By now many of us know that Apple has been looking to open a store in Downtown LA, which would obviously be a huge game changer on the retail side of downtown development. But the question on everyone’s mind has been where? Well, two locations have popped up over the past year as possible considerations: The Bloc in the Financial District and the Broadway Trade Center in the Historic Core. The latter being the more likely case. With that being said, now according to some new exciting “inside info” I’ve come across, there’s an even more amazing location that Apple is apparently looking at taking over: the historic Tower Theatre at 8th and Broadway.

The Tower Theatre is currently owned by the Delijani family who had planned to turn the theater into a restaurant and bar without success. Finding a reliable restaurant operator is a challenge, and given the opportunity, most landlords would be foolish to reject a tenant as coveted as Apple. The interior of the Tower has been altered considerably over the years with all the seats on the ground level removed leaving a mostly empty box inside at about 7,429 square feet large including an equal size basement below. In addition, the Rialto Theatre a few doors down from the Tower was also converted into an Urban Outfitters back in 2013 setting a precedent for activating some of these amazing historic theaters with prime retailers.

The Tower Theatre is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in all of Los Angeles designed by famed architect S. Charles Lee who also designed the equally impressive Los Angeles Theatre up the street. Built in 1927 as a historic movie theater, The Tower Theatre sits prominently on the southeast corner of 8th and Broadway surrounded by economic activity on all sides including the aforementioned Broadway Trade Center project located directly across the street. What the structure lacks in size (it’s actually the smallest out of the dozen historic theaters along Broadway designed to only seat just over 900), it more than makes up for in its ornate detailing, including the stunning terracotta clock tower that faces the intersection with a beautiful vertical lighted sign spelling out “Tower” on its side.

Apple is no stranger when it comes to incorporating its store designs into historic structures. One of its busiest locations in the world on Regent Street in London is also inside a historic building much older than our own Tower Theatre. And one only needs to visit their flagship store at the Grand Central Terminal in New York to see how well Apple is able to fit into pretty much any context beautifully.

Needless to say, I am hoping this becomes true and we’ll all be seeing the Apple logo above the theater’s marquee facing Broadway in the near future.

Center map Get Directions