All Shopping & Retail

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18 shops, markets and wholesale districts — Downtown LA’s retail is mostly specialist and district-based rather than mall-based, and knowing which district you want matters more than knowing which shop.

Where they cluster. The Jewelry District holds 5, including the St. Vincent Jewelry Center, Icing On The Ring, WatchGuys, Sam’s Jewelry & Watch Repair and Time-Tec Watch Service Center — buying and repair in the same few blocks. The Fashion District holds 3 fabric and wholesale operations: Michael Levine, Inc., Blue Moon Fabrics and the California Market Center. The Flower District holds 3, including the Original Los Angeles Flower Market and the Southern California Flower Market, both of which open before dawn. Little Tokyo has Kinokuniya and Rafu Bussan. The Historic Core has The Last Bookstore.

How to browse. Decide what you are buying first. Fabric, trim and wholesale garments — Fashion District. Jewellery, watches, repairs — Jewelry District. Flowers and floral supply — Flower District, early. Books — The Last Bookstore, or Now Serving in Grand Central Market for cookbooks. General shopping under one roof — FIGat7th, The Bloc, or ROW DTLA.

Related: Little Tokyo: where to eat, shop and explore · Things to do in Downtown LA

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St. Vincent Jewelry Center

A multi-floor jewelry mart on South Hill Street housing hundreds of independent vendors selling engagement rings, chains, watches and repair
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WatchGuys

A luxury-watch dealer on South Hill Street buying and selling modern and vintage Rolex, Cartier, Omega and similar, with certificates
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California Market Center

A large mixed-use complex at 9th and Main in the Fashion District, combining fashion showrooms, creative offices, ground-floor retail and
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Now Serving

A bookshop in Far East Plaza specializing in cookbooks and food writing, with author events and a carefully chosen selection.
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FIGat7th

An open-air shopping, dining and entertainment centre on South Figueroa at 7th, in the middle of the Financial District and
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The Bloc

An open-air retail, dining and entertainment block at Seventh and Flower, converted from an enclosed mall and connected directly to
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The Last Bookstore

A large independent bookseller occupying the ground floor of a former bank building on Spring Street, dealing in both new
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ROW DTLA

A mixed-use complex on the site of the old Southern California Institution of Design and produce terminal, holding independent retail,