FIGat7th
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ABOUT THE DTLA ALLIANCE
Founded in 1998, the DTLA Alliance has been a catalyst in the transformation of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) into a vibrant 24/7 destination. A coalition of more than 2,000 property owners in the Downtown Center, the DCBID members are united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown LA.
The mission of the Economic Development team is to improve and revitalize the District and bring investment and new businesses to the area. We provide services to current and prospective residents, workers, and businesses, including:
• Development Consulting
• Research and Information Requests
• Events and Marketing
• Housing and Office Tours
• Customized Tours and Reports
Whether you need information on development, opening a business location, or you just want to learn more about Downtown’s market sectors and dynamics, we are the portal for information about the District and DTLA.
To learn more, visit www.DowntownLA.com.
DEFINITION OF DOWNTOWN LA
The DTLA Alliance defines Downtown Los Angeles as the area bounded by the 110, 101 and 10 freeways and the LA River, plus Chinatown, City West, and Exposition Park. Because these do not precisely align with census tracts, some of the data in this report includes areas just outside these boundaries.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
While the retail industry is constantly evolving, the old adage of “location, location, location” still holds true – nowhere more so than Downtown Los Angeles, whose central geography and big, diverse consumer base of residents, workers, and visitors make it an attractive market for a wide range of retail.
DTLA is the economic and cultural heart of Los Angeles County, the geographic center of the City of LA, and the hub of the region’s expanding Metro system. Surrounded by a constellation of vibrant neighborhoods and easily accessible from near and far by car or transit, it taps into a large and desirable consumer trade area.
In a sprawling region of 10 million people, Downtown offers a uniquely urban lifestyle and experience.
DTLA has over 85,000 residents, making it one of the city’s largest residential neighborhoods. With a population increase of 47% since 2010, it is also its fastest growing. The median age is 36 and the average household income is $98,000. Beyond the numbers, DTLA is a passionate community of creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
There are over 325,000 jobs in DTLA, with an average annual wage of $120,000. 48% of these workers live less than 10 miles away and 91% also visit on days they are not working. Downtown also welcomes over 18 million visitors per year – 2.6 million from further than 250 miles – with significant numbers from San Francisco, New York, and abroad.
When people arrive in DTLA, they find one of the most pedestrian-friendly places in Los Angeles, with
a walk-score of 93. They also find a concentration of retail businesses – 743 per square mile – that is 10x that of the rest of the city. With a total of 3,794 food & beverage establishments, Downtown is a dining and nightlife destination unrivaled in the region.
Also unparalleled regionally, and putting it on the map globally, are DTLA’s world-class arts & culture and sports & entertainment offerings, which draw millions to its museums, concert halls, theaters, and arenas – millions who also eat, shop, play, and stay at its wide range of restaurants, stores, nightclubs, and hotels.
Those are the facts and figures on the Downtown market, but equally important are the intangible qualities that make DTLA a trend-setting place – a magnet for the innovation and creativity on which dynamic businesses thrive. With the rise of e-commerce, physical locations are increasingly focused on branding, experience, convenience, and personal service, all of which play to Downtown’s unique identity as both a passionate local community and an internationally recognized destination.
DTLA’s diverse and eclectic nature is also reflected in the variety of its neighborhoods – an amalgam of distinct communities, each offering its own special vibe, appealing to different kinds of consumers and types of retailers. So, whether you are a global brand or mom & pop shop, regional chain or local eatery, fashion boutique or cultural experience, newly launched or well established, Downtown Los Angeles has the people and the place for you.
DTLA BY THE NUMBERS
RETAIL
$5 billion RETAIL SALES ANNUALLY
Source: Esri
566 RETAIL BUSINESSES PER SQUARE MILE IN DTLA
vs. 51 per square mile for all of the City of LA
Source: Esri
18+ million VISITORS IN 2024
Source: Placer.ai
2.7 million VISITORS WHO LIVE >50 MILES AWAY
Source: Placer.ai
4 million + SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE
181 FOOD & BEVERAGE SPOTS PER SQUARE MILE IN DTLA vs. 27 per square mile for all of the City of LA
DENSITY
325,000 JOBS
TRAVELERS & TOURISTS
80,000 + RESIDENTS
Source: American Community Survey
10,000 + HOTEL ROOMS
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DTLA CONSUMER MARKET
CONSUMER SEGMENTS
Experian Mosaic is the nation’s leading customer market segmentation tool. Downtown residents are highly concentrated in the Singles and Starters and Young City Solos market segments, whereas workers and visitors are more evenly spread across a range of segments.
Singles & Starters
“These self-described workaholics share a desire to move up in status and they realize that every career journey starts with a first step.”
Cultural Connection
“Despite their limited budgets, these households enjoy shopping and like to experiment with styles, and they like stores that offer lots of brands.”
Young City Solos
“These young professionals report above average incomes topping $50,000 a year, and they seem to be thoroughly enjoying their unattached status.”
Placer.ai tracks location-based data from mobile app usage nationwide. From this data, we can index Downtown’s consumer market against national averages. The results show that Downtown’s appeal is particularly strong for the young, with all ages from 22-50 indexing higher than the national average. Income levels for residents are concentrated at the high and low ends, reflecting both the massive amount of new residential development and the longstanding inventory of affordable housing, while those for workers and visitors are more consistent with national averages.
RESIDENTS
The success of Downtown’s revitalization is most clearly demonstrated by the significant growth of its residential population. While all of Downtown has welcomed new residential communities, growth has been primarily concentrated in several areas, most notably in South Park, the Historic Core, and the Arts District.
The new Downtown Community Plan, commonly known as DTLA 2040, was approved in 2024 and provides a blueprint for the next phase of residential growth. It not only increases Downtown’s overall capacity for new residential development, it includes several key provisions that will encourage increased density by providing incentives and eliminating requirements.
Key Features of New Plan:
Increase the portion of Downtown where housing can be built by-right from 33% to 60%
• Updated zoning and land use designations are more tailored to current uses
• 3-level Community Benefits Program provides density bonuses for including affordable housing, open space/community facilities, and contributing to a community benefits fund
• Elimination of parking requirements, allowing developer to assess their needs
• Expansion of adaptive reuse to include any building that is more than 25 years old
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WORKERS
Downtown LA is the largest and most densely concentrated hub of commercial activity in Southern California. Long the home of traditional office tenants, the past decade has seen a new wave of creative and innovative companies, and the talent they employ, expanding in DTLA. 325,000
21% OF ALL JOBS IN THE CITY OF LA
$120,000 DTLA WORKER AVERAGE WAGE 60% BETWEEN THE AGES OF 30-54
Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Placer.ai
VISITORS
With an unparalleled collection of arts & cultural institutions, sports and entertainment venues, and its vibrant urban lifestyle, DTLA has become a world-class destination for visitors from across the nation and globe. Locally, DTLA serves a wide range of roles for residents of the City and County of Los Angeles. 18 million + VISITORS IN 2024 2.4 million OVERNIGHT STAYS
Source: Placer.ai
Source: Placer.ai
VISITORS
VISITATION HEAT MAPS
This heat map shows the most popular locations for DTLA’s 18+ million visitors in 2024. Several noteworthy areas, identified in dark yellow, had between 500K and 1M visits during the year, while the top three locations in red each saw over 1M visits.
Figueroa St. and 7th St.
Santee Alley
Historic Core
ROW DTLA
Little Tokyo/Arts District
Source: Placer.ai
DTLA VISITOR HOME LOCATIONS
Source: Placer.ai
DTLA
Beverly Hills
Boyle Heights
Koreatown
Culver City
Echo Park Hollywood
5-mile Radius
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
1
10
11
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
FIGat7th:
Bath & Body Works City
Target
H&M
Nordstrom Rack
Sephora
Victoria’s Secret
Zara
California Pizza Kitchen
Five Guys
Sprinkles
The BLOC:
Alamo Drafthouse
Uniqlo
Kinokumiya
Hatch
TABL M
JOEY DTLA
Whole Foods
71Above
Baar Baar
Bottega Louie
Drago Centro
NIKU X
Settecento
Spire 73
Casa Ipanema
Sandcouch
Fogo de Chao
Karl Strauss
Philz Coffee
Shake Shack
sweetgreen
Tender Greens
Aquarela
Dalian’s
Hilltop Coffee
Nice Coffee
Bar CDMX
Broken Shaker
Lost DTLA
Seven Grand
Shoo Shoo Baby
BUNKER HILL
Asterid
Nick & Stef’s
San Laurel
Pez Cantina
Trejo’s Tacos
Danny Boy’s Pizza
Colburn Café
Lontra Coffee
Silverback Coffee
Surfboy
HISTORIC CORE
Jumpman LA (Nike)
Ross Dress for Less
Skechers
The Last Bookstore
Vivisim Exposition
Badmaash
Maccheroni Republic
Orsa & Winston Perch
Redbird
Clifton’s Republic
Guisados
Blue Bottle Coffee
Tilt Coffee Bar
Florentin
Kippered
The Grayson Bar
Good Clean Fun
The Wolves
Wyman Bar
FASHION DISTRICT
adidas Originals DTLA
Apple Tower Theatre
Foot Locker
Mykita
PacSun
Urban Outfitters
West Elm
Gentle Monster
Cara Cara
Dama
Sonoratown
Zinque
Paris Baguette
Cognoscenti Coffee
ilCaffe
SOUTH PARK
L.A. LIVE:
Fleming’s Katsuya
Yard House
Ralphs Fresh Fare
Mastro’s Ocean Club
Prank Bar
SusieCakes
The Capital Grille
6XS
ARTS DISTRICT
ROW DTLA: A+R
Bodega
General Store
Hayato
Go get em tiger
Departamento
Dover Street Market
The House of Woo
Popkiller
Simon Miller
Wittmore
Bavel
Bestia
Camelia
Girl & the Goat
Manuela
Bike Shed Moto Co.
Wurstküche
Urth Caffe
Blue Bottle Coffee
Cafe 2001
Verve Roastery Del Sur
Death & Co.
Everson Royce Bar
LA Cha Cha Chá
KEY
Signature Locations
Familiar Favorites
Coffee
Bars & Nightlife
BUNKER HILL
A mix of soaring skyscrapers, internationally known cultural institutions, and world-class architecture, Bunker Hill is also home to an increasing concentration of desirable residential properties. While bustling with office workers on weekdays, the success of The Broad, Disney Concert Hall, and adjacent culinary destinations has ushered in a new population, altering perceptions, and activating the area on evenings and weekends.
Grand Central Market
The Broad Grand Park
B of A Plaza Angels Flight
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Dense, diverse, and dynamic, the Financial District is the heart of DTLA. Sitting at the center of the region’s Metro rail system, and possessing an unparalleled selection of restaurants, it is the epitome of convenience. Rental and condo properties have added a residential community that keeps the neighborhood buzzing through the day and into the evening.
The Bloc
LA Central Library
FigAt7th
Pershing Square
7th Street
HISTORIC CORE
With its classic buildings adapted for office and residential use, this area boasts many of the things that originally put Los Angeles on the world stage – ornate movie palaces, showcase architecture, and the bustling Broadway corridor. It’s also where visitors can experience DTLA’s contemporary reputation as a oneof-a-kind food, arts, and shopping destination, with community events like Downtown Art Walk, Shop Walk, and a weekly farmers market.
Orpheum Theatre
The Bradbury Spring Arcade
STILE by Kasa
Eastern Building
ARTS DISTRICT
Situated on the eastside of DTLA, adjacent to the LA River and railyards, the Arts District is famously home to galleries and cultural spaces, live/work lofts, and unique restaurants and retail in converted warehouses and former factories. It has also become a haven of innovative space for technology, media, and other creative companies. The neighborhood’s buzz can be felt day and night and has made it one of the hottest real estate markets in the country.
Art Share LA
One Santa Fe Hauser & Wirth
SCI-Arc Traction Ave.
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FASHION DISTRICT
Once known exclusively as Downtown’s wholesale quarter, the Fashion District now counts more than 1,000 retail stores in its 100 blocks, selling everything from fabrics to flowers, and of course, fashion. Crowds come to peruse the deals at Santee Alley or take advantage of frequent “Sample Sale” events.
SOUTH PARK
South Park is the premier sports and event destination of Southern California, with Crypto.com Arena, the L.A. LIVE entertainment complex, and the L.A. Convention Center attracting more than two million visitors annually. The area has also experienced massive population growth, becoming its own full-fledged residential community.
California Flower Mall
Santee Village Crypto.com Arena L.A. LIVE
LITTLE TOKYO
Not surprisingly, Little Tokyo boasts some of Downtown’s finest sushi and noodle restaurants while also embracing an increasingly diverse demographic. By day, the compact, pedestrian, and family-friendly district primarily serves a convenience function, while evenings draw a more youthful, energetic crowd.
CHINATOWN
Despite substantial demographic change, this area has managed to remain a destination for authentic regional Chinese cuisine and culture. More recently, it has attracted several new exciting culinary and nightlife ventures. With several new residential developments in the works, the area is poised for significant growth in the coming years.
Japanese Village Plaza
Kyoto Garden
LA State Historic Park
Metro Station
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SIGNATURE LOCATIONS
Signature locations serve not only as shopping destinations, but as critical brand representatives in key markets that communicate and reinforce their identity. At these locations, retailers seek to craft memorable experiences and opportunities for engagement not found at most stores, and certainly not online. The relationship is often synergistic, with brands leveraging neighborhood characteristics into their branding.
Target Apple Store
adidas Originals DTLA
Jumpman LA
SIGNATURE LOCATIONS
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BOUTIQUES
While the big names may attract the biggest headlines, it is the more bespoke boutiques that give Downtown LA much of its character and reputation. When a retailer has only one location, or even just a handful, location is even more critical to defining the brand. It is no surprise that so many of such retailers have chosen two of the most distinct areas of Downtown, and LA as a whole: the post-industrial Arts District and historic South Broadway.
Kinokuniya
The Last Bookstore
Wittmore
Departamento
Bodega
Dover Street Market
Popkiller
The House of Woo
Gentle Monster
Simon Miller
A+R
Visvim Exposition
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LOCAL FLAIR
Downtown is home to several retail clusters of unique historic significance that remain vibrant hubs of commerce to this day. These areas not only add character and authenticity to the community, their one-of-a-kind nature draws proprietors and shoppers from across the region.
Santee Alley
Jewelry District
Flower District
Chinatown Japanese Village
Olvera Street
HEALTH & WELLNESS
DTLA’s health and wellness scene is shaped by the urban, affluent, and culturally diverse population that lives and works in the area. The market combines traditional health services with modern, boutique wellness experiences, including fitness, nutrition, self-care, and alternative therapies. Medical services located in retail spaces represent a fast-growing trend, bringing convenience, accessibility, and modern design to a traditionally institutional industry. These include urgent care, dental offices, mental health clinics, and med spas.
Tooth Shop Dentistry
UCLA Health
Sculpt Med Spa
Equinox
F45
OrangeTheory
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FINE DINING EXPERIENCES
Over the past 20 years, Downtown has gained recognition around the world for its culinary scene, boasting some of the top restaurants in Southern California. Operating in a diverse range of spaces, from industrial to historic to contemporary to futuristic, DTLA allows chefs and restauranteurs to find the right canvas for their vision in a market that can sustain their business.
Perch
Bottega Louie
Spire 73
Camelia
71Above
Redbird
Baar Baar
Nick & Stef’s
Bestia
Settecento
Girl & the Goat NIKU X
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LOCAL DINING EXPERIENCES
In addition to its fine dining scene, DTLA’s foodie reputation comes from its “street food” roots, with many of its current stars having launched their careers with a stall or a food truck. That spirit remains alive and well at food halls and at fast casual establishments reflecting DTLA’s full range of ethnic diversity, while also appealing to younger consumers seeking authentic “Instagram-worthy” experiences.
Sonoratown
Villa’s Tacos
Grand Central Market
Clifton’s Republic
Pez Cantina
Bike Shed Moto. Company
Wurstkuche
Sandcouch
Cafe 2001
Badmaash
Casa Ipanema
Trejo’s Tacos
FAMILIAR FAVORITES
When assessing an area for a potential location, many businesses follow the simple rule of looking for where their leading-edge competition can be found. Downtown LA has quickly become that place for food and beverage operators, with a steady flow of new openings from established and fast-growing chains across all segments of the market.
Philz Coffee
California Pizza Kitchen
Tender Greens
Shake Shack
Paris Baguette Yard House
Fogo de Chão
Karl Strauss Sprinkles
Danny Boy’s Pizza
sweetgreen
JOEY DTLA
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COFFEE
DTLA’s coffee scene is a blend of craft, culture, and community—perfect for creatives, professionals, and coffee lovers looking for quality and experience in every cup. Many DTLA cafes are deeply community-oriented, hosting live music, art shows, and community events. DTLA is also a hotspot for third-wave coffee, emphasizing quality, sustainability, and craft, with shops that either roast their own beans or source from respected micro-roasters.
Nice Coffee
Surfboy
Blue Bottle Coffee
Dalian’s
Verve Roastery Del Sur
6XS
Silverback Coffee Colburn Cafe
Tilt Coffee Bar HilltopCoffee
Lontra Coffee
Aquarela
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BARS & NIGHTLIFE
There are few places as well suited to nightlife businesses as DTLA. With a rich, diverse, and concentrated bar scene, Downtown also boasts the unique to LA benefits of being transit-accessible and walkable. Without the need to drive and the ability to walk from one location to the next, the area encourages patrons to explore its variety and enjoy its vibrancy.
Wyman Bar
Seven Grand
Bar CDMX
Broken Shaker
Lost DTLA
Shoo Shoo Baby
Good Clean Fun
The Wolves
Florentin Kippered
The Grayson Bar
Death & Co
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Nick Griffin, Executive Director (213) 416-7522 I ngriffin@downtownla.com
Elan Shore, Director of Economic Development (213) 416-7518 I eshore@downtownla.com