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Post by bluelineshawn on Dec 5, 2010 6:34:36 GMT -8
I also thought that the Subway was going next to the subway. Weren't there signs there? Maybe they found some reason that spaces was inadequate. That would explain the delays.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Dec 5, 2010 13:16:38 GMT -8
I went to LAUS this morning with this thread fresh in my mind! At 0830 Famima was open and busy as usual. I'm semi-familiar with a few of their stores and the LAUS store is the busiest that I've seen in their chain. Even on a slow Sunday morning they had a steady stream of business. The pretzel place was still prepping to open for the day, so I don't know how busy they might be. I can only imagine that the Subway will do really well and will probably cut into Famima's sandwich sales. On a side note, I noticed that the board showed that the Southwest Chief due to arrive at 0815 would instead arrive at 6pm. It didn't show that the 6:15pm departure would be delayed, but I imagine that it probably will be.
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Post by jamesinclair on Dec 5, 2010 17:30:20 GMT -8
Any idea why it took so long to get retail in the station like this?
What was blocking them from opening 5 years ago?
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Post by James Fujita on Dec 7, 2010 15:57:26 GMT -8
Any idea why it took so long to get retail in the station like this? What was blocking them from opening 5 years ago? well, it is a historic station, albeit one which has undergone a few changes over the years. Nonetheless, when dealing with a landmark monument such as Union Station, care has to be taken to ensure that changes are not dramatic. beyond that, it could just be a question of the owner deciding whether or not retail would work, whether the economy is right, whether they could find the right mixture of shops (Subway, Quizno's and Togo's wouldn't have worked, for example. too much direct competition). the Eastside Gold Line didn't exist a few years ago, and Los Angeles' transit scene is decidedly bigger and more powerful than it was just a decade ago. Union Station's commuter traffic has exploded, and Catellus probably recognized an opportunity when it saw one. personally, I'll be curious to see just how much Subway cuts into Famima!!'s traffic. the two are certainly different enough. Subway is strictly sandwiches and a lot of people do like their sandwiches. However, Famima!! is more diverse (coffee! bottled tea drinks! mochi ice cream! Pocky sticks! sandwiches! bento boxes! sushi and onigiri! fresh fruit! newspapers and magazines! sticky buns! instant ramen! tylenol! [wait, what ... tylenol?] )
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Dec 26, 2010 20:31:15 GMT -8
See's candies is now open at Union Station. Rumored Starbucks is on the way for the empty retail slot near the Red/Purple Line west entrance, which was previously expecting a Peet's coffee.
Note: Subway is opening soon near the Amtrak Baggage Claim area; no official word on the timetable.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Dec 31, 2010 16:42:56 GMT -8
Subway sandwiches is now open in Union Station. So, this year, Union Station has added 1) Famima!!, 2) Wetzel's Pretzels, 3) Subway, and 4) See's candies. Pretty good.
Looks like Starbucks is nearly confirmed (via security guards) for the last empty retail spot near the Red/Purple line entrance. Opening expected in a couple of months.
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Post by James Fujita on Jan 1, 2011 13:48:17 GMT -8
That's interesting about Mrs. See's, hadn't heard that one yet. Curious to know how much space See's takes. One thing I've noticed about See's is they seem to have 1) full sized stores, 2) mini-stores and 3) mall carts.
And Starbucks will make a decent substitute for Peets, unless there are some Peets fundamentalists in the room ;D
My next work schedule arrived, so I won't have the chance to visit Union Station until the end of the month... oh well. Happy New Year!
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 1, 2011 23:55:52 GMT -8
That's interesting about Mrs. See's, hadn't heard that one yet. Curious to know how much space See's takes. One thing I've noticed about See's is they seem to have 1) full sized stores, 2) mini-stores and 3) mall carts. It's a mall cart directly across the Amtrak information booth.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jan 8, 2011 15:18:33 GMT -8
Maybe I missed it, but is Traxx closing? Also LAUS is a MUCH better place with the new retail options. They do need to add some signs to the waiting room area so that people that enter from Alameda will know that they are there. You can't even see Wetzels and Famima much less Subway from the waiting room. They need a "More shops" type sign unless I just missed it.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 8, 2011 17:42:43 GMT -8
Maybe I missed it, but is Traxx closing? That's a strong assumption. The answer is NO. I volunteer at Union Station and there is no indication they are closing, heck, they are still very busy. The sign was put there to advertise more retail opportunities available at Union Station. The building is looking to add even more retail than Wetzels, Famima!!!, See's Candies, and Starbucks. We may see retail developments on the other end of the station. There is still interest in leasing at Union Station, so this is more a less an advertisement to see if more vendors want to move in and how best to accomodate. This has nothing to do with Traxx.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Jan 9, 2011 1:40:28 GMT -8
That's a strong assumption. The answer is NO. I volunteer at Union Station and there is no indication they are closing, heck, they are still very busy. The sign was put there to advertise more retail opportunities available at Union Station. The building is looking to add even more retail than Wetzels, Famima!!!, See's Candies, and Starbucks. We may see retail developments on the other end of the station. There is still interest in leasing at Union Station, so this is more a less an advertisement to see if more vendors want to move in and how best to accomodate. This has nothing to do with Traxx. Thanks. It was a question, not an assumption. I don't think that California's Business Code allows agents to advertise space available just to gauge interest. But technically the sign doesn't say where the space is available, although LAUS is strongly implied. Loophole I guess.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 9, 2011 12:19:34 GMT -8
Thanks. It was a question, not an assumption. I don't think that California's Business Code allows agents to advertise space available just to gauge interest. But technically the sign doesn't say where the space is available, although LAUS is strongly implied. Loophole I guess. Oh, now I remember the exact reason. They're looking to lease out the former Harvey restaurant space that closed in mid - 2000's. That's the purpose of the sign. So we'll have two full-service active restaurants in Union Station
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Post by metrocenter on Jan 9, 2011 14:37:46 GMT -8
I was at Union Station today (Sunday) around noon. Subway, Wetzel's and Famima!!! were all open and all had customers. Famima!!!, over on the right, was the busiest. Subway, on the left, was smaller than I expected. Wetzel's, smack in the middle, was visible all the way from the front entrance of Union Station. I didn't see a See's cart.
In addition, the bagel place and the newsstand were also open. Only Traxx was closed, I think.
Overall, these retail shops are adding to an already vibrant scene. Lots of people were taking trains, and most of the seats in the waiting room were full.
I will be very interested to see what changes/improvements Metro would make, when/if it buys Union Station.
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Post by tobias087 on Jan 9, 2011 17:44:46 GMT -8
I know this has been said a million times already, but I really don't see why Metro doesn't look into putting retail into other rail stations, particular mezzanine levels of the subway stations, where there's usually lots of open space and lots of foot traffic. Creating a friendlier riding environment can only increase ridership!
And think of the endless number of jokes about getting "Subway" after riding the subway ;D
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Post by James Fujita on Jan 18, 2011 17:58:37 GMT -8
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 24, 2011 19:56:43 GMT -8
I spent some time at Union station on saturday, both at 2:30pm and then at midnight.
Both times the male restrooms were absolutely FILTHY. Disgusting. Both of them.
In the evening, I was there from 11pm to 1:20am waiting for my ambus, and the bathroom was not serviced at all.
That's inexcusable. Who is responsible for cleaning it? Airport bathrooms, with larger crowds, get serviced every 15 minutes. In 2 hours, nobody came to clean this public restroom.
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Post by James Fujita on Mar 7, 2011 22:44:37 GMT -8
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Mar 7, 2011 22:58:27 GMT -8
It's great that Los Angeles Union Station has added more dining/food/snack options; the most unique being Famima!! LAUS is starting to become more like train stations in the East Coast like New York's Penn Station and Washington D.C.'s Union Station, sans the ubiquitous Au Bon Pain.
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Post by James Fujita on Mar 8, 2011 14:46:55 GMT -8
One interesting thing about both Famima!! and See's Candies is that both do not have stores on the east coast.
Wetzel's has a limited presence back east and Subway and Starbucks are both international.
Of course, Famima!!'s parent company has stores in Japan and other Asian countries, but "upscale convenience store" is a concept which doesn't really exist in the U.S.
And See's makes for a unique gift to take back (which is why they have See's at LAX as well).
So, it's just as well that Au Bon Pain isn't ubiquitous at Union Station.
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Post by jamesinclair on Mar 8, 2011 17:36:04 GMT -8
I wouldnt call famina upscale at all. It looked like any other 7-11 or gas station store.
Au Bon Pain = Panera (sort of, its hilariously complicated). Either one would fit.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Mar 8, 2011 19:22:31 GMT -8
I wouldnt call famina upscale at all. It looked like any other 7-11 or gas station store. Au Bon Pain = Panera (sort of, its hilariously complicated). Either one would fit. It's certainly more upscale than a gas station. They sell fresh food and sushi. Would you buy sushi from a gas station? It's also somewhat more upscale than a 7-Eleven which under Japanese ownership has made an effort to upgrade over the last few years.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Mar 8, 2011 19:44:05 GMT -8
I wouldnt call famina upscale at all. It looked like any other 7-11 or gas station store. Au Bon Pain = Panera (sort of, its hilariously complicated). Either one would fit. James..I don't know if you live dt or not, but Famima!! is NOT comparable to 7-11. The quality of food at Famima!! outshines 7-11 or gas stations by a long shot. Think of it as comparing Rite-Aid (7-11) and Walgreens (Famima!!). You will go to Rite Aid if no choice, but if you see Walgreens, you'd much rather shop there. Same comparison with Target (Famima!!) and Wal-Mart (7-11)
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Post by tonyw79sfv on Mar 8, 2011 21:14:33 GMT -8
One interesting thing about both Famima!! and See's Candies is that both do not have stores on the east coast. Wetzel's has a limited presence back east and Subway and Starbucks are both international. Of course, Famima!!'s parent company has stores in Japan and other Asian countries, but "upscale convenience store" is a concept which doesn't really exist in the U.S. And See's makes for a unique gift to take back (which is why they have See's at LAX as well). So, it's just as well that Au Bon Pain isn't ubiquitous at Union Station. I traveled on Amtrak's Acela on the NEC last year and stopped in every major city's station from Washington D.C.'s Union Station to Boston's South Station and pretty much all the stations have an Au Bon Pain; there's none here as they are clustered on the East Coast. I also walked around New York City's Penn Station going between the LIRR and Amtrak sections and finding KFC in one area; I'm glad we don't have junk like that here in our LAUS. LAUS has progressed a lot from TRAXX, Union Bagel, and the lunch truck parked around tracks 8 - 12. I think to add a bit of Southern California flair (for those visiting LA and even to provide a good meal for locals), In-N-Out should open up shop in the area.
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Post by James Fujita on Mar 9, 2011 14:25:55 GMT -8
I wouldnt call famina upscale at all. It looked like any other 7-11 or gas station store. Au Bon Pain = Panera (sort of, its hilariously complicated). Either one would fit. It's certainly more upscale than a gas station. They sell fresh food and sushi. Would you buy sushi from a gas station? It's also somewhat more upscale than a 7-Eleven which under Japanese ownership has made an effort to upgrade over the last few years. it's funny that you should mention 7-11's Japanese ownership, because in Japan, even 7-11 is more upscale than it is here. It has to do with the way that urban Japanese shop. If you think about it, the American supermarket is very auto-oriented: one big store, one location, buy everything at once and haul it back home in your SUV. Japanese store chains, such as Famima!! (FamilyMart), have lots of little neighborhood stores, most of which are typically near train stations... people pick up a bag's worth of groceries on the way home from the station. Naturally, if people are going to grocery shop a lot at convenience stores, FamilyMart, Lawson, 7-11, etc. need to stock better items; and stocking better items leads to more convenience grocery shopping, and so on. I'm hoping that the success of Famima!! at Union Station will lead to Famima!! (or something similar) at other subway and train stations... it's a good small step towards changing how we think about transit...
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dane
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by dane on Mar 25, 2011 15:06:52 GMT -8
The Starbucks outside the Alameda Red Line entrance had its soft opening today!
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Post by James Fujita on Apr 16, 2011 11:23:45 GMT -8
I already tweeted this, but I thought I would mention this here: Not only is Starbucks now fully operational at Union Station but they've brought free wifi as well. Of course, the wifi leaks out of Starbucks, so you don't have to buy a grande latte half-decaf with a twist of lemon to check your e-mail. But the closer you are to the coffee monster, the stronger the signal is. So, human nature being what it is, seats near Starbucks seem to fill up quickly. Free wifi is a valuable commodity in our iPhone/ iPad existence (too many places charge for it), so I am glad to see that Union Station has free wifi. (p.s. I was just on vacation in Ireland and I can honestly say that both Boots and Spar seem to offer Famima!!-quality food choices, although not 24-hour, as well as tissue packets and so forth. What's up with American convenience stores?)
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 24, 2012 1:56:11 GMT -8
Whats going on here? 10 new retail spots?
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jan 24, 2012 8:13:46 GMT -8
More likely set building. Notice the floor protection under the construction and gaffing poles (to hold flags) above the structure, along with the telltale black rolling cases of the film crew.
When you see it costs millions to make a picture, this is where the costs go. Those guys ain't cheap!
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Jan 24, 2012 8:46:00 GMT -8
Don't suspect anything else other than filming. That area is leased by Hollywood Locations. It's either filming or event purposes.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 24, 2012 13:36:36 GMT -8
Film is the first thing I thought, but the construction looked substantial.
So that area is only for movies? Will never be used for passenger amenities?
Would be ironic if they o built 10 small stores....for the movie.
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