post by esotouric | | Time Capsule La Fe Shoe Repair Shop in Downtown Los Angeles < on 12/11/2021 3:45 AM >
In 1994, the proprietor of the tiny shoe repair store on the Main Street side of the 1896 Barclay Hotel locked the door and never came back. Because the other shops were only rented out to production companies, the hotel's owner left it just as it was.
The Barclay recently was sold, and the new owners the Healthy Housing Foundation share my fascination with its history. I asked if we could document the space using a Matterport 3-D camera, to go along with earlier virtual tours of the lobby and basement tunnel system, and they said yes, please do.
Here is the 3-D tour of the abandoned shop, with bullseyes you can click to see close up photos and more information about some of the things inside: https://esotouric.com/lafeshoerepair/
This funky old hotel means so much to me, and I was really sad about the plan for it to become a luxury boutique hotel, because there aren't a lot of cheap places for Angelenos to live anymore. This virtual tour is also a celebration of the new owners' work to fix the 150+ rooms up as affordable housing units. The first tenants will be moving in very soon!
post by hadwalterss | | This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Re: Time Capsule La Fe Shoe Repair Shop in Downtown Los Angeles <Reply # 4 on 6/4/2023 9:57 PM >
The Barclay Hotel holds a special place in my heart too. I share your sentiment about the need for affordable housing in Los Angeles. It's refreshing to see the new owners prioritize that. The virtual tour is a fantastic way to celebrate the hotel's history and showcase its evolution. The Schizo aluminum windows not only enhance the aesthetics but also contribute to the overall sustainability and energy efficiency of the building. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.
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