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A Guide to Shopping in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is known for many things – sun, beach, Hollywood, movie stars, superb dining, hot night-spots – but another item the area is famous for is its excellent, sometimes over-the-top shopping options. From antique stores to flea markets, from haute couture to cutting-edge trendy boutiques, Los Angeles has it all.
While most attendees at the NAHC 28th Annual Meeting & Exposition will concentrate their shopping energies within a few miles of the LA Convention Center, others will take advantage of their close proximity to all of this wondrous retail glory, and venture out to explore (and perhaps just window shop) the mind-blowing opulence that is sometimes known in California as “Acquisition Therapy.”
The best way to break down potential shopping adventures in Los Angeles is to do it by area. The map below shows the locations of the nine most visible areas in the metropolitan area and some of the shops listed below. In addition to these nine areas, attendees who are looking for something distinctly ethnic or international in flavor should check out the rich in heritage areas of, Chinatown, Olviera Street, and Japantown, which are also identified on this map.
Rodeo Drive – The Golden Triangle
Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, Wilshire Boulevard to the south, and Canon Drive to the east
The so-called Golden Triangle holds more wealth and fine stores than most small countries. At its center is the renowned Rodeo Drive. It is the street on which Julia Roberts had her shopping spree in “Pretty Woman.” It’s also where designer stores such as Tiffany’s, Cartier, Chanel, Bally, Gucci, and others are located. For those of us who don’t spend their life on a movie set, this area is probably more for gawking and window shopping than for actual purchases. On nearby Wilshire Boulevard, there is the Regent Beverly Wilshire (as seen in “Beverly Hills Cop”), Niketown, Barneys, and, yes, the Saks Fifth Avenue that actress Winona Ryder decided to take a five-finger discount on the items she wanted. Throughout the Golden Triangle, you will see a curious collection of nouveau rich types sauntering about like they are on television.
Robertson Boulevard
Between Beverly Boulevard and Third Street
This small street could be used as a grade-school diorama for hip Los Angeles. Featuring the exclusiveness of Beverly Hills and the cutting-edge cool of Melrose, this small stretch is where Hollywood hipsters with real money shop. There are Curve’s modern edgy outfits, high-end Maxfield’s discount outlet, Maxfield Blue, an Industry MAC store, and a shimmering Georgio Armani Home store. Slip into some Hogan shoes, or go check out Kitson’s, where pretty much any celebrity looking to get one of their celebrity friends a gift goes to buy it. This is also the place to spot celebrities, usually noshing at The Ivy, one of the best restaurants in the city, or the Newsroom Café located in the same building that houses New Line Pictures.
Melrose Avenue
Between San Vicente and La Brea Avenues
Since the early ‘80s, this stretch of Melrose Avenue has defined hip shopping in Los Angeles. The storefronts alone are works of pop art, and the approximately dozen blocks are still packed with hipsters trying to score the latest cool attire. Check out Red Balls, Slow, and Von Dutch for great clothing. If you’re into vintage clothing, Aardvark’s and Wasteland is the place for secondhand items. On west side of Fairfax Avenue, Melrose has emerged as a high-end paradise. Lower-key stores such as Miu Miu, the legendary Fred Segal’s, Costume National, and Forinara all have made it a deserving alternative to the Robertson Boulevard experience.
Beverly Boulevard
Between Martel and La Brea Avenues
A quieter, more sophisticated cousin to its northern neighbor Melrose, this sleepy street features an eclectic array of stores. There is Beige, one of the best boutiques in the city, the men’s store K. Bond, and Naked, which features exclusive selections from European designers. The latter is like the boulevard on which it sits: cool and laidback, and there is no pressure to buy. And from the “Only in L.A.” file, at Fifi and Romeo you can buy matching sweaters for you and your dog.
Third Street
Between La Cienega Boulevard and La Brea Avenue
This street in Santa Monica has grown to become a great shopping walk. There are a slew of fantastic antique stores, wonderful boutiques such as Aero & Co., and Polka Dots & Moonbeams, and specialty stores such as Zipper’s for modern home accessories and unique gifts. Grab a healthy bite at Real Food Daily, some diner fare at the tiny Who’s on Third, or some succulent tapas at the Spanish eatery, Cava. And if the trip down this quaint street isn’t enough, score a guidebook to virtually anywhere else in the world at the small-but-packed Traveler’s Bookcase.
Montana Avenue
Around 15th Street
Also in Santa Monica but tucked away a little further than Third Street, Montana Avenue caters to mostly the “Industry” types who flock to this sunny oasis of stores sequestered in a secluded upscale neighborhood. Cafes and quiet boutiques provide a backdrop, as the upscale clientele lazily stroll down the street, many walking pooches or window-shopping. The gem in this street’s string of stores is Pearl, owned by Jack’s daughter (yes, THAT Jack), Jennifer Nicholson. Check out her original cool line of clothes as well as accessories from the hottest new designers.
La Brea
Between Wilshire and Hollywood Boulevards
This boulevard is seen by most as a major north-south tributary, and by others as an east-west dividing line between the west side of Los Angeles and the rest of the city. It’s easy to overlook the many fine establishments. If you want to find a great skirt or jeans, go to Jet Rag, LA’s best vintage store; for some simply great duds go to American Rag; head over to Rocket Video for an obscure foreign film; or chow down on the best hot dog in the city at Pink’s. You can even do lunch at the Rita Flora flower shop or find amazing Peking Duck at the Lucky Duck.
Downtown – Santee Alley
Downtown between Santee and Maple Streets and Olympic Boulevard and 12th Street
The fashion district of Los Angeles conjures images of sweatshops, but in reality there is a fascinating collision of cultures that makes this area a great microcosm of Los Angeles in all its shine and grime. Called a bargain hunters paradise, Santee Alley features lots of knockoffs of designer shoes and clothing at really low prices. A great time to go is the first Friday of every month, when the California Mart has sample sales. And the wares aren’t limited to clothing. You can find everything from reams of fabric to Powerpuff Girl piñatas.
Sunset Plaza
Sunset Boulevard at Sunset Plaza D
Eurotrash, tourists and celebrities populate this chi-chi stretch of Sunset Boulevard that is dotted with outdoor cafes and boutiques. The Coffee Bean here is like a club – pickup your coffee and your next date. Many of the top boutiques, such as Madison and Anna Sui, can be found here, as well as new kids on the block, like O, which features Ann Cherico’s stunning accessories. If shopping’s not your thing, this is a great place to people watch – just grab a seat at one of the many European cafes or the Chinese fast food Chin Chin and let your eyes focus on all the beautiful people. Also in the area is the hip Standard Hotel where you can get a haircut or other service at their low-cost, cutting-edge salon.
Where the Malls Are:
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, a number of popular shopping malls in the Los Angeles area disappeared and were replaced with open-air complexes that combine shopping, dining, entertainment and living areas, which are becoming more common in large metropolitan areas throughout the country. However, there are still a good number of malls left in LA, and the large ones are listed below:
1. The Beverly Center
at 8500 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles
2. Westfield Century City
at 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles
3. Glendale Galleria
at 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale
4. Los Cerritos Center
at 605 Freeway & South Street, Cerritos
5. Burbank Town Center
at 201 East Magnolia, Burbank
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