Los Angeles’ Broadway

Pedestrians cross Broadway in L.A.’s historic commercial core. Businesses catering primarily to Latino immigrants have kept the sidewalks active as most buildings fell empty above the first floor. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Feb. 6, 2014 10:36 AM PT

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Much of downtown has enjoyed a renaissance since 2000. New residences, bars and restaurants have peppered downtown from L.A. Live to Chinatown, but the dream of making Broadway a hot spot again has remained elusive. Now, five years into a Bringing Back Broadway initiative launched by politicians, preservationists and property owners, there are signs of reawakening prosperity.

Councilman Jose Huizar visits an Urban Outfitters clothing outlet that recently set up shop in the former Rialto Theatre on Broadway. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Downtown resident Rosie Triplett walks past the Broadway Lounge as the last rays of sunshine illuminate structures along Broadway in the historic commercial core of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

News vendor Irma Hernandez sits inside her tiny stall along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A old commercial property is reflected in the sign of a sandwich shop along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The Eastern Columbia Building on Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A worker hangs lettering on the Beaux Arts marquee of the old Orpheum Theatre on the southern end of Broadway in the historic commercial core of downtown Los Angeles. One of the original movie palaces of L.A., the Orpheum opened its doors in 1926. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A woman peers out of the order window of a hamburger stand along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A dog named Candy sits on the sidewalk outside a jewelry store along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A woman pauses to peruse fashions on display outside a clothing store along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A bridal shop along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Pedestrians wait to cross Broadway at Sixth Street. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A statuette of Jesus Malverde, top right, the patron saint of drug smugglers, is dispalyed in the window of a Latino botanica along Broadway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)