Grand Central Market Katie Ehrlich
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rand Central Market is a beloved historic Downtown Los Angeles icon. It is situated across the bottom floors of two old office buildings, right across from the famous Angel’s Flight funicular railway and Angel’s Knoll park. Its doors, or lack thereof, opened in 1917, making its 30,000 square foot open-air space continuously operational for over a century now. The marketplace is located on Broadway, which served as the central commercial and entertainment corridor of Downtown Los Angeles over a hundred years ago. At that time, the adjacent Bunker Hill district was filled with Victorian-style mansions whose residents frequented the market for their daily grocery shopping. Back then the market featured over 90 vendors that sold grocery items such as produce, fish, meat, and vegetables. It also featured stalls for dry goods, coffee, flowers, cheese, eggs, and various baked goods. The market has evolved with the times. Today, it houses 37 mostly prepared-food vendors that prepare authentic cuisines from around the entire world. Customers can dine on anything from locally brewed beers to a freshly-made Salvadorian meal. The food stalls range from family-style traditional places like China Cafe and
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Pupuseria to more hip and modern names like Eggslut and PBJ.LA. The customers are as diverse as the food. What was once a traditionally rich White grocery stop has become a gathering place for people of all backgrounds. Around noon, the whole market overflows with customers streaming in and out to do their daily shopping, grab a bite to eat on their lunch break, or visit during their trip to Los Angeles. Levin & Associates, the local architecture firm that designed the adjacent parking structure, portrays this cultural vibrancy best: “Waves of Angelenos of various ethnicities have mingled in its cavernous space, rubbing shoulders, buying everyday and exotic foods. In a sprawling, car-defining metropolis, the market is one of the few places where this interaction occurs so vividly.” Grand Central Market rebranded itself to honor its 100 year anniversary. Ludlow Kingsley, a small graphics firm based in Santa Monica, lead the effort. They made an illustrated pattern inspired by the vast neon signage around the building. That was then applied to wallpaper and a series of consumer products including tote bags and tshirts that can now be purchased at the market’s souvenir stand.
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A set of worn red steps leads visitors down into the main area of the market, where crowded walkways line dozens of food stalls and grocery shops.
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Roast To Go has been selling carnitas, carne asada, and other meats since 1952.
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Sarita’s Pupuseria is an old staple in the market. They serve Salvadorian dishes including handmade pupusas, friend plantains, and stews based on family recipes from the stall’s owner Sara Clark.
District Market is the first storefront that greets visitors after they descend the red stairs. The shop sells organic locally-grown produce and vegetables.
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District Market’s fridge is filled with diverse drink options like Jarritos, a popular Mexican soda. opposite
Belcampo Meat Co. sells organic meats that are butchered in-house.
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Prawn’s seafood dishes are the creation of Mark Peel, who is regarded as one of the founders of California-style cuisine. 23
Berlin Currywurst comes straight out of their namesake, giving their food a genuine German taste.
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Golden Road serves their own beer on tap made from their brewery a few miles away in Glendale.
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This wall graphic is part of a city-wide campaign to celebrate the creative spirit of Los Angeles and its local industries. The graphic was designed by 72andSunny, a local advertising agency. 26
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This neon installation illuminates the Hill St. entry. It features several flashing illustrations and omages to LA cultural icons. The piece is a collaboration between MONA (the Museum of Neon Art), graphic designer Brendan Donnelly and neon artist Lisa Shulte.
Design, photography, and text by Katie Ehrlich. For Fall 2017 Form & Function. This book was typeset using Baskerville.