Upscale outdoor mall designed as a nostalgic main street, centered on a park with a dancing fountain. A vintage electric trolley makes a short loop, connecting the shops to the historic Original Farmers Market next door.
Shopping
My weekends are split between beach runs and taco trucks.
The Grove sits right next to the historic Original Farmers Market, and the two are physically linked by a free electric trolley that runs on a short track between them. The trolley itself was built on the undercarriage of a 1950s Boston streetcar, and it sets the tone for the entire complex – a deliberate re-creation of a nostalgic, mid-20th-century American downtown. The whole place is designed as an open-air main street, with a crowned roadbed and raised sidewalks that wind around a large central park. The architecture reinforces this idea, with two and three-story storefronts detailed with Art Deco-style false fronts, period-specific windows, and balconies that suggest a town that grew over time. At the heart of the central park is a large fountain, designed by the same company behind the Fountains of Bellagio, that puts on hourly choreographed shows set to music. Nearby, a bronze sculpture of two soaring angels, called *The Spirit of Los Angeles*, serves as a prominent landmark. While the design evokes a small town, the commercial side is pure L.A., with a flagship Nordstrom, a multi-level Barnes & Noble, an Apple store, and a 14-screen movie theater. A visit here is rarely for a quick errand. The park-like setting encourages strolling, and people treat it as a destination for a full day of shopping, dining, and people-watching. Combining a trip with the food stalls and produce at the adjacent Farmers Market is an essential part of the experience. The entire complex becomes a major draw during the Christmas season, when it’s filled with elaborate holiday decorations and events.
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