that's good to know...& a relief if they're managing to pull in enough customers per day to remain open.
as for illithid's post or chef's link to the perry group, I'm certainly not oblivious to just how tough it is....how much turnover exists....not just for the restaurant business, but for small retail businesses in general. but dtla is a special case. The reason is its reputation has long been one where businesses, big & small....unless they're barely one step up from ppl who sell junk out of the trunk of their car at a drive in swapment....fear to tread.
A place like Figaro on broadway is even more of a special case cuz it's just about the first & only nice business to open in that part of dt in over 40 yrs. So if it doesn't succeed, that will have greater
repercussions than if it were a business that fails to survive in brentwood or Samo, or pasadena, or newport bch.
I also have a soft spot for owners of places like hygee & figaro. That's cuz they're newcomers trying to add to the quality of the city....by moving here from another country....including from towns in europe that aren't as infamous for being hostile to city life....& putting their hard earned $$ into a new shop in dtla.
But whether a restaurant in dtla is owned by locals or immigrants, they must all be familiar with the way such businesses trying to open in dt have to go through a maze of city permits & red tape. They probably have dealt with costly delays, so the odds already are stacked against them, in more ways than one.
I don't think it's just a matter of understanding who's the biggest, best shoppers out there....or the difference between customers who are guys instead of women....but also trying to figure out the nature of dt by seeing it from a close vantage point. When I'm miles away from the hood & guessing what things are like for ppl actually there....& trying to gauge how new projs & improvements are affecting things....I notice my perceptions are different compared with when I'm actually in the hood. I'm generally an easier grader when looking at things from a distance than from up close.
I posted this a few months ago, since it shows the relationship of the new projs now finally....FINALLY!....underway to the rest of the hood. iow, unless ppl actually are in dt, they're more likely to not realize what's going on next door or across the street from the onni tower, or carmel partners bldg, or the tower at 8th & hope.
I don't think stores sitting along streets, & that are located in new apt bldgs, are the only answer to making dt more friendly to pedestrians....to make Grand around 8th & 9th st, or farther south, seem less lonely. I'd be perfectly happy if the first floor of new apt bldgs contained residences. The only problem with that is many ppl wouldn't want to live in such units, due to a lack of privacy, or cuz of noise, or due to security concerns. But I'd rather walk past apts with ppl inside, than vacant shopfronts, or spaces where stores close up after 6:00 at night, or are hurting for customers & look kind of
.
maps.google.com
this really is a good time for ppl living in dt, or working there, or visiting there, & for anyone keeping track of the maturing of LA overall. The number of new projs in dt, & extending west to Wilshire & western, & Wilshire & LaBrea, & the projs in Hollywood, & other parts of town, make this a very satisfactory....& long overdue....moment in LA's history.
Right now, on this very day....when 2 major projs finally showed signs of beginning work....is when it should be said....yes, it's all good.
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