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Parking & Driving Tips for the Fabric District
There may be shorter routes to get into the LA garment district, but this
method works well for getting in and out. This page is written for when I
run tours.. so it's got my favorite starting place listed. I like to park where
there's great shopping, a safe building, safe parking, restrooms and food.
You may find another place you like better, this is mine...
Parking Quick-Jump Index
Into Los Angeles
For the most part... I'm just going to say... take your favorite freeway to the 110.
To start... more freeway tips into LA will be added as I get them. (Please send
your version.)
From the 10 West - San Gabriel Valley
 | From San Gabriel Valley, 10 freeway....
 | Move to the center, lane 3 |
| Follow signs for 101 into Los Angeles |
| Take 110 south into downtown LA |
|
Once you're on the 110 freeway....
| Heading south...
| the tough part is getting over to the middle to get past the Wilshire
Blvd. 3rd lane from the center. |
| As soon as you pass Wilshire, start moving to the right as soon as you
get new lanes...
 | Move two lanes to the right |
|
| Take 9th street off ramp |
| 9th goes one way... stay to the middle. |
|
| Note: getting back on at the end of the day... go south one street, to
Olympic. Head west. You turn right 2 blocks before the freeway.
The sign is a bit hidden but it's there. |
This is on the way to the fabric district. The scholarship store has
absolutely killer prices and is worth a quick stop to check out what's been
donated lately. Great place to pick up $1 a yard fabric.
| 919 South Grand Avenue (9th and Grand) |
| On the right side of the street. Only 4 blocks off the freeway. (the
same ramp you just got off.) |
| If you just go into the scholarship store, park on the street. Just
watch the time so you don't get a ticket. If going to the exhibits, park
under the building. Costs about $5. |
Parking in the Fabric District
| Keep going down Ninth, middle of the street.
| Pass Los Angeles Street |
|
| The street becomes 2 way one street before Maple Ave |
| Get in the left turn lane, |
| Turn left (north) up Maple |
| Go 1/2 block, turn left into the parking garage
| Often there is a flagman there the help with the turn, folks are
courteous. Watch for kids on the sidewalk.
| To mapquest it, use Em-Be's
address, 305 E. 9th St, #135, LA |
|
| Go up the ramp, pay in advance
| Parking prices vary by day and by time... $6-$9 (all the places vary) |
| You can find cheaper but they may close ultra early (and you can't get
it until the next day) or the lot will not be as safe or you'll get
someplace they like to play bumper cars. |
| You've got your option if they're not too crowded.
| Parking around the side, it's tight spots, but you can park your own
car. |
| Surrender your keys. These guys are great.... so no worries |
|
|
|
| Take the elevators down to the 1st floor.
| You're inside the "L" of the fabric mart on the NW corner of 9th and
Maple. |
| The inside corner is Em-Be's Fabrics
| This is where we meet for tours. |
| Shop here first and last. |
| The proprietor will even help you with burn tests |
| This is one of the few shops downtown where you can really trust that
silk is silk. |
|
|
Short version:
| Continue east down 9th, turn right on Maple, right into the parking
structure. |
| Meet at the building on 9th and Maple. The northwest corner.
Inside corner store... Em Be's |
Leaving the Garment District
| Leave before dusk
| In the winter, a number of places close at 3PM, get closer to your parking
as you finish shopping. |
|
| Turn right, (south) out of the parking garage onto Maple |
| Go down 1 1/2 blocks to Olympic
| Be patient, watch for J walkers |
|
| Turn right on Olympic, go about 1 1/2 miles to the 110 freeway
| North, turn right 2 blocks before the 110 freeway. (The sign is
slightly hidden by the trees.) |
| South, stay in the left lane, follow signs. |
|
Yes, there are other ways to get out of Los Angeles, they look more direct
on the map. They may or may not be faster.
| Now... if you decide to take the short cut and just head north
out of the garment district you're heading into skid row, the LA
Mission area etc. (This will freak out folks not ready for
reality... so when in doubt... take the other route |
| I heavily suggest if you don't know the area, don't try these.
| left at the parking lot and right on Los Angeles |
| At the 101 freeway south (10 east San Bernardino), you make a right onto the
freeway... (depending on exactly where you the freeway labeling
can be weird... and with construction... incomplete.) |
| Be careful, stuff is under construction, the normal ramp is missing,
it will dump you on fast and you've got to get over to the 2nd lane from
the left fast. (If you try to get on towards the east... those
ramps are closed right now.) |
|
We've yet to find an nice inexpensive place to gather for dinner downtown...
so we run out just a few miles.
Alhambra - Golden Coast Buffet
Our current stopping point after shopping. Note, if in the San Gabriel
Valley, we sometimes carpool... parking directly across the street from the
restaurant sign in the lot of PetCo, Party City, Albertsons.
| Gold Coast Buffet
| 2223 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra 626-576-7688
| Food is Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and American
| You can get everything from sushi, to a large array of Chinese,
dumplings, noodles, salads, fresh seafood, chicken nuggets and pizza. |
|
|
|
| From the garment district, take 110 freeway north to the 10 east
(San Bernardino)
| On the freeway feeder roads, get all the way to the left, 2 lanes.
| You will be in the lane for the 10 freeway east |
| Once you take the 10/5 ramp, stay to the left. |
|
| On the freeway, move to the left right away, 2nd from the center.
| Stay in that lane until after you pass the 710 freeway. |
|
|
| Get off the 10 East onto Freemont Avenue (one off ramp after the 710 freeway) -
this is less than 5 miles away... it's just right after all the freeway
merges, just past east LA.
| Stay to the right, turn right , spinning under the freeway
onto Freemont, north. |
| Go under the freeway and go straight up Fremont up a mile 1 1/2. |
| You'll pass over a rail road bridge & a bit later a 10 story glass
building.... you're close |
| You will pass a big lot with block stores of Pet Co, Party City and
Albertson. |
|
| Turn right at the light on Commonwealth Ave.
| You'll pass and tiny street almost immediately. |
|
| Turn right on the 2nd driveway after the sign Freemont Inn & just
before the Golden Coast Buffet sign. |
| You're there!
| On the weekends, dinner is $11.99 so $16 will cover food, soda, tax
and tip. |
|
Short version:
| Leave the garment district, right down Maple, right on Olympic, right onto
110 freeway to 10 east. |
| Off on Freemont Ave (right past the 710 junction), 2 rights to swing under
the freeway going north on Freemont |
| 6-7 light, Right on Commonwealth |
| Left into Golden Coast Buffet parking lot. |
If there's any events or event web pages you'd like to see linked here, please contact da
Cat at daCat@AlleyCatScratch.com.
This page last updated:
07/27/09
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