In concert as they chase the dollar
What: The Grove at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Flush with their development victory in the Fairfax District, the Grove people will establish a new Grove at Disney Hall. Developers say the Grove at Disney Hall, as it will be called, will not only contribute to the downtown renaissance, but it will also continue to help the struggling Farmers Market back in the Fairfax District. The new Grove will honor the architectural tradition of the original Grove by repeating the whole dancing-fountains-and-trolley-car-Anytown-U.S.A. motif. Retail stores will include Banana Republic, Gap, Baby Gap, Jamba Juice, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Sharper Image, Hold Everything, Nine West, Crate & Barrel and FAO Schwartz.
What: The Loews Cineplex 16 at the Grove at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Downtown Los Angeles, a wasteland for the moviegoer, gets a much-needed shot in the arm with this 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cineplex, which will offer audiences stadium seating, a “director’s cut†theater, a “tested-ending†theater, a “make-your-own-ending†theater, a “subtitle cinema†theater and a “kids-safe†theater for G-rated movies. Developers say the Loews Cineplex 16 at the Grove at Disney Hall, as the facility will be called, will not only contribute to the downtown renaissance, but it will also continue to help the struggling Farmers Market back in the Fairfax District.
What: The Jim Belushi House of Blues at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Belushi, star of the ABC sitcom “Here Comes Belushi†or whatever it’s called, is said to have paid into the millions for the naming rights to this House of Blues, which developers boast will bring “a young, hip crowd†to downtown Los Angeles. In addition to the House of Blues favorites including concerts, the gospel brunch and knockoff Cajun food, Belushi will hold semi-regular workshops on how to play the harmonica while wearing sunglasses and a hat.
What: California Adventure at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Following disappointing attendance figures, the Walt Disney Co. will shutter its California Adventure amusement park in Anaheim and move it to Disney Hall, promising a “leaner, meaner†version of the park that developers say will contribute to the downtown L.A. renaissance, though they stopped short of saying it will help the struggling Farmers Market back in the Fairfax District. California Adventure at Disney Hall, as the development will be called, will retain some of the more popular attractions at the original California Adventure, including the Soarin’ Over California hang-gliding simulation and the Grizzly River Run white-water rafting ride. The Downtown Disney district of shops and restaurants will be reduced to an alleyway featuring an ESPN Zone and a Napa Valley Grille.
What: Target/Wal-Mart/Costco/Home Depot Supercenter at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Low-cost hoarding comes to Disney Hall in this unprecedented joint venture between four titans of the retail sales business. The stores will be contained in one humongous superstructure, with each store color-coded to avoid confusion as to which one you’re standing in. For instance, Target will have red shelves, while Costco’s will be blue.
What: The Westside Pavilion at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Jealous of the Grove and tired of listening to people make snide remarks about how their movie theaters stink, the Westside Pavilion will relocate to Disney Hall. The New Westside Pavilion at Disney Hall, as the development will be called, will feature a Trader Joe’s, a Whole Foods, as well as a Banana Republic, Gap, Baby Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Barnes & Noble, Jamba Juice, Hold Everything and a Pottery Barn.
What: The Airport at Disney Hall
Where: Disney Hall
Impact: Sensing a growing buzz surrounding Disney Hall, several major air carriers, including Southwest, America West and JetBlue strike a deal to divert some of their planes from LAX so they can land at Disney Hall. The Airport at Disney Hall, as the development will be called, will offer daily nonstop flights to Burbank, LAX, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
“Obviously, in Disney Hall, Los Angeles now has one of the world’s most exciting and significant cultural jewels in the world,†Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner said at a news conference announcing the sweeping developments. “It is my belief that we’re offering the average consumer a chance to see this modern marvel, and while they’re here they can shop at the Grove, catch a movie at the Loews Cineplex 16 at the Grove at Disney Hall, see a rock show or have a gospel brunch at the Jim Belushi House of Blues at Disney Hall, then go enjoy the rides at California Adventure at Disney Hall, get some of their shopping done at the Target/Wal-Mart/Costco/Home Depot Supercenter, pick up some specialty items at Trader Joe’s, do some reconnaissance shopping at the Westside Pavilion at Disney Hall, and then, as they’re loading up the car, see a plane land up close.â€
“I don’t know about you,†Eisner quipped, “but that sounds like the American Dream to me.â€
Paul Brownfield can be contacted at [email protected].
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