On the heels of a post on Yum-Yum Donuts having it’s roots in Highland Park, did you know that Fashion 21 is the first store of the international retailer better known as Forever 21? The store opened on the corner of Avenue 56 and Figueroa in 1989 and since then, Forever 21 has expanded to to over 400 stores from the US to Saudi Arabia (Yum-Yum and Winchell’s have nearly half that number for comparison). Their profits in 2007 topped $1.3 billion and they recently announced they would be purchasing 150 stores from the now bankrupt Mervyns.
Now, I won’t really attempt to write a review on a women’s clothing store, but I have been inside on more than one occasion with my girlfriend who usually finds something on the disorganized racks that she likes at a very low price. Yelp has a useful review, but if any of you venture in, drop us a line and let us know what you think.
So, why the name change? I had a conversation with one of their purchasers once and her story was that as Fashion 21 grew, they didn’t want to be associated with the neighborhoods they were currently in. A Highland Park address doesn’t sell well to Vals in the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Thus, the original stores (there is one downtown and in Alhambra) have retained the name while the stores that began popping up in malls took the “Forever” moniker.
Little of this will matter to readers who don’t wear women’s clothing, but guys, let me sweeten the offer for you. Score some points by joining your girlfriend or wife over there, and then enjoy the corn and fruit vendors who set up shop outside. You’ll thank me later.
…decaying hillsides. The Times has run a piece describing the history of the slice of land on Colorado between Holbrook and Linda Rosa. It’s sad, and more than a bit uncharacteristic that something in Eagle Rock would represent the excesses and avarice of the real estate boom, but there it is. Fortunately, the piece portrays the neighborhood nicely, includes a short slideshow, and even promotes the upcoming music festival. To give credit where credit is due however, the Boulevard Sentinel did run a similar story back in March.
Our neighborhood “social club” got a true headshot in Saturday’s LA Times. Unfortunately, the online article doesn’t have the picture. You’ll have to track down a hard copy to see it.
The Flying Pigeon, our newest bike shop, is running weekend trips to get Chinese food on their Chinese bicycles. They’ll loan you one of theirs if you don’t have your own.
Highland Park is set to get a branch of JP Morgan Chase with the spectacular implosion of Washington Mutual. Hopefully, they’ll keep our local branch open as it would be a shame to lose the wonderful Denis O’Connor mural.
Did you know that YumYum Donuts was founded right here in Highland Park? Well, I was interested and needed the energy for a day of home improvements. You can never go wrong with donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast. (Unless you’re worried about obesity or type two diabetes.)
Finally, both Sunset Magazine and Details ran blurbs on El Pique. In the back of their October issue, Sunset mistakenly identifies the location as “57th and York” when we all know it’s really Avenue 53 and York. (Unfortunately, their article isn’t online.) Details’ paragraph is in their September issue wedged between a history of the lesbian kiss, what it’s like being married to a porn star, and probably 300 pages of advertisments. I expect the wine country weekenders and westside yuppies to start flooding HP anytime now. (Better lay out my Affliction shirt…)
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