Sawtelle - where we're at today
Tokyo Garment Outlet - nice sign eh?
So here's an update. That's Yamaguchi. Did you know we (GR) tried to buy this spot? It's a large spot, and even includes the lot behind it. I didn't really talk about this much, since it's private, but now, since it's what it is, I'll tell you a little about it.
This space was for sale. It was a high number. So high, we went hunting all over for funds. We were set to go. We even met the asking price and with my long time association with the area, and as a customer of the space since I was a child, I thought we had a good shot. Also the idea was to restore the space, make it better, and continue the legacy of what it is... A cornerstone for the street.
So that's a short version of our side of it. From what we understand, here's what happened. We met the price, but they got a bid a bit higher, we matched it, now we're over the asking price, then another bidder came with it too. It's cool to not win and get the space, but the main concerns...
Will the new tenant have a commitment to the area with the space? Does everyone want to see this turn into lofts or condos? Today it's a crapy store. People talk about it with disdain, and of course everyone is too polite to come out and write or say anything. The spot looks like a skeleton of it's old self, and it brings down the neighborhood a couple of steps. It's frankly embarrassing and again, it just shows what greed can do.
So here's an update. That's Yamaguchi. Did you know we (GR) tried to buy this spot? It's a large spot, and even includes the lot behind it. I didn't really talk about this much, since it's private, but now, since it's what it is, I'll tell you a little about it.
This space was for sale. It was a high number. So high, we went hunting all over for funds. We were set to go. We even met the asking price and with my long time association with the area, and as a customer of the space since I was a child, I thought we had a good shot. Also the idea was to restore the space, make it better, and continue the legacy of what it is... A cornerstone for the street.So that's a short version of our side of it. From what we understand, here's what happened. We met the price, but they got a bid a bit higher, we matched it, now we're over the asking price, then another bidder came with it too. It's cool to not win and get the space, but the main concerns...
Will the new tenant have a commitment to the area with the space? Does everyone want to see this turn into lofts or condos? Today it's a crapy store. People talk about it with disdain, and of course everyone is too polite to come out and write or say anything. The spot looks like a skeleton of it's old self, and it brings down the neighborhood a couple of steps. It's frankly embarrassing and again, it just shows what greed can do.
Labels: street sights
posted by gr @ PERMLINK: 3:20 PM
11 Comments:
We were very upset to see Tokyo Garment Outlet. Sun-Min and I both yelped "WHAT!? No!" when we saw that. How much is the rent? Or does that shop belong to the current owner? Not good.
that's a really nice corner spot. maybe you could infiltrate the place and fake ghosts-apparitions and scare them out or have some old guy go there and tell a story of murder and terror to them about the place. or you could boycott them somehow. i dont know, im just shooting off the bark here. good stuff
BUMMER. I grew up going to Yamaguchi whenever my family went to Sawtelle. Up until a few years ago, I would still drop in to get a soda or some gum after a GR shopping binge.
Sad and short sighted of the owner. You guys are the heart and soul of Sawtelle. Good shall overcome.
Not living in West LA, I still frequent Sawtelle twice, sometimes 3 times a week. My patronage runs from Nijiya, GR, GR2, Yakitoria, Chabuya, and on...
When I saw this store this weekend I was sickened. My only hope is that everyone feels the same way and that the lack of traffic and consumption will close it quickly.
I remember once you mentioned a town
hall meeting for the Sawtelle area.
Is there a way a document for an
architectural and design guidelines
to be written up for new
buildings and signage coming in? Little
Tokyo just got one approved last year
because of all of the new developments
coming up.
Also, their main community group is able
to determine what kinds of businesses
can exist in Little Tokyo. Although, I know
they have a lot of help through the
City Hall and Community Redevelopment
Agency.
Do the town meetings talk about issues
like these?
I agree that the store and sign is not very nice. Just want to clarify - who is the greedy one? the previous owners who sold to the highest bidder, or the winning bidder/current owner? Seems like the current owner couldn't be making that much money renting to the TGO. If they are planning to eventually tear down the current structure and build something new, it may take a year or two to get approvals and permits.That's a long time to be paying the mortgage without any return on investment.
As for the previous owner - if it was a sale by the inheritors, they probably just wanted to get as much as they could, without caring about the community. This is usually the case.
ftl, you're right on this entirely. Yet they act like they care(d). That's the part that's dishonest and greedy. You usually can't have both benevolence and greed together.
You can't stop people from buying buildings... What goes in, can be somewhat controlled, but people are lazy.
It's good to know that you & GR are doing well enough financially to put in a bid! It's really encouraging to see JA's succeed in areas outside of law, medicine, engineering. I always use GR as an example for my struggling artist/design pals who wonder if they should've listend to their nagging rents and just gone to professional school.
Although I remember stopping into Yamaguchi's every Saturday after J-school many yrs ago, honestly I really didn't patronize them after I discovered Marukai.
The whole Sawtelle area has changed demographically in the past 10~15 yrs with so many of my friends' parents/grandparents dying or moving away. Yamaguchi's closure and sale are emblematic of the shift.
Maybe you can make an offer to Save & Safe or Granada Market or even Jo-Mi Plumbing for their properties? I don't know how much longer they will be around.
when the previous owner/tenant was closing down their biz, i was wondering what 'cool' store will take over... when i saw it last week, i was so disappointed!! ew... i live about 20mins away and frequent sawtelle alley every week... tgo just seems so 'out of place' there.
That place is embarrassing and an eyesore. I cringe every time I walk past it. What's next, a Nix Check Cashing?
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