At first I was charmed by the concept of this character-filled plaza, which holds some shops, services like a hair salon, and restaurants. It's very visually appealing from the parking lot side, which holds a a store called 3/4 Moon, and El Portal Restaurant.
Walking through to the Colorado Blvd. side, after we finished dinner at El Portal, was a mixed bag, though. There's still a lot of brick texture, and nooks and crannies for visual and architectural interest. There is also a lot of missed potential, I believe. If it were mine to market, I'd bring in containers with a variety of trees, bushes, and flowers to soften and enliven the space.
Making it more of a garden vibe would increase the appeal of strolling through the corridor and checking out the various businesses inside. I noted a yarn shop and a dance-themed business. Not sure if it was just for clothing, or if it was a studio.
The parking lot entrance is off Green Street. Valet parking with validation was available when we went in the 4:00 hour on Sunday afternoon. El Portal validated the first hour. We paid $3.00 for staying into a second hour.
It's the kind of location where you probably wouldn't feel encouraged to wander unless you were already going there specifically for one of the businesses. Having to pay for parking solidifies my thoughts in that regard. read more