Blanc (South Park)

https://www.leboxblanc.com/

14. Redbird (Historic Core)

https://redbird.la/

15. Dylan Lex (@Row DTLA - Produce District)

https://rowdtla.com/collective/dylanlex

16. Frame Pizzeria (South Park)

https://www.framepizzeria.com/

17. 10e (Financial District)

http://www.10erestaurant.com/

18. Sonoratown (Fashion District)

https://www.sonoratown.com/about.html

19. Prank (South Park)

https://prankbar.com/

20. Dylan Lex (@Row DTLA - Produce District)

https://rowdtla.com/collective/dylanlex

DTLA Already Showing Signs of Bouncing Back

While most dense urban centers took a backseat to the suburbs during COVID, there's been signs of people moving back to city centers, particularly in DTLA. Whenever there's a shake up and prices get depressed, those with long term holding plans always come out of the woodwork and buy. 

Investors, city dwellers from NYC, SF, Chicago, Seattle, and other metro areas have been moving into DTLA according to recent sales and leases from other DTLA realtors. There's been a noticeable number of people from out of state moving to DTLA due it's dense city environment and of course the weather. With outdoor dining returning, and indoor dining at minimal capacity, the ability to walk outside in winter to 70-degree sunshine, a slew of activities within 1-2 hours of anywhere (skiing, hiking, lakes, wineries, mountains, beaches), there's a lot going for DTLA.

Sales activity has increased about 8-10% this year from last, and prices have ticked up about 3% from last year. DTLA is still down overall about 7% in prices from pre-COVID times.

Leases are up now too, with more people feeling safer in general and rather than moving out of a walkable area, there are lots of people who are moving within DTLA and trying out new buildings and neighborhoods. 

Entering Spring and Summer, the hope is that with more people vaccinated, the worst is behind us and can move forward to heal, resume business activities, and do our part to help keep the smallest businesses afloat.