Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

This Empty, Historic DTLA Building Will Soon Get New Life As Retail And Office Space (Plus A Rooftop Bar)

The former Desmond's department store during construction in Downtown Los Angeles. (Audrey Ngo/LAist)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Downtown on Broadway stands the former home of one of Los Angeles' most notable high-end department stores.

Built in 1925, Desmond's was one of eight started by Daniel Desmond, a hat manufacturer whose company set roots in L.A. in the mid-19th century. Desmond eventually expanded to men's clothing and opened high-end department stores on Wilshire Boulevard, Broadway and in Westwood.

A 1939 exterior photo of Desmond's at 616 Broadway. (Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection via LAPL)
()

Even with its original terracotta storefront, crown-like parapet and art deco awning providing shade to its entrance, the structure hardly stands out now, sitting empty and dilapidated between 6th and 7th streets. But that won't be the case for long.

Support for LAist comes from

The historic building is being revamped as retail and office space by Omgivning, an L.A.-based architecture and design firm. Plus there'll be a restaurant and rooftop bar, which will expand the former Desmond's six stories to eight.

Sarah Cahill, managing director of Omgivning, said careful consideration is being taken to preserve and even bring back portions of Desmond's original splendor, including the bygone thrill of department store window shopping.

"There were these beautiful, curved glass storefronts with these mannequins. It was just high-end fashion," she said. "You didn't even have to walk into the store. You felt like you were a part of the shopping experience just being on the street. That's something we're excited to bring back."

A "D" emblem from the former Desmond's department store will remain as part of the building's revamp. (Audrey Ngo/LAist)
()

Another detail being preserved are the columns with a capital "D" carved in stone, a feature that wasn't uncommon on structures built in the 1920s. The "D" emblem will remain on the second floor, which will be transformed into office space.

Cahill said it's tough to decide what stays and goes, and that largely depends on the needs of the client. But as she looked at Desmond's archival photos, it's clear that the building's original story can't be erased, no matter how many remodels happen.

"When [the revamping process] starts to come to life for me, is when you see what [the space] was," Cahill said. "And that spirit is still in these buildings."

Support for LAist comes from

Editor's note: Listen to the radio version of this story here on KPCC's Take Two.


Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist