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A Bathing Ape - CLOSED
Categories: Shopping Fashion Men's Clothing Shopping Fashion Women's Clothing Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing [Edit]
8001 Melrose AveLos Angeles, CA 90046
Neighborhoods: Mid-City West, West Hollywood
(323) 658-5400
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
From 5/24-5/28 get 7 panties for $35 (select styles). See www.soma.com for details.
34 reviews for A Bathing Ape
Review Highlights
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"...of japanese streetwear brands, and Bape was my first love." In 22 reviews -
"The shoe display is awesome." In 3 reviews -
"the staff were really nice and helpful." In 3 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Elliott H.
Riverside, CA
Updated - 1/19/2011
I drove by the store a few weeks ago... and Bape LA is gone. Didn't realize that the pirate sale was their last hurrah in Los Angeles, or else I probably would've bought even more stuff; the prices were silly cheap.
Farewell to what was once the pinnacle of streetwear... until Souljah Boy came in and ruined it for everyone else.
Congrats, Mr. Boy. You got you some Bathing Apes, but you killed off the brand in the process.
Bape will be missed. The shirts I have from there have held up amazingly well, and still look and feel great. Time to go to Union LA for my spending binges.Listed in: LA Streetwear
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/28/2009
Key word here: hype. After a few other visits since their opening, I stopped in for the PIrate… Read more »
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Review from Laced U.
CA
7/12/2010
They're closed!
They had their Pirate sale. After that, bam, doors shut.
They also had electrical problems that shut the store down just prior. -
Review from Kenneth T.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/8/2009 ROTD 4/2/2009
As much as I love camouflage, monkeys, and pastel colors. I can't justify $350 for what seems like okay jeans with not so great silk-screened star on the crouch. Despite that, the service is still very good here.
The shirt designs are not really that interesting anymore. Nothing to write home about. There are too many white t-shirts in here. The best things here are probably the accessories, if they weren't so expensive. There was a nice backpack here, but it is almost $300. The best thing I got here, believe it or not, was a Spongebob plushie.
The sneakers are not very cool anymore. Me, being an ex-sneakerhead, cannot justify paying triple for a Nike-look-a-like. Back then when BapeStas were exclusive, they would fetch $300 to $500 on the market, with lots of fakes selling in Harlem and the Bronx for like $65. Now, you can get some at Flight Club for a 30% discount, because nobody wants them. It was like $200 for Bapesta in the store, but you can buy 3 pairs of Air Force 1s for $200.
And the consumers now are a lot smarter. Lil Wayne, Yeezy baby, killed the brand. Killed it. There is something about Nigo never smiling and looking like someone you punked on in college and now selling you expensive clothes to you as revenge. I can't explain it.
Thanks to the economy and little kiddies, streetwear is pretty dead. Kids now dress how I used to dress 3 years ago, when skinny jeans was only for punkers and skaters, and fitted caps were for people who wore AAA or XXXL tees (referring to skaters and hip hop heads).
Bape still remains exclusive for those kids. Not many people have it. You might be the only one in your neighborhood to rock it, unless you're Asian, 'cause it is standard apparel to your Nike SB. Anyways, it is still a fun place to visit. It is more of a museum than a store.Listed in: I LOVE SHOPPING, ROTD~!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/4/2008
Just to let you know, not all BAPE employees are created equal. The guys and girls who work here… Read more »
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Review from RON C.
10/22/2009 1 photo
A BATHING APE
Originally located in Japan! This brand is HELLA EXPENSIVE!
You gotta be really Ballin to cop shit here! There shoe line are called Bapestas. They got fresh Hoodies, Jeans, and Tees. Average for a T-shirt is around $80 and up!, Bapestas $200 and above same as jeans!
This was my first time checking this place out this past weekend! I like the set up. The bapestas are on a convey belt is an oval glass so its in the center of the store. Theres a big ass jean bape pants on the wall I thought that was cool!
I recommend anyone walking on Melrose to check this place out even if you don't buy anything! Peace Yelp Heads! -
Review from Lizzie C.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2009
If you pass by this store, it's interesting to visit at least once, even if you won't buy anything, because most likely you won't, unless you really have that much disposable income to throw away on overpriced clothes and shoes...
But really, this place felt like a museum. Upon entering the store, a tall man in a suit opened the door for us. In the middle of the store is a big glass cylinder, with different Bape shoes circling inside of it on a conveyor belt. They had a selection of shirts folded and arranged neatly on some wooden tables and I felt like I couldn't touch them or breathe on them. Usually I feel pretty confident in looking at shirts at a store and folding them back the way they were, but not this time. I felt like I couldn't even touch the hoodies on hangers. -
Review from Bibo T.
Diamond Bar, CA
11/1/2009
I love Bape!!!
So happy they have a store in L.A.
I have more than 10 hoodies+ T shirts from them...
But everything is so limited in quantity so sometimes u really have to have luck to get the stuff u want....T____T
The Cantonese guy who works there is really nice and helpful everytime i go (he should get a raise...haha) -
Review from Ivy W.
Los Angeles, CA
10/4/2008
What the? There's a f***ing Bape on Melrose?
Obviously I've been living under a rock.
I haven't visited the store yet (nor do I want to...), but I thought I'd review it anyways, since I can't review the one I went to in Japan.
Spent 21,000 Yen (roughly $200 US) on a pair of Bapes that I still have not worn - and I bought them 2 years ago. I was into the whole ~*hypebeast*~ street wear look when it was underground and also used to be a sneaker head, so I guess that's why I bought 'em (curse those days! I wasted so much money on Nikes!) I regret it, though :( My sister also bought a pair and they've been worn only 3 times.
But hey, at least I still wear my dunks/blazers.
Never buying anything from Bape again, no doubt. -
Review from Lorrie M.
6/1/2010
I think if I were really into the bathing ape, or understood why it's so expensive (i.e. I guess it's the bf's version of Gucci or LV?!) then I might be inclined to give this place more stars. However, I didn't really see it to be anything super special. The store was well designed but empty feeling since it didn't look like they had much merchandise. They had shoes on display but it was very in an untouchable sense. Everything here just seemed so distant and untouchable almost like it was saying ... HEY ... this isn't for you.
They do have one cool thing, which was a 3-story tall pair of jeans that have logos on it. It's literally the hugest pair of jeans I'd ever seen in my life. Naturally I took out the camera and was going to snap a picture of it when they came and almost knocked me over to tell me that there was no photography.
Now I can understand if there's no photography of their merchandise so people don't copy. But it's a three-story jean. They're not selling it, in fact its decor, that's the point, they have a pair of huge jeans for show. Why can't you take a picture? Lame. Anyway, employees seemed like they were too good for us anyway, when asked for shoe sizes they were kind of like ... you want that? okay ... not a fan of the attitude. -
Review from Euni L.
Beverly Hills, CA
12/16/2008
I was soooooo excited when I heard Bape LA was opening. No more scrambling around SoHo trying to find parking! I visited the Bapetalk daily and got the scoop on the Melrose location- I recognized the corner they were planning for the store and I kept an eye on it until it opened.
I couldn't be happier with the fact that it exists. I scooped tons of Milo tees (I'm a huge fan) while I still lived in LA and even managed to get one of the navy panda hoodies before they sold out. The service team is... eh. You've got your AMAZING employees (like Isadora, one of the managers) who I loveeee (not just because she's 1/2 Korean, 1/2 Japanese) because not only does she always give me + the bf great service, she respects that we're educated about Nigo and the roots of the brand. I wanted a certain t-shirt once, but all the girl's sizes ran too big so she offered to sell me the same shirt off her back because she knew I liked it so much. THAT is customer service.
The rest of the employees... well... there are a couple of really nice ones that will run and grab anything for you ASAP, are really knowledgeable about the brand, and actually WANT to uphold the standards of service that BAPE stores in Japan have. One employee actually confessed that he felt really sad that he knew the standard of service there wasn't up to par.
I honestly blame it on the handful of chicks that somehow managed to land a job here despite
1) Not knowing anything about Bape
2) "Who's Nigo?"
3) Doing nothing but standing behind the counter staring blankly at the people lined up outside ("oh wow, is this store a big deal or something?")
4) Not even being a cute Japanese girl to make up for it aesthetically.
Ignore them. They're slowly being weeded out anyway.
Even if you aren't a fan of fun, cartoonish clothes, this store is worth checking out just for the exclusivity of it all. 2 stores total on this side of the Pacific, so if you're lucky enough to have access to Melrose, hit it up and pick up a t-shirt or something. -
Review from Antonio A.
Studio City, CA
5/1/2008
Nigo's Bathing Ape/Busy Workshop boutiques always look super dope inside. Very stylish and contemporary... there are even Youtube videos that feature the interior designs of his different Bape stores all over Japan. Very cool. I think the story of how Nigo started working in Japanese media outlets, and used his influence to popularize his own brand is a brilliant one... and the story of how he created all his wealth and built an empire from scratch is certainly inspiring to young entrepreneurs like myself, who work so hard to build their brands into strong, profitable companies. So I give much respect to Nigo for all that.
But I just think it's funny that people still buy this stuff. Bape was very popular with Japanese streetwear fans several years ago. Ahem. Several years ago. What are you gonna do with all those allover print sweaters with monkeys on it, the limited edition leather jackets and the $300+ bright colored kicks in your closet, let's say... 9 months from now?
Is it still gonna be the shit? Think about it for a minute.
3 stars for the interior design of the place though. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Stockton, CA
2/17/2011
THIS SPOT IS CLOSED.
What was open for only a year or two? But then again that was expected I mean LA had the game for all this c'mon BAPE is waaaay to expensive.
On the spot alone I would give it a 4 1/2 stars, the place was the closest thing to being like the ones in Japan. Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself let's start over. Bape (A Bathing Ape) is a VERY high end clothing line/boutique from Japan, kids in Japan was spend an entire pay check for this limited line of clothing as well as wait in lines to get into the shop. This one opened in LA at the far end of Melrose passed Fairfax. Located on a corner it was easy to find the giant BAPE sign with infamous gorrilla. The facade of the place was silver and not really easy to miss. You're welcome in by a door man in a suit (I know it can be quite intimidating especially from what we're use to here in the States). In the middle was this all glass area for their shows along with their floating conveyor of Bape shoes... here's what I'm talking about so you can picture it
http://www.protocolsno...
Another thing most people were confused about was "Why aren't there many shirts or anything else!?" They have one of each product out to look at and you have to ask for your size. SUPER PRICEY! Service was alright I guess?
The place was beautiful though, with expensive product it looks like LA wasn't the best spot for you.
RIP BAPE LA.
PS. I HEARD NIGO SOLD BAPE ...Listed in: Undergrad life in the IE and…, Sneaker Pimps, Boutiques
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Review from Torie Y.
5/10/2008
After waiting in line to get in, I felt like I should purchase something to justify the wait. We traipsed through the small space in a record 10 minutes, and went into the rotating shoe display just for kicks (ha). However, I didn't see a single price tag on any of the Bapestas, and I felt a pang of "if I have to ask I can't afford it." I couldn't justify spending $70+ on one of the t-shirts either, no matter how cute baby Milo is.
I will give credit where credit is due:
- at least they HAD women's stuff (the one I went to in Japan didn't have any at all)
- selection in general is pretty big comparable to the small space
- it's got that squeaky-clean new feeling to it
- they're not on the cheapy side of Melrose -
Review from Michael W.
New York, NY
10/7/2009
I used to be a frequent shopper at the New York store back in 2005-2007, but ever since their designs have declined, I've scaled back my Bape purchases. Nonetheless, I stop by the LA location whenever I'm around the area.
The store itself is obviously bigger than New York's. Spacious with a center area for shoes. The staff, however, was not as welcoming as the New York location. They weren't too helpful and kind of just chilled while I looked around. Now normally I don't really care, but if I'm paying $73 for t-shirt, I better damn well get some service.
Good selection and awesome decor, but the boo to the staff. You guys need to step up your customer service game. -
Review from David W.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2008
Awesome store!
This is a very chic looking store very nicely designed. I had a great experience in the store. The staff was nice and helpful. -
Review from Katie P.
Valencia, CA
2/23/2009 3 photos
Bape is sweeeeet. Yes it is expensive, but it has such tasty urban designs, I want to buy everything from the socks to the exclusive n64 pixelated mario/bape design. So cool. :) This store has got to be one of the best designed clothing stores on melrose. In the center of the store, there is a glass room with rotating shoes circling around it. So sick.
Anyway, if you want some sweet shoes, or if you just want to admire the design of the store, its a good place to come.
(and the neon wall outside is a good photo backdrop, haha) -
Review from Spencer Y.
Westwood, CA
4/27/2008
What more is there to say? It's A Bathing Ape and you're either into the brand or you're not. If you're looking at this review, you probably already know what kinds of products they carry. It took awhile and the brand isn't anywhere near the same place it was years ago, but they've finally landed in Los Angeles after much speculation.
The store design is clean and quite an experience for those used to typical retail store. Very similar in design to those located in Japan and presumably the rest of the world. Very well done.
Expect popular and sought after items to be sold out already if you come in at normal times. When the most exclusive items are released, you'll either have to have connections or stand in line with a bunch of dorks for hours before doors open.
Definitely a must visit if you're a fan of the brand, and maybe even if you're not and just happen to be on Melrose. It's hard to miss.
Who knows, maybe you'll be lucky and they will re-release their Bape monogram print toilet paper. -
Review from George B.
1/7/2010 2 photos
HYPE
I remember watching the music video 'Frontin' from Pharrell back in 2001. I was like 'that's a cool shirt he's wearing'. I later found out that a Japanese guy named Nigo designed it and also designs clothing called 'A Bathing Ape'.
Later did I know he was in the music video! I searched all over the internet to see where I can find more of this Japanese clothing line and the only place I found was Union on La Brea. And even then the selection was limited.
A Bathing Ape was "the hype" that it was in the early 2000's. It's 2010 and personally, I believe they're still going strong. Their cuts and designs are still pretty sweet. However, do you still want to drop $79 for a T-Shirt?
Still, I love their interior design and I'm glad they finally made a store here in Los Angeles. 5 stars!! -
Review from chai s.
Los Angeles, CA
6/4/2008
alas, the fashion gods have smiled upon us. BAPE LA is finally here! went there earlier today and i must say that i'm very impressed with the high level of customer service and the super-sleek decor.
the staff were really nice and helpful. i was completely floored by how on-point they were. these guys (and gal) really KNOW their stuff and aren't afraid to show it.
if you're not too familiar with this particular brand of clothing, be forewarned. BAPE is known for its exclusivity and as we all know, exclusive doesn't come cheap. the store only carry a few pieces of certain items and once they're gone, they're gone. -
Review from Andrew L.
Cincinnati, OH
10/25/2009
HELP!
There's an online Bape store and i dont know if they sell the real thing or fakes (fapes). Guidance plz?
Heres the link: http://www.thebapeshop... -
Review from Jeff G.
Merit-Carson, CA
4/17/2009
I love this brand. I sport em all the time on the regular, the clothing yes the shoes not so much.
Same atmosphere as the NY just with an LA twist its pretty cool. The sales staff are really friendly and they don't usually eye you like em hypebeast at the hundreds store, but thats a different review. In any case Its pretty chill here a lot of people complain about the price; my response? why like something you can't afford thats the same as teasing yourself. Parking how ever can be a pain on the weekend meters are full during the afternoon so prepare to park at the residential parking in the neighborhood. Its a must see for yourself experience just like Johnny cupcakes so stop by if you can. -
Review from Sarah A.
12/4/2010
WOW another clothen store bites the dust!!!
Been here a couple of times before the location closed. I felt very VIP walking in with two huge but nice gorilla security guards greeting then opening and closing the two big main doors behind me. This place is awesome inside. Clothing lines the walls all the way around. In the middle is their shoe section. Found a hoodie that was pretty cute looked at the price tag (rubbed my eyes to refocus) 200.00 for a hoodie!!! ummm no thanks BAPE.. I then found a nice button up for a friend omg 350.00 eepies. Why are you so expensive!!! Okay as i turned around and made sure i didnt enter into the hip side of Fred Siegel i was reassured that indeed i was still in BAPE. As i ingored the shoe section (i honestly think they are on the tacky side) i saw a pink BAPE monkey that would be cute on my bed 50.00 omg!!! After seeing that i needed to remove myself from the store. The gorilla security guard thanked me for stopping in as he opened the door for me. BAPE i love the monkey but your clothing is super overpriced!!!!Listed in: Los Angeles Pimpin'
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Review from Jonathan W.
Los Angeles, CA
4/28/2008
The latest addition to the BAPE (Bathing Ape) empire is located here in Los Angeles, carrying on the tradition of GoApe! along the higher end section of Melrose. It's a small store but I've found it to be much better than the New York spot based on selection and customer service (most BAPE employees, both here and Japan were pretty rude). Weekends I've heard have a line to get in; I stepped in an hour before closing on a weeknight and it was smooth sailing. Now I don't have to travel to the other side of the country or across the Pacific Ocean to visit one of my favorite boutiques.
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Review from Rochelle R.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2009
The prices here very high for some shoes and clothes. The shoes are what I call candy shoes since they are very colorful and fun. I only bought a pair of shoes once and I haven't worn them yet since I don't want to crease them up. The staff who work the shoe department are very friendly and when you walk in and out of the store, the security opens the door. It is a cool place to browse around, but there hasn't been anything lately that has caught my eye that I must have.
Listed in: There's no place like Melrose…
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Review from Jeremy C.
Murrieta, CA
7/16/2010
WOW!!! Bathing Ape is cool but when you walk in the store it feels like your walking into Tiffany's or the freaken White House. When we walked in we weren't greeted, which to me means I'm not buying crap because your customer service SUCKS!!! Also, how are you going to purchase anything if you can't touch anything. What a load of crock... To me customer service is everything so if you want to sell things don't just think your product will sell itself. Just imagine if you better customer service and you made your customer feel welcomed into your establishment, you might just sell more products. As you can see I hate this store but I still like the gear.
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Review from yuri c.
9/23/2008
i love the design inside, how the shoes are on a belt that goes around like a kaiten-zushi.
umm... oh, the SA's are very friendly :D -
Review from Dianne K.
Los Angeles, CA
6/19/2008
Amazing. Honestly I was a bit intimidated when I first walked in because I don't really fit in very well. But the staff was friendly and I felt comfortable to look around. The shoe display is awesome!
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Review from rj s.
Santa Clara, CA
8/12/2008
I am a big fan of japanese streetwear brands, and Bape was my first love. Going to the Bape store in LA for me was like taking a kid to the candy store. The whole look of the store is sick: the ginormous pair of Bape jeans, the circular conveyor belt carrying bapestas to name a few. They carry a pretty good selection of Bape product: shirts, hoodies, shoes, hats, etc. They also had some product on display in glass cases (Bape DS, toilet paper) that was not for sale. The price, unfortunately, is extremely steep as expected. The customer service was excellent. My little cousins were looking at all the little toys and accessories, and the staff showed them all the stuff in their price range. Say what you will about Bape, but they are good at what they do, and they know it.
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Review from Orie M.
Cupertino, CA
8/21/2009 1 photo
This Bape looks quite big from outside, but compared to the store size, they don't have too many items for sale inside. They do display everything really nicely, especially the shoe display in the middle of the store. I've been to only one other Bape store, in Nagoya (Japan). That store seemed much smaller but was 3 stories tall and actually carried a lot more stuff. I'm not particularly a Bape fan, but I saw some nice sneakers and a few clothing items for women that were pretty cute.
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Review from Lauren K.
Woodland Hills, CA
7/15/2008
A definite LA experience. Amazing shoe and clothing displays. Wear your Kanye shades for the full Yeezy experience. Smile big for the security guard!
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Review from Paul R.
North Hollywood, CA
8/16/2008 2 photos
This place is straight from Japan. Stuff you could only find there and New York comes to LA. It straight posh inside, but got some otaku too. Ultra high end shoes and clother from Japanese artist Bathing Ape. Some cool extras.
Listed in: On melrose
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Review from bryan y.
Alameda, CA
8/16/2009
Yes, I'm a fan . I've never actually wore BAPE but always likes Nigo's vision for a collectable /limited tier/ youthful label. I actually bought a shirt , because I wasn't too interested in much else. There wasn't too much variety , but the layout of the store was interesting. It would be cool to have a BBC / Ice Cream store nearby.Hint*
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Review from Kenny L.
Rosemead, CA
5/10/2010
I'm a huge fan of Bape clothing mainly because I love cartoon-ny art. This store is located in a very prominent part of Los Angles with a lot of hip clothing retailers. I love the fact that when you get into the store there is a doorman to open and close the door when you arrive / leave. Clothing wise I love the clothes, they usually have a very good, up to date selection and some exclusive for "LA" Bape themed clothes, thats a plus. I give this store a minus 2 stars for parking and service. Its very difficult to find parking. Your best bet would be to park in the residential streets, but pay close attention to the signs or you might get ticketed. Also, you would think that paying premium for brand name clothing you'll get unparalleled service. I was absolutely wrong because they have a staff that seemed like they're too cool for school. I would rather order online.
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Review from Evan S.
Park La Brea, CA
7/17/2008
super cool store nothing to buy
its pretty cool to go in but theres nothing there to buy and the guards are total losers thats just shameful -
Review from anthony y.
Orange, CA
11/30/2009
I'm not really a big fan of Bape, but they do have some pretty cool stuff. I checked this store out 2 or 3 times since it opened a year ago; the interior is just like all the other Bape store opened around the world... The pricing of Bape is very expensive, as you know, Bape is probaby one of the most expensive street brands around. I would probably buy something from Bape if they have like a 50% to 75% off sale, if not i would rather spend my money elsewhere.
