Los Callejones (Santee Alleys)

Looking for a good deal?
Before the loft trend and the Fashion District tours (provided by Downtown Los Angeles Association) shopping at "Los callejones" or "the alleys" was  treasure hunting. A good deal was an understatement, fashionable clothing? It just didn't matter when a shirt was no more than $5.

THE HISTORY
As a little girl my mother used to drag me to this concrete jungle where the smell was never pleasant and the loud voices of vendors were never missed. I remember stepping out of the car into a dirty smelly puddle that up to this day I am not sure if it was urine or water. We would then walk to 12th street and Santee (there was only one retail alley and one Wholesale) where the vision of people shoving and desperately searching for a good piece of garment out of a box while a guy yelled at the top of his lungs "Pasele, pasele, 2 x$3! Que te damos amiga?" was considered shopping at the Santee Alleys.

At the alleys you always had to have your guard up and had to hold on to your belongings as if it was your life while diving into an ocean of people with strollers walking at a slow pace. None the less, it was worth it, my mother used to say. Tax was deductible, you could bargain up to 50% below price in just about anything and everything. For $100 you were able to Christmas shop for all the kids in a Mexican family. The highlight of every trip to the Santee alleys (in the back then ghost town of downtown Los Angeles) were those beefy and juicy bacon wrapped hot dogs that just intoxicated the entire alley with their smell.

THE EVOLUTION
Twenty years later, many things about the Santee Alleys remain. The smells, the massive amount of people, the fabulous loud vendor voices and the familiar smell of bacon wrapped hot dogs. However, in the year 2010, I can tell you that this is a MUST SEE place. The adventure is like no other. You can come across many different stores with phenomenal merchandise that can still be bargained and in some cases go duty free. Most stores count with credit card machines and look books. Many stores carry ORIGINAL brands such as UGG, LEVI'S, GUESS, and TRUE RELIGION among others. It is no wonder that the Santee Alleys have become the "mall" of choice to many FIDM students, foreign celebrities and fashionistas looking for a good deal. This is the go to place for good prices, trends, sporting goods, electronics, cosmetics, perfumes and even family pet accessories.

So, if you haven't gotten around visiting the "Alleys" don't miss out on history and a good deal. Dress comfortably, make sure you pay $5 ALL DAY PARKING (those meters will get you and get at least $50 out of your pocket), grab a hot dog and brows the goods!

INFORMATION
http://www.fashiondistrict.org/
http://www.downtownla.com/
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/