First Farm Fresh Market Opens in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District

LOS ANGELES - Aug. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES (August 13, 2013) --
URBAN RADISH® (http://www.urban-radish.com/), the first farm-fresh community market to open in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, announced today that it will officially open on August 17 with a Grand Opening Celebration. The all-day event will feature free food, tours of the market and a dedication ceremony by Councilmember Jose Huizar (http://www.josehuizar.com/), Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries (http://www.homeboyindustries.org/) and Tyler Stonebreaker of Creative Space (http://www.creativespace.us/).

URBAN RADISH has been hailed as the burgeoning neighborhood’s solution to being a food desert, an issue that has affected residents and businesses in the area for decades. The market was founded with the vision of providing this unique neighborhood with an urban market where shoppers visit frequently and buy small quantities of farm-to-fork produce, meats, fish and hot and cold “Cal-Med” prepared foods.

“After nearly a year of construction, we are thrilled that our Grand Opening Day is one week away,” said Carolyn Paxton, Founder, URBAN RADISH. “Our market aligns with the lifestyle of its Arts District residents, appreciative of handcrafted, locally sourced products. Since our soft launch in July, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the community and as a resident of the Arts District, I have seen this area develop into one of the hottest areas for anyone who enjoys exploring new food and drink.”

The architecture of URBAN RADISH, designed by integrated development and marketing firm, Creative Space, maintained the integrity of the original warehouse space, but added sustainable design features and elements that encourage social interaction. The market was re-purposed from an 8,000-square-foot former glass-manufacturing warehouse, with the goal of keeping its industrial aesthetics. One of the building's most defining attributes left in place is the iconic, larger-than-life-sized chipmunk mural painted on the building's side by renowned Belgium street muralist, Peter Roa. New design features include: an outdoor seating area with picnic tables; landscape design featuring native plants to green the space and provide shade; and a European-style bakery and deli featuring finishes from re-purposed wood discarded on another construction jobsite. The parking lot offers free parking and houses one of the largest electric car charging stations in the U.S. where customers can fully charge their cars while they grocery shop or enjoy a sandwich during their lunch hour.

The employees of URBAN RADISH are another unique element of the store. URBAN RADISH partnered with Homeboy Industries, a non-profit organization that assists high risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a continuum of services and programs including job training, to staff many positions in the store. Positions ranged from Stock Clerk to Assistant Cheesemonger. Many staff members came from Homegirl Café and Homeboy Bakery where workers received intensive training in both restaurant services and the culinary arts. 

The Grand Opening event kicks off with free breakfast at 9 a.m. followed by the dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. The rest of the day will feature free tastings, raffles, samples and tours of the market.

 
Creative Space
Creative Space is fundamentally transforming the industry by rethinking the entire framework of the real estate process for businesses and property owners. Headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles's Arts District, Creative Space was founded by Tyler Stonebreaker, a trailblazer in bridging the creative world and real estate, and Michael Smith, an accomplished music and media entrepreneur. Creative Space has worked with varied clients in the hospitality, entertainment, fashion and craft industries including Poketo (http://poketo.com/), Handsome Coffee Roasters (http://www.handsomecoffee.com/), OHWOW (http://oh-wow.com/), Beckley Boutique (http://www.beckleyboutique.com) and Warner Music Group (http://www.wmg.com/). To learn more about Creative Space, please visit www.creativespace.us

URBAN RADISH®
URBAN RADISH is a farm fresh community market rooted in tradition offering seasonal fresh produce, high quality meats and seafood, dairy and other daily necessities. The market is being designed around the unique lifestyle of city dwellers whose shopping preferences have shifted from shopping major grocery chains to wanting a more personal experience, farmer’s market freshness, and a high quality-to-value priced offering. To learn more about URBAN RADISH, visit www.urban-radish.com

661 Imperial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Located between 7^th and Jesse Streets
(look for the giant chipmunk!)
 
Media contact:
Melissa Barto 
JCUTLER media group 
(323) 969-9904
Melissa@jcutlermedia.com