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American Apparel to open store Downtown Ventura
Location is former home of Bank of Books
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More from Local NewsClothing retailer American Apparel is bringing its jersey T-shirts and leggings to downtown Ventura.
The company will fill a 4,000-square-foot, newly renovated storefront at Oak and Main streets, vacant since the Bank of Books left two years ago.
With a projected November opening, American Apparel represents the first national clothing retailer to open in downtown Ventura since J.C. Penney and Lerner's Dress Shop left in the 1960s.
Proponents say a trendy national chain is exactly what downtown needs, boosting foot traffic and complementing the area's eclectic mix of boutiques, eateries and entertainment.
Others aren't so sure. They worry about an all-too-familiar takeover by deep-pocketed chains, triggering tougher times and higher rents for mom-and-pop stores.
"The market downtown has evolved," said commercial broker Paul Capra, who sealed the American Apparel deal for the building's new owners, Malibu-based American Commercial Equities.
Capra accepted the skepticism but said he doesn't see "cookie-cutter" giants like Gap and Macy's coming downtown anytime soon, if ever. Smaller stores like American Apparel are a better fit for downtown's distinctive architecture and appeal, he said.
With more than 1.4 million garments produced per week, Los Angeles-based American Apparel is among the largest clothing manufacturers in the United States, according to published reports. The company is known for advertisements showing scantily clad young people that some critics say border on pornography. The company also supports a number of progressive policies, including immigrant rights and labor policies the company refers to as "sweatshop-free."
Ventura Mayor Christie Weir described the store as "hip" and "trendy." The retailer, she said, fits with the city's vision of preserving downtown's character while weaving in new housing, a variety of hometown and national merchants, and offices.
She said the mix should be about 85 percent locally owned and 15 percent national chains. She wants to avoid a "chain store avalanche" but said American Apparel wouldn't disrupt the current flavor. "I think it will be good for downtown," she said.
The Ventura store, at 391 E. Main St., will be the second in Ventura County, joining one at Camarillo Premium Outlets.
"I don't think it can hurt," said Cindy Bryant, owner of Antique Collective, an antique store across the street.
When she arrived 12 years ago, there were 38 antique stores downtown, she said. Most are now gone. Foot traffic in her store is down, as are sales, she said, blaming the economy more than downtown's evolution. Bryant accepts that she likely will be priced out of her Main Street location in the near future and will have to move to a side street. "I have one in mind already," she said.
Bank of Books owner Clarey Rudd leased the American Apparel space for nearly 40 years, until two years ago, when he left because of rising rents. The building's owner never found a new tenant and sold it to American Commercial Equities, which has renovated the facade with story-high windows. American Apparel leases other properties owned by the firm, said broker Capra, of Lee & Associates.
Rudd said he's "not anti-chain," but he's not convinced a clothing store is going to satisfy the niche his used-book store once held, or lure the shoppers from San Diego, Las Vegas and Oregon who used to visit his store.
"I'm rooting for downtown," he said. "I want the best for downtown. I don't think this is a step forward at all. I think what was there was best. But I'm prejudiced."
Posted by katiec23 on July 17, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
American Apparel is the anti-thesis of "hip" and "trendy". A better choice of words to describe its products would be generic, cookie-cutter, and so on. This kind of business will definitely detract from the unique atmosphere that the downtown area has. Its bad enough already with that dump Rookees just around the corner.
Posted by mahalo5ivo on July 17, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great news! If a large national retail chain makes the business decision to move into Downtown Ventura then maybe Ventura has turned the corner, finally. Wood Ranch opening a restuarant at the Pacific View Mall is another good sign. I don't understand all the hostility that some people go through about downtown Ventura losing it's history/appeal and turning into some cookie cutter town. First, if that many people want to patronize thrift shops and antique stores, then the stores will remain. If the community needs them then the community will spend its dollars at those stores and they will remain. If you want only Mom and Pop stores then go open one and make it successful. What is the matter with San Luis Obispo as a model for Ventura? A nice mix of national chains and local shops, and it works great.
Posted by danidc825 on July 17, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am dissapointed to hear that they want to put this downtown. American Apperal is cheap, over priced, cookie cutter clothing that falls apart after a few uses! It is a shame that we have to bring in a big chain brand name company to boost the downtown economy. The whole warmth of downtown is all the eclectic "mom & pop" stores, it certainly is a unique place, but if this is what Ventura is moving towards we will lose that very quickly.
Posted by venturacarol on July 17, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am disgusted by this store's planned arrival in downtown. I have been many other places with great buildings, good weather and "cookie-cutter stores". Until now, Ventura has defied that model. Very sad.....
Posted by Arnold on July 18, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like the shop owners downtown don't like competition. Maybe they should build a Walmart instead.
Posted by TheTruth on July 20, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bring back the smelly thrift stores that bring the poor into town.
Posted by stik_figure on July 21, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is room for everyone. A chain retailer can coexist next to a one of a kind boutique. It works well in many, many other cities across the nation without the world collapsing in on itself. While American Apparel may not be the choice of some at least it's a choice. That is one thing Ventura is sorely lacking is choices (with the exception of two Targets - gee, which one do I shop at?) I would much rather spend my tax dollars here in my own town rather than travel elsewhere due to a lack of choices.
Posted by rlivingston151 on July 21, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if you don't like it then move somewhere else don't come back and take all the filth with you....
Posted by Hwy126 on July 22, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If anyone is "appalled" or "disgusted" at the news of AA coming to downtown, I would suggest that you need to get some perspective. Nobody died and the world won't end.
If anything ought to worry you, it should be vacant space or run-down buildings. AA isn't the first chain store to come downtown. Jersey Mike's and Starbuck's come to mind and they seem to be doing very well.
Downtown is revitalizing rather inconspicuously, with mixed retail and residential projects underway. Main Street is the keystone for the neighborhood's success.
I would prefer not to see Main Street look like State Street in Santa Barbara, with its high end retailers squeezing the mom-and-pops out, because I would rather not spend a small fortune every time I go downtown. I support local business owners who provide a quality product or service- they work hard, and make downtown a fun place to be.
But I think a mix of chain stores and mom-and-pops gives some balance to the Main Street economy and adds value to both the properties and the city's revenue.
Now if we can just get the panhandlers and urban campers out of the Mission block...
Posted by Ventura39 on July 25, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tons of people that shop at AA shop at thrift stores also to complete their wardrobe. So if anything this will bring business to the thrift stores in the downtown area. and as for the Antique stores/boutiques, chances are that isnt the place that people that shop at American Apparel will be going, there for AA will not be stealing their business. Downtown area needs some more shops and i think this is just what it needs.
if anything, you should be more concerned with Starbucks being there, i have seen several attempted local coffee houses failing as a result of starbucks.
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