The Street Seen: Main Street (February 2024)
Main Street (Pico to Dewey)
It is quieter on Main Street - playoffs are over, fewer tourists, some rain and cool weather. Here is a stroll down Main Street from Pico to Marine with some of the changes since we last checked.
1921 Main Bay— Custom-made, epoxy-covered wood tables by Epoxy Expertise replace the short-lived (May to November 2023) Brighton Academy children's place that was in the long-vacant Bonjour French Boutique space.
2000 Main @ Bicknell. After 12 years (it opened as Stella Rossa in 2011), artisanal pizza place Stella Barra closed. Stella Barra was the only California restaurant in the Lettuce Entertain You collection - a family-owned Chicago-based restaurant group, founded in 1971, with more than 120 restaurants and 60 brands across the country.
2107 Main @ Bicknell. After 40 years at their Main St location, California Hot Tubs has moved to Lincoln Blvd in Marina Del Rey. California Hot Tubs, in operation since 1984, claims to be the oldest spa and hot tub dealer in Los Angeles. Current owner, Bruce Gold, bought the business in 2017.
2305 Main @ Strand. After a two-year run, Some September closed. They opened in 2022 (replacing clothing store Vital Hemp) as Sanctuaire - a European-inspired twist on the laid-back California lifestyle store.
2400 Main @ Hollister. The strip mall next to Shoops European Deli has become an international village. Joining Dolcenero Gelato, Narita Sushi, and Thai Vegan are Italian gourmet food people Zona Little Italy (replacing handbag designer SUSU), and Japanese lifestyle shop Jazoo’s Japan (morphed from Puzzle & Co).
2430 Main @ Hollister. West Hollywood based Popshop Live, a QVC for Gen Z, whose mobile live-streaming e-commerce business looks beyond brick-and-mortar stores, is opening a brick-and-mortar store on Main St - in the old Blow Me Candle, and before them, Essentia mattress, space. It’s a double interesting twist, given how channels like HSN and QVC seem uncool - the domain of the middle-aged middle-class everyman. (And the other interesting twist is that there is already a mobile live-streaming e-commerce business, Videeo.Live Studios, on the 2nd floor). Popshop Live’s direct-to-consumer commerce is based on interesting items, sold by equally interesting people - a combination of a practical purchasing platform and diverting entertainment. Popshop Live was acquired by retail technology company CommentSold (CS) in 2023. Popshop Live powered by CS services include shipping support, a point-of-sales system, automated invoicing, and webstore design. As a shopper or seller, it’s free to join. Popshop Live charges a 6% commission to the seller.
2449 Main @ Hollister. After 17 years in the Edgemar Center, popular second-hand clothing store Buffalo Exchange closed - making “….the tough decision to refocus efforts on our other stores.” Buffalo Exchange is a fashion resale retailer, operating under a "buy, sell, trade" business model. It buys clothing and accessories from the public and resells them to the public. Founded in Arizona in 1974, Buffalo Exchange has about 40 locations across the US - there are 5 other locations in Los Angeles.
2507 Main @ Norman. After 4+ years of construction at the former Novel Cafe space, “healthy - fast - casual” Rabano Handcrafted Food & Drinks opened with a menu of salads, bowls, and sandwiches that utilize local ingredients. Rabano has another location in Hermosa Beach
2515 Main @ Norman. Founded in 2018, MUD/WTR has opened their flagship location in former Lost Planet film editorial company space. The space is open to the public - with a store/cafe, a huge free co-work space with fast WiFi, and a podcast studio for rent. Mud/Wtr’s coffee alternative consists of 100% organic cacao, ayurvedic herbs, and a blend of adaptogenic mushrooms, and is sold online by subscription.
2525 Main @ Norman. After opening 2 years ago in the Suji space, selling the @scottrogowsky collection of vintage clothing/sports memorabilia, Quiz Daddy’s Closet has closed.
2625 Main @ Ocean Park. Action sports apparel store RVCA is closed. RVCA (pronounced: REW-KA) is a design-driven lifestyle brand found in skateboard/surf shops. Because of its art focus, RVCA is also associated with the street graffiti subculture. Along with Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, DC Shoes, Element, and VonZipper, RVCA is a brand of Huntington Beach headquartered Boardriders. At one time, ZJ Boarding House (2619 Main St) also occupied both its neighbors to the south - 2623 Main St (Billabong - closed) and 2625 Main St (RVCA - closed).
2665 (C) Main @ Ocean Park. Permanent jewelry retailer Love Weld replaces Pennoyer Newman’s replica garden pots in the former Arts & Letters space. Love Weld, with its solid 14k gold bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and rings, claims to be America’s fastest-growing, female-owned permanent jewelry retailer. Permanent jewelry is often about bonding with loved ones, and the retail experience of getting zapped together has been driving sales - so Love Weld stores provide places to sit and hang out. Available for ages 18+ and minors between ages of 10-17 with guardian consent.
2810 Main @ Kinney. Closed in 2022, Nameless Bar & Nightclub, in the former Pink Elephant space, is back. But different - newly remodeled as a multi-functional venue serving as a sports bar by day and 21 & over live entertainment club by night.
2818 Main @ Ashland. After 27 years, womens clothing store, Kyss is closing. The closing sale has begun.
2900 Main @ Ashland. After 37 years (opened on Main St in 1987, and moved to the current location in 1993), Accents Jewelry Design is closing. Owner Steven Hanna is retiring. The closing sale has begun - final day is April 30th.
2925 Main @ Kinney. At 7am Wednesday, January 31 the SMFD responded to a ground floor fire at Free People. Because of the early hour, the 2-story commercial building was unoccupied and firemen made a forced entry. The store suffered extensive smoke and water damage and is temporarily closed. Free People, with 15 stores in the Los Angeles area, is a women’s clothing chain with a bohemian-inspired collection of dresses, jackets, shoes & accessories. Free People, along with Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and BHLDN, is owned by Philadelphia-based URBN.
