DT Appetite: Localita badasserie

DOWNTOWN APPETITE Downtown’s Localita Plant Based Badasserie Maing Vegan “San-Wishes” Come True

Are you a practicing vegan?

Vegetarian? Plant-based Eater? Or someone who just plain appreciates some bad-ass food? If yes, then Localita – Plant Based Badasserie can make all your dreams and San-wishes, come true! Nestled right on the edge of the Fashion District, tucked in the lower level of the Academy Award Clothing building, this place is a mecca for fans of healthy, plant-packed, gourmet level food at café prices.

Founded by Melissa Rosen and Greg Horos

a little over 8 years ago, Localita, and its big sister, Locali, are disrupting and changing the world of fast-casual, vegan options, one Brekkie Burrito at a time. Focusing on being good citizens and stewards of the planet, Localita’s main goals are clear: be a sustainable and dynamic business, be responsible and compassionate employers, love their customers and put out the most killer, quality food in

all of DTLA.

SHOWN HERE: THE RUBEN

The philosophies and personalities of

Horos and Rosen can be seen in every aspect of their business. From the very start, they have stayed committed to the values that first drove them into the vegan, plantbased food biz. Creativity, compassion, and love guide every move they make.

Like most businesses in Downtown LA and

beyond, Localita has not gone untouched by COVID. Having to permanently close a Locali location in WeHo, and switch to take-out, deliveries, and catering only, they have learned to adapt quickly. Even through the tougher times, Melissa Rosen says she and her co-founder still have great hopes and dreams for the future:

“We look at the business from a solution oriented, scrappy place and are able to pivot really well in adversity because we are both creatives at heart. I love creating new recipes with our team. We have a whole new Little Mama’s Vegan Comfort Food menu for the post-COVID LA. It just launched in Venice and will be available at Localita in DTLA in a couple of weeks.” Checking-out Localita’s current of-

ferings, it’s easy to see why, despite the pandemic, they have an epic level of popularity.

From the aforementioned, Brekkie Burrito to their Killer Quinoa Bowls,

there truly are options to please all. In need of an afternoon pick-me-up!? Grab a simple but satisfying cup of coffee, a Wild-Harvested Yerba Mate or one of their infamous smoothies. Localita credits its deliciousness to having a true appreciation for high-quality ingredients and making each order with love.

Setting their sights on future expansion,

it may not be long until we see Localita goodies in other locales with a delivery-only model. We can also look forward to a re-launch of their vegan-packaged foods line, which could previously be found in stores in Nevada, Arizona, and right here in Southern California.

Localita is truly becoming a local

legend and one that we hope will be around for a long-time to come. Head on down and check-them out yourselves. The ladies who run Localita on a daily-basis, three of whom are sisters – talk about a labor of love, will surely give you a warm welcome, treat you like family and serve you a nutrition packed treat made with all the good vibes in the world.

VOL 14 NO 6 - OCTOBER 29TH - November 4th / DTLAWEEKLY.COM

DTLA’s GREATEST FEARS

continued from page 6

Serial Killing Of Our Beloved Businesses

Ask anyone in February of 2020. Downtown had changed. In less than ten years, thanks to a collective effort, downtown had quickly become the epicenter for everything new and exciting in Los Angeles.

Giving people a reason to cheer, while dining and sipping cocktails on top of the highest skyscrapers, support for our City had made a comeback.

Downtown seemed to have everything

to offer. Luxury, fantastic food, tourism, and most importantly, hope for the future.

That was until the first appearance of the dreaded Corona Killer. Even then it was impossible to foresee the unimaginable. However, beneath the crippling pressure, some of downtown’s most beloved businesses have now disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again.

The stalker first set its sights on our

movie houses, nightclubs and just about anywhere crowds could gather. Fear spread quicker than the rising prices of popcorn.

Then it moved on to bars and restaurants. With a sadistic recall, the Corona Killer allowed us to reopen for a bit only to taunt us again with a re-closure shortly after.

Tying our hands, and binding us we were unable to move. Those who thought quickly or lucky enough to have spaces with outdoor patio like Kapoor’s Akbar,

Brera Ristorante, Rappahannock Oys-

ter Bar, and Limerick’s Tavern managed to avoid the killer’s relentless gate.

Yet, by late summer the Corona Killer had left a river of restaurant carnage

in its wake. Smaller businesses incorporating food delivery apps put up a good fight.

However, DTLA’s beloved businesses that most thought would last forever somehow just couldn’t outlast the killing season.

Guilia’s, Bon Temps, Baco Mercat, Preux and Proper, Terroni, and ancient late-

night favorite, Pacific Dining Car did not survive.

Tourists attractions like, LA Live and SkySpace had also been led to slaughter but what kind of sadistic beast kills off Gizmos, a breakfast cereal store loaded with rice crispies and marshmallows?

Rappahannock Oyster Bar, and Limer-

ick’s Tavern managed to avoid the killer’s relentless gate.

Yet, by late summer the Corona Killer had left a river of restaurant carnage in its wake. Smaller businesses incorporating food delivery apps put up a good fight.

However, DTLA’s beloved businesses that most thought would last forever somehow just couldn’t outlast the killing season.

Guilia’s, Bon Temps, Baco Mercat, Preux and Proper, Terroni, and ancient late-

night favorite, Pacific Dining Car did not survive.

Tourists attractions like, LA Live and

SkySpace had also been led to slaughter but what kind of sadistic beast kills off Gizmos, a breakfast cereal store loaded with rice crispies and marshmallows?

Those with the angst to relocate like Bad

Son Tacos, Numaade Cafe and Chico’s

Tacos, still remain somewhere outside the DTLA vortex, while the rest of us live in constant fear of who will be next still lingering in the mist.

The Blob: Expansion of Homelessness

The homeless blame game has never had its pieces stacked so high as it does now

during the Covid Era.

There are so many fingers pointed in different directions from The Mayor to the shelters to the homeless themselves, the hopes of ever solving the homeless issue are becoming dimmer and dimmer.

In the end, all roads lead to the fact that homeless encampments have seemed to spread to almost every block, freeway underpass, alleyway, and off the beat location of our City.

Grand Park was occupied by a homeless encampment over the summer. Main Street at 6th has seen an expansion of Skid Row borders, and Skid Row doesn’t look like it changed at all. Coupled with the end of hotels housing the homeless due to the pandemic, fears have amounted that Project Room Key may be forced to return their 4000 pound batch of homelessness to the streets.

Like the blob, homelessness is growing and swallowing every one who’s down on their luck.

This year count sees the City with num-

bers up by his 16.1% rise to 41,290 at the same time city council members are determining if tearing down the encampments are human without the beds to house the poor, or if the eye soar and safe walkways constitute a reason to take what’s left of the homeless people’s belongings.

Stampede: Still, Downtown with all its Mass exodus faults manages to attract newcomers like bees to The people of Downtown have taken to social media to express their mixed emotions when it comes to honey. Reports show just as many are moving out, many are moving in, with living in vs. leaving downtown. luxury high rises offering

Those once so enamored with epic views, nightlife, and mastery culinary experiences are now pondering if they should join the hundreds of residents fed up with loud parties, rise in homelessness, closed nightlife, crime, and high rents in exchange for living in apartment houses with amenities they can no longer use due to Covid and a city they can no longer brag about. everything from free rents to low move-in cost. The question is, which buildings are making the tenants happiest and how to find them without knocking door to door? Companies like LOFTWAY have those answers, and soon Downtown Weekly will present 10 Great Places to Live to help make sure new residents don’t get trampled underfoot.