The Historic Core

hat a difference a year makes. The patch of Broadway adjacent to the fashion district was once a hodgepodge of faded theaters and dusty discount stores that sold quinceañera gowns and cheap luggage. Then came Urban Outfitters and the Ace Hotel, two powerful businesses that gave global brands the confidence to set up shop. Here are a few luxury boutiques braving the retail frontier. —Nancy Miller

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.