In this installment of Off Rodeo Drive, we're calling attention to a Los Angeles shopping destination that some would say looks like a shadow of its former self. Driving down West Third Street just past The Grove, you'll notice many more empty, stripped-down storefronts than there were just a year ago. Contemporary favorites like Built By Wendy and Pixie Market—both New York transplants—have shut down, along with a beloved cookbook store whose departure locals mourned.
Yet, West Third Street remains one of our very favorite places to shop in the city. Stores that have stuck around have earned their loyal clientele, customers which include oft-photographed celebrities ducking into Joan's On Third or Toast for a post-shopping lunch. So, without further ado, here are five stores to hit in the area for a quality retail fix—after the jump. ]]>
Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is one of the world's most trafficked shopping streets, with the allure of Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, and other luxury retailers attracting shoppers with padded wallets or those just wanting a taste of over-the-top glamour. The first time you do Rodeo, it's all good fun, but the novelty quickly wears off after you realize a few things: a) there are way too many picture-happy tourists milling around, b) its clientele and shopkeepers sometimes live up to the snobbery seen in Pretty Woman, and c) dropping $3,000 on the latest "It" bag may not be feasible.
But you've come to Los Angeles to shop, and shop you will with our guide to what's off Rodeo Drive. There is no shortage of consumer fodder in the city, from West Third Street to Silverlake, and we'll introduce you to what these different neighborhoods have to offer, starting with a nondescript street just east of West Hollywood: Larchmont Boulevard. ]]>