A PLACE TO VISIT, SHOP, AND DINE

17.4 million Visitors in 2022

$4.8 billion Retail sales in 2022

“These young professionals report above average incomes topping $50,000 a year, and they seem to be thoroughly enjoying their unattached status.”

“Tend to live in multi-ethnic and multi-lingual neighborhoods, some speaking Spanish in shops and cafes, driving used American compact cars and minivans, and filling their homes with food and decorations that remind them of their roots.”

“These self-described workaholics share a desire to move up in status and they realize that every career journey starts with a first step.”

“Despite their limited budgets, these households enjoy shopping and like to experiment with styles, and they like stores that offer lots of brands.”

“Reflect the recent trend of Americans staying single longer. Most enjoy an active singles scene with plenty of nightlife, progressive values and robust leisure lives.”

Source: Experian Mosaic USA Handbook (2019)

The DCBID has been conducting surveys of Downtown residents, workers, and visitors since its inception in 1999. Early surveys sought to capture the rapid growth of Downtown’s residential population and its emergence as a dining and nightlife hotspot. More recently, our surveys have focused on the sentiments and behaviors of people who engage with Downtown. These surveys showcased the increasing appeal of the urban experience in Los Angeles. The last of these major surveys was conducted in October 2019, just a few months before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, the DCBID conducted a tracking survey called the DTLA Recovery Compass. In those surveys, we saw the first indications of a broad, negative impact on people’s overall sense of optimism. This year’s survey, which collected responses during February 2023, once again represents a change in focus. Downtowns across the country were impacted by the pandemic shutdowns and work-fromhome practices, and DTLA was no exception.

With the crisis stage of the pandemic finally in the rear-view mirror, this year’s survey reflects the cumulative effects of a three-year pandemic and provides some indications of how its sustained social and economic impact has taken a toll on the Downtown experience. As such, this year’s survey should be viewed as a baseline against which we hope to measure future improvements.

68% of survey respondents said that they love Downtown LA but only...

45% said that they think Downtown LA is moving in the right direction