Red, Purple, Blue and Expo Line commuters can look forward to Rush Snack Bar at the 7th Street Metro Center Station.
Downtown blogger and transit oriented real estate agent Brigham Yen (read our interview with him here) reports that the 7th Street Metro Center Station will soon be home to Rush Snack Bar, a new venture that will cater to Metro commuters and downtown denizens.
The shop is located in a subterranean retail space nestled in the Hope Street portal of the station (long hidden by an advertisement). That’s right, this shop will actually be inside the subway station – a station that’s home to the four Metro Rail lines (including the under construction Expo Line).
According to owner Andrew Cohen, Rush will serve “a variety of fresh juices; All different types of pastries; Salads, sandwiches, sodas, chips and gourmet coffee,” and should be opening this summer.
Of course, Metro has rules against consuming food or drink on Metro rail but that shouldn’t stop commuters from grabbing a snack on the way out of the station.
Head over to Brigham’s blog for the full story and a sneak peak at how the shop will look.
Categories: Go Metro, Metro Lifestyle
I think we are missing tons of opportunities by not providing more shopping in the tunnel. Instead of these overpriced stores that gouge and discourage patrons with their exuberant prices you should have more places like a McDonalds or a Pollo Loco in place. I have visited Grand Central Station in New York and also DC and I often wondered why we couldn’t be more like them. I spent hours at those stations and spent quite a bit of money as well.
I can understand the logic of not wanting to allow eating on trains, making sure people take their trash when the leave train and having staff clean a crowded moving vehicle is probably not ideal. But I think a compromise can be made if people at least could be allowed to consume sustenance on the boarding platforms. Make sure their are several waste and recycling receptacles at all stations so people are aware where the waste should go when their done and have staff regularly empty them on a regular basis so as to ensure no smells linger on the platforms. This is especially crucial for the subway stations that lack outdoor airflow circulation.
I too wish Metro would allow eating and drinking, but at the same time, there should be a public relations ad that tells everyone that their actions will be held responsible in public transit fares. A catchy ad like “Clean trains keeps fares low” or “Leave a mess, everyone pays.”
Start an advertisement campaign like that to let everyone know that their actions are liable for fare increases. Said ads should be placed where the no eating and drinking signs are right now so that when someone leaves a mess, people can point to that public relations ad on the train so that litterer can be shamed by everyone that his/her selfish actions will hurt everyone on board through higher fares.
And if that doesn’t solve the problem, well now you have a good reason to go distance based fares with an “I told you so” moment. Then that should serve as a wake up call to everyone that Metro means what they say.
I was once pulled out of a train and given a warning by an employee because I was eating a pear. I know it would cause messes, but I wish Metro would allow eating and drinking. The reason is that many people have a long commute and don’t have time to eat in between transfers, especially if the bus is not frequent and the connection is tight. My commute was over two hours each way and I needed to have a snack in between because I suffer from hypoglycemia and have to eat on a schedule.
(I think Chicago’s CTA does not forbid eating and drinking . . . at least I recall looking for the signs against it and not finding them. Correct me if I’m wrong.)
Wondered for the last 20 years or so when they’d ever use that empty retail space at the 7th/Hope portal… always seemed like a missed opportunity. Hopefully this will start a trend.
I have yet to see someone cited on the train/subway (or bus, for that matter) for eating or drinking, and I’ve been taking Metro for over 10 years.
I don’t really see the point of having a snack bar in the station for riders to grab something on the way OUT of the station. Riders are going out to street level where (I think) there are plenty of places to grab something to eat. And if you think people are going to buy something, board the train and wait until they get off to consume it – good luck on that.
A step in the right direction but hope it spreads to more stations across the network. So much empty space that could be put to better use and get rid of illegal vendors.
This is nice. Metro would get revenue from the revenue of the snack bar. This should discourage the illegal vendors on the Blue Line.
Ron, Metro’s current policy does not permit food or drink to be consumed on Metro Rail – and there’s a potential fine if you’re cited. We’re not here to encourage breaking the rules, hence the disclaimer.
Fred Camino
Contributor, The Source
So, folks can’t buy food/drink on their way TO the train. Yeh, sure.
Way to go Metro you promoting food and beverage. But there no eating on bus and trains. Your giving the public the upper hand over your somewhat authority.
I’ve really been enjoying the Famima!! at Union Station, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for Metro.
Lots of cities have retail in subway stations, either on the platform or near the entrance, so this is obviously a sign that Los Angeles is finally starting to GET IT when it comes to underground transit.
Excellent! And how about a newsstand/game rental kiosk or two?
Ammenities add value to the system and are long overdue beamer 184
Nice! With this, and the vendors at Union Station, Metro is starting to look more like a legit transit provider.