

Thanks to the ambitious Bringing Back Broadway campaign, a street that was lost in the past gets a makeover By Linda Immediato
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Acne Studios
855 S. Broadway
When the Swedish retailer opened in the Eastern Columbia Building in late 2013, style mavens were intrigued. The 5,000-square-foot location is the company’s first West Coast effort and its largest store to date. Young Hollywood trendsetters flock to Acne’s racks of metallic suits and brightly colored dresses that line the pink terrazzo and blue carpeted floors. What to buy: The printed leather moto jacket is the signature piece owned by every seasoned fashion blogger. Nobody has to know that the only runways you’ve seen are the ones at LAX.
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Aesop
862 S. Broadway
Sure, the nearby Walgreens suffices for Q-tips and TP, but no drugstore offerings can top a body lotion made from more exotic plants than those found in the flower district. The Australian apothecary rejuvenated an old check-cashing place in May, and since then its amber bottles of shampoo and tubes of exfoliants with natural ingredients have helped give the hood more polish. What to buy: Post-Poo Drops (created in collaboration with A.P.C.) are a modern miracle. The citrus- and floral-scented oils dissipate the most disagreeable bathroom odors—which can prove useful when you need impromptu relief from some of downtown’s sour smells.
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Tanner Goods
860 S. Broadway
The area’s rough edges can make some men switch to survival mode. It’s Tanner Goods to the rescue. The Portland, Oregon-based company’s stock-in-trade is its refined Paul Bunyan style rendered in high-quality handcrafted leather bags, belts, wallets, and other accessories. The store also sells dog collars and leashes for the manly man’s best friend. What to buy: A stowable boot bag sleekly protects the rest of the items in your weekender from a pair of mud-caked boots. Remember: You’re an urban lumberjack and you’re OK.
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Oak
910 S. Broadway
The New York City-based clothier recently brought its monochromatic minimalism to the area with a 2,200-square-foot space in Tarina Tarantino’s Sparkle Factory (formerly the Western Costume Co. building). Besides the brand’s signature line of cheeky slogan T-shirts, Goth-chic types go for the more out-there pieces from Costume National and the edgy streetwear from Won Hundred. What to buy: A peekaboo swimsuit by KORE will come in handy when you head to the rooftop pool at the Ace Hotel for an afternoon dip.

Unseen DTLA: Tower Theater
802 S. Broadway
The baroque movie palace was built in 1927 and closed after 60 years. Later it appeared as a popular movie location, serving as a nightclub in The Mambo Kings and as a backdrop in Fight Club. Longtime owner Ezat Delijani (who operated several theaters, including the nearby Palace) passed away in 2011. His heirs have applied for permits to turn these unused venues into nearly a dozen bars and lounges.
Photographs by Squire Fox
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