Storefront Report: Last vacant space rented in Echo Park landmark

The Jensen’s Recreation Center, a brick-and tera-cotta-tile landmark in the heart of Echo Park, will become home to a new clothing and furniture store called The Echo Park Independent Co-op. That’s the name plastered on white paper covering the windows of the Sunset Boulevard store front between Logan and Lemoyne streets. The Eastsider could not find a website or phone number for the new tenant but a person familiar with the deal said the store plans to sell apparel for young shoppers as well as furniture by local designers and original art.

The approximately 3,000-square-foot space with high ceilings and exposed brick walls had been eyed by restaurateur Gareth Kantner, owner of Silver Lake’s Cafe Stella, as a location for Libre, a new restaurant serving “Italian-style peasant” food. But that deal fell apart earlier this year as the most of the ground floor spaces remained vacant. Since then, however, new tenants – including a martial arts school and vegan restaurant, have opened or leased up all available spaces.

The newcomers will join a long-standing pawn shop, hair salon and medical center on the ground floor and an events space in the former bowling alley located in the basement. All you need under one roof.

Photo by The Eastsider