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It's not unlike the Mission District of San Francisco except it's more compact, cheaper, and possibly on steroids.
Here's a small fraction of what's around here:
*Cheap clothes (both in price and sometimes in quality, though excellent deals can be had).
*Bubble machines.
*Insanely adorable and (probably) highly illegal baby turtles and rabbits (especially the rabbits...so cute I wanted to grab one and eat it in order to absorb the cuteness).
*Churros, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and pomegranate seeds galore.
*Ed Hardy knock-offs (because everyone needs one of those).
*Huge variety of Obama t-shirts, including one celebrating the Nobel Peace Prize he won just two days before I went here.
It's crowded, loud and often headache-inducing, but I dug it.
I walked down these streets in fear of getting jacked and molested.
Never again.
When you just need to buy something fast and cheap, check out Santee Alley. In particular, and especially at this time of year, it's great for costume pieces. From cheap, gaudy jewelry sets to trashy lingerie and racy costumes, you can find all of it down here and for much less than almost any regular stores. The last time I was down there, I saw stands with very nice Renaissance-style masks and lots of wigs. You can also buy formal gowns to modify for a costume at the numerous bridal, prom, and quinceanera shops. Some of them are quite pretty and cost less than $100!
Some important tips though:
Get there early, since parking goes fast and the place gets packed. Don't go when it's raining- trust me, it's disgusting.
Bring cash- many shops take credit cards, but people always like cash.
Bring a friend- better yet, a big guy friend.
It's okay to haggle, or just keep looking- they all tend to have the same stuff, in different colors and at different prices, so if the first price seems high, take a business card and shop around more.
Don't just stay in the Alley, shop the streets and clothing boutiques around it to get the best deals.
Happy hunting!
You'd think the Santee Alley is where you go for really cheap stuff right? Yea that was years ago. I was just there recently and have been here several times. They want to sell imitation bags for $35. I mean c'mon, this is downtown alley! I can get a really good quality and better name brand bags at Macy's for that price or less with discounts. The clothing there is fairly priced. It should be cheaper. They've raised the price on everything and the quality is not as good as the malls. I bought a sweater there for $25. I liked it, but at the same time I can't believe it costs that much from a place called the Alley where they're known to be dirt cheap. I coulda got the same sweater at the mall for about the same price. It was a little disappointing because they are pretty expensive now.
If you see something you like, I suggest you walk around to other shops first and make your way back if you don't find it cheaper somewhere else. Cuz it always happens that you see something you like, buy it, go down a few more shops and find it even cheaper. So that is my reason for giving the price range I gave. I'd rather shop at the mall for better quality for almost the same prices. In the end, we didn't get much cuz they were asking for too much.
O and another thing, when I took my girl into the jewelry shops, she was complaining to me that the fake jewelry was over priced. I would agree. She picked out this necklace and they told her $60. She was like this is downtown. It's fake jewelry! Why is it soo much? She didn't buy anything. She said they cost more than Charlotte Russe for fake jewelry.
But overall, it's a nice place to walk around. It's crowded sometimes but it's a fun experience.
Folks, the clothes here is exactly the same as Forever 21, but cheaper
A few years ago, my mom worked part-time making garments. She made garments for Forever 21 and many other stores. If you shop at Forever 21, you certainly can shop the Fashion District Santee Alley.
The prices in the Alley are much higher than outside the Alley. Read my LA Fashion District review http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Things that I have bought from the Alley:
-Raider shot glass $10
-Hello Kitty ring $5
-Cloth bags 3 for $10
Most of the stores sell the same stuff. Although, I only found 1 store that sold sports fan stuff.
Bring plenty of cash and good walking shoes.
Yes, I said it. The Alley...I'm most def. not afraid to admit that I, like to shop, at the Santee Alley. Everyone knows that for years, the Alley has been one of the best places for cheap discounts on really great knock offs and marked down apparel. One of the few places you can go stock up on so many items, negotiate good prices, and leave with bags full of new clothes, shoes, jewelry...what have you.
This place tends to get overcrowded fairly quickly, due to the popularity of this particular alley. I'd suggest taking the time to find a good parking spot, so you don't have to deal with meters - it's very easy to forget where you have parked when it's so busy...
Keep an eye out for sketchy or suspicious looking individuals - because this place isn't exactly a safety zone, you should always take precautions. It is, afterall, an ALLEY. So if this isn't your type of vibe, don't come through... your loss though.
Diane Von Furstenburg, Christian Dior, Prada, they have it all... and sometimes they have real name brand clothing, wholesale. You should expect this... it's located and runs through the Los Angeles Fashion District.
What I also like is that LA actually let these various people, mostly immigrants from all over the world, come set up shop for all these years, so they can make a decent living. You're helping them as they are helping you, and that is bittersweet. Don't knock their hustle - this is how they survive.
It's a wonderful place to experience the melting pot diversity too, even if only for the few hours you're shopping down @ the Alley.
And don't get me wrong, - I still splurge on the real deals from time to time...Louis Vuitton, Coach, Gucci, the like....but let's keep it honest and realistic, not everybody has that kind of money to be spending every single time they want to shop, and I'm not going to pretend like I do, either. I'd rather be spending my cash on more sensible items than just a handbag...although it's nice to treat myself sometimes.
I've always been the one to burn a hole in my pocket...but since the past year and a half, I've been really learning new ways to save and how to spend on a reasonable budget although I back track at times, I try to look at the bigger picture. Do I need this? More than likely, it's always a no... So I hold back....
Don't really have to worry about that here, though. I'll usually drop one or two bills to stack up on the current season and next season's styles and trends and I'm good to go... I'm not a high maintenance chick, which makes it easier for me to find great deals...esp. @ The Alley.
Sometimes, it's necessary to be frugal, especially if you know you're saving up for bigger and better things rather than waste money on a quick shopping spree.
Santee Alley in the garment district has to be L.A.'s mecca for frugal fashion shopping!
As soon as you walk into Santee Alley, you are engulfed in hoards of people, and lines of clothing and accessoried vendors and storefronts.
Shirts, Jackets, pants, skirts, dressed, handbags, sunglasses, perfume, cell phone accessories, hats, shoes, beads, jewelry, belts, a couple taco joints, and all kinds of other stuff!! Dang...you can spend a whole day here just shopping and looking around. 8 for $10 tees, 6 for $10 socks, $9.99 jeans...Wow, this place is just too crazy!! just make sure you come equipped with enough cash, and your bargaining skills...you might very well be able to bargain and save some extra cash...
My only complaints are that the area is really crowded, dirty, and gets really hot walking around htere in the summertime.
Cheap and efficient.
Where else can I get earrings, a car cell phone charger, a flower for my hair and a dirty dog for $10! I love this place!
Minus one star for parking. Try your best to find street parking.
Every major city-not matter how posh it is-has one of these babies right here. A place where if you don't watch your back they'll sell you a knockoff of yourself!
The Alley or "Los Callejones" as I know it, is a fabulous place for you to do your shopping for the ghetto, the fabulous and the ghetto fabulous.
Fake Chanel earrings, fake Jimmy Choo, Fake Tiffany's.( New Yorkers can compare this to their Canal Street). Aside from the fakery their selection in shoes and club attire is pretty damn good. It's like going to your favorite "Fashion Island" or any generic Forever 21 store.
If you're into carrying plastic, there are plenty of A.T.M.'s around the alley if a store won't accept them. The advantage of carrying cash is sometime you can (low-key though!) convince the merchants into not charging tax! Sweet! Also, the merchants that sell outside the store accept cash only.
Just be aware this place IS crowded, hot and at times chaotic- but that's part of the adventure.
Find parking on Los Angeles ave. or the street before Santee for only $5.
I PROMISE AFTER MY BITCHING, THIS PIECE IS VERY VERY INFORMATIVE.
It says it all in the name... Santee Alley... yes ALLEY! people! stop your bitching and moaning about it being " smelly,poopie-fied and what not"!
What do you expect an alley to be or look like? Why do you think people get killed in alleys? cuz its pretty and has ac and hot tea? no! because its dirty,grimey and no one wants to go back there to find your rotten rat ingested corpse.
if you don't like it... don't go... stay in your air conditioned over priced melrose boutique and try on a piece of rope then walk out just when the cashier is talking smack about how big your ass is and how you'll never fit that piece of rope you just bought for 50 bucks..
now that the bitching is over... on to SANTEE ALLEY!
Anyways I was born and raised in L.A and i've come to realize that people who aren't from NYC or a 3rd world country sometimes find it difficult to cope...too bad because you can find EVERYTHING here that you find at a mall and more for the real price that they should be. But honestly.. yes it's wet at times but the real reason you are there is to get some cool/cheap finds right!?
Heres some tips from a local to ensure the perfect Santee experience:
- BRING CASH! yes they have ATMS but why hassle yourself?
- come early around 9-ish to score some parking... if you come later then try to park at the new parking structure on Maple. The stairs take you down to the start of the alley and they have restrooms that are free and aren't devastatingly horrible. If you are unsure about where you parked then grab the nearest store owner and say "tow away?" in a questioning tone to ensure your car will still be there when you get back.lol.
- HAGGLE HAGGLE HAGGLE never settle for the price but above all BE NICE people are really nice down there except for some Korean hat ladies ,beware and do not try on their hats without asking.. they will hit you or accuse you of stealing. " you must buy!" lol...is that racist?
here are a few haggling tips I try that seem to work well:
I pull out a certain amount of money and say " this is all I got... can I have that for this please?" OR " all I have is $15"
" The guy down there is selling this for cheaper..." and then name your price.. be reasonable and sometimes you can get things cheaper if you offer to buy more than one. For instance, glasses are usually $5 but you can say " two for $8?"
If they don't give me the price I want I usually tell them thank you and bye or that i'll look around some more, sometimes they offer you a better price...if they are desperate to sell and it's the end of the day.
- USE STREET SMARTS! Yes most of the people are nice but that doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention or keep your guard up... this is downtown LA for goodness sakes.. skid row is a couple streets away people! pay attention to bad drivers, vendors who forget to give the right change and shady parking lots.
- don't worry if you don't find what you want right away.. the alley is long and a lot of the vendors sell similar items that could be cheaper or better quality. I say if you want something really bad.. then wait to see your choices... then buy... but that's just me.
- stay away from a couple Jamaican dudes selling bootleg CK cologne..
- Bring a bag that has easy access ( for you, not robbers) or some type of stylish fanny pack or keep your money in your pockets... it's really annoying shopping and having to open your bag,wallet etc repeatedly for both you and the vendor... especially when you are haggling you want to make the transaction as fast as possible so can thank them and leave before they change their minds lol.
- TRY THE BACON WRAPPED HOTDOGS with EVERYTHING... but make sure you try the street ones they are the best... don't worry they aren't poisonous. Don't buy the alleydog or restaurant ones they aren't as tasty nor as fresh.
- Ask to try things on ... if you are a bit of an exhibitionist like me sometimes they will let you try things on even if they don't have a dressing room.. no I'm not undressing in front of the world for free...get your mind out of the gutter.
- TRY NOT TO BUY ELECTRONICS THERE... if you do then ask them to try out the actual product you are going to buy.. open the box and everything because santee alley means no returns.
- If you really don't want to eat there then drive away from 12th street and go up broadway and 3rd street to the GRAND CENTRAL MARKET!
GRAND CENTRAL MARKET : 317 S Broadway
it's a large indoor produce bazaar,restaurant, market place with tons and tons of selections. They have fresh produce, a couple cafes , seafood, deli,just everything to satisfy a picky family when it comes to eating out.
hmmm I think that's it...OH! No matter what don't buy the bootleg DVDS they SUCK unless it is a movie that has been out for a while then NO NO! not yet released means snuck in cam vid..
ok my 5000 characters are up! HAVE
This place is great....The first thing I thought was, wow this reminds me of the place I useto shop for discount fashion on Fordam Rd in the Bronx. I bought 2 pairs of shoes for $10!! Next time I come back I'm coming back with cash. And to everyone who complains about busy crowds, give me a break don't live in a city.
I do not quite understand why everyone thinks this place is so great. The quality of he goods is very low, so the cheap prices are to be expected. You will not find upscale looks, you will find looks that high schoolers wear and look bad in.
The Alley south of 12th street is not quite as nice as Tijuana. The overwhelming majority of the shoppers are Mexican nationals and the language shouted out by the stall keepers is all in Spanish inviting everyone to come in, assuring you that everything is cheaper in their shop, and that they have special prices. Well, I did find the illegal street vendors selling food with and without permits to have very special prices indeed! A Jarritos mineral water was $2.00!! People are openly selling illegal DVD copies and more quietly selling stolen or otherwise pre-tax cigarettes and cigars. If you don't mind mixing with this crowd and have a car that you don't worry that it will get broken into, then this might be a great place to shop. If you are looking for cool clothes this wouldn't be my first stop.
Santee Alley is God's gift to the frugal. There I said it. I'm a cheapskate, ok. I enjoy filling up the trunk for $100 and that's just not all on tube socks. $14.99 stylin' sneakers that were comfy from day one and still are 6 months later, do you believe it?! There are only two places (the other is of no consequence) that I'll buy jeans and I wait all year to hit up Santee Alley when I visit LA. I come back to NY with an amazing ass! Truth be told, my NY friends love my outfits that I buy here. I can lie and say I got it on Melrose, but what fun would that be? It's cooler to confess the $19 price tag and watch the jaws drop and the faces turn envy green. I love you, Santee Alley. You are worth the crowds and the lack of dressing rooms. You are worth the smell of bacon hot dogs and urine in the parking garage stairwells. Oh, what we put up with for fashion.
The only reason why I didn't give Santee Alley 5 stars was because the New Yorker in me nudged my brother (LA resident) to cross the street with me and evidently, they call this "jaywalking" downtown and is punishable by a ridiculous fine. Who knew?! Those bastards!! Don't you have drug abusers and molested children to save? Apparently not.
A few pointers: Parking is hard to find, bring quarters!!
Bring cash: I've never been able to use a credit card anywhere in the alleys
You can find everything from mini-turtles to colored contacts in Santee Alley but is most frequented by bargain shoppers for shoes, novelty tees, gold bling (teehee), unreleased movies spread out on blankets and jeans.
It's quite an experience if you've never been. The lower half of mannequins (with large tushies) line the streets, donned by sequined jeans.
I did see a Christian Audagier zipup for 1/3 the price though- was pretty surprised. Found that you can spot deals like this everywhere!
I hate driving to LA.
I hate downtown LA.
I hate LA drivers.
I hate LA pedestrians.
I hate LA parking
I hate pushing through crowds of people.
I hate the one way streets.
I hate fearing that I'm going to get lost on my way here.
I hate fearing that my car is going to get broken into.
I hate having to watch my back and my purse/wallet/money when I'm here.
But guess what?
I LOVE this place. That's right, past boyfriends, be jealous! haha ;)
If there's one thing that you need to know about me (or don't need to know about me), I am a bargain shopper, and a freaking talented one at that! Don't underestimate me, i WILL NOT disappoint.
This place is like my palace. Damn right, i said it. I can get a gazillion more things here for my money than i can get here in Orange County. Sure, they're not name brand, but i could care less because if i damage it, it wouldn't be like stabbing me in the heart!
Shoes. Sandals. Belts. Purses. Clothing. Movies. Sunglasses. Jewelry.
Latest styles and fashions...
It's like a girl's paradise, maybe even a girl's best friend. Forget diamonds...give her a couple of bills, and bring her here. If she's like me, she won't be disappointed. And...maybe she'll even fall in love with you.
[but you may need to compete with the accessories she's just laid eyes on] :)
This place has GREAT deals. It's a total girl's galore. They've got a large variety of clothes including forever21's.... you'll find repeats of that same top you liked at multiple shops... so check out every store's price before you just buy that one item you're dying for.
This place was scorching hot.. It's ridiculously crowded (see the pictures.) it's definitely dominated by Mexicans...And oh yeah piece of advice- when the store clerks ask you what your budget is, start CHEAP. Pretend you're a poor girl who's desperate for that tunic..... bargaining can easily be done, especially if you're a decent-looking girl who can sweet talk. they'll take advantage of you if you're some rich kid...
OK, so I like to read reviews first before I head out somewhere... not always, but it helps...
Anyway, I heard from someone at a local bar about "Santee Alley" when I asked her about her "fake" but magnificent "Marc Jacobs" bag... the one she said she paid onlly $30 for but looked likethe $560 version...
Anyway, she told me to go to "Santee Alley" in Santa Monica to find the wonderful "fake" name brands, so I googled it, it showed up on Yelp!, picked up a friend to go with me... and found out it's acutally in the middle of LA, not Santa Monica... that's ok!!!!
The reason I say that is this...
I am in NO WAY an expert of Santee Alley or any place in this area...
The short amount of time my friend and I spent here I can tell you this...
GREAT place if you're someone who's looking for name brand items (handbags specifically... sunglasses too, or clothes for guys)...
also.... if you're looking for inexpensive shoes, it's a great place too, but you can find these same kind of deals at Shiek at your local mall...
Great place to go, I read reviews which made me think it was in some kind of slum where people are out to steal your wallet, but that is not true... yeah, it's not Rodeo, but Jeez... you can find great deals here and who cares if it's not all upper class people.. GROW UP!
Long story short... I spent about $75 and got EVERYTHING that I wanted to come home with... this place is a definite DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH! Don't read the stupid reviews that tell u to be "afraid" like you're gonna be hangin' out in the hood where everyone wants to steal ur wallet... not true!!! A real bargain place for your hard-earned $$$!!!!!!! A DEFINITE MUST!!!
Santee Alley is only a small part of the L.A fashion district. The place is so big, it would probably take a whole week to go through most of the stores. You can get some good bargains here, but it can sometimes be a matter of luck if you don't know where to look. There is a parking structure that charges $3.00 for 15 minutes and $8.00 for all day parking. Go early if you want to get a parking spot. I got one of the last parking spots at 11a.m on a Saturday.
Some of the stores sell more upscale clothing, but not many. The prices at most places are really not that cheap. Most of the stuff I saw cost around $20.00-$40.00 for a dress or shirt. Of course, there are some places that charge a lot less, but the clothes are tacky and cheap looking. The good thing is that you can barter with the merchants. Most of them will give you a bargain. Some won't though. Shop around as most of the stores tend to sell the same or similar items. Up the street, there are tons of fancy prom dresses for sale that are actually nice looking from what I saw. Be sure of whatever you buy though since I doubt you can get a refund or even an exchange for anything.
The whole street smelled of bacon dogs. You can also get ice cream, fresh sliced fruit like watermelon, pineapple, melon, and mango on the street. Be sure to bring lots of change with you or small bills since you have to pay to use all the restrooms there. The one my mom and I went to charged us .50 cents each and we could only take a few pieces of toilet paper from the bin outside. The one in the food court charges .75 cents. Speaking of the food court, the food there sucks. There is a Taco Bell/Pizza hut and McDonald's in the area. Bring a big bag and fill it with bottled water as water there costs up to $3.00 a bottle.
A word to the wise, bring a purse that has a zipper closure, not one to where it's open. The place is a high theft area. Also, it would be very unwise to use the ATM machines out in the street. Bring cash as I don't think most places accept credit cards. Even if they did, I wouldn't dare risk using mine in such a sketchy place. They are open during the week from 10-5:45p.m. There are probably less people there then. The street was packed with people the day we went.
Although I was disappointed at what I saw there, I did manage to find one multicolored blue scarf maxi dress for only $15.00. I also got some beautiful chandelier earrings with black and silver colored fake gemstones in it for $9.00. The Asian guy who sold it to me was actually honest. The price was $18.00 on the back so I told him I'd offer him $12.00. He told me the real price which was nice-:)
This was my very first visit here. I mostly went here to find the store that my mom bought a very unique looking and beautiful velvet jacket with an Asian design on it. She also got me a long turquoise scarf with flowers and a peacock on it last year for my birthday. I think we went to the same store, but they had nothing like that there. She forgot where she got it, so maybe it was elsewhere.
If you shop in the Alleyways, you'll be able to find stuff like the latest DVD's that aren't even out yet. I'd be wary of buying and DVD's there as the quality probably isn't good, plus, it's illegal. They also sell kids stuff, luggage, socks, underwear, shoes (the tackiest and ugliest shoes I've ever seen in my life, ugh).
I did find some nice slightly sparkly eye shadow. I got 12 colors in one kit for only $3.00. The guy who sold it to me tried to cheat me though. I gave him a $20.00 bill and he only gave me $2.00 back. I just looked at him and told him that he owes me more so then he gave me two five dollar bills. At that point, I was almost ready to tell him off. I was smart and held the money in my hand and told him that I gave him $20.00 so that he needed to give me $17.00 back.
He had some nerve trying to trick me. It was obvious as he didn't apologize, he just said, here and offered me the money very slowly like he was sorry to part with it. What a friggin %$&BLEEP&^%!!!! This Mexican bunghole and his ugly wife is located right next to the parking structure on 1216 Santee Row. Beware if you see him, his neighbors sells luggage and bags. If it weren't for the fact I was so hot and tired that day, I would've made some sarcastic remark to him after I got my money back. Douchebag! So be careful with some of these people, I'm sure he's not the only sneaky person in the area who try to cheat people who aren't paying attention.
Despite the lack of nice things there, I will go back again out of sheer curiosity. I will definitely go back during the week though next time I visit L.A.
Cool place to score deals on things like prom dresses, accessories, designer knock off purses/wallets/etc., shoes, clothes. Don't forget to test your bargaining skills. Lots of treasures waiting to be discovered, and even if you don't find anything you like it's a fun and bustling place to walk around anyway.
Definitely bring cash like everyone recommends, both for shopping and for parking the garages.
p.s.
I get a kick out of seeing the "CHANNEL" and "VERSAGE" tshirts.
Sorry, I went with an open mind and a hungry tummy for the bacon wrapped hotdog...but....
All this stuff is crap, unless I want a knock off Christian Audigier or Ed Hardy douche bag t-shirt or some out of date Levis.
I did buy some sunglasses 5 for $20 (the same pair sells for $15/pair in the mall)
I had the hotdog....which I then slopped on my shirt... so I paid 50cents to use the washroom but there were no hand towels so I was out of luck for a clean up. I would have paid a pretty penny for a tide-to-go stick but sadley no one sells those.
I am not sure why a person would go to the Alley but do what you will!
Went to Santee Alley with boyfriend in tow on Saturday. We had a BLAST!!! Great place for a cheap, fun date. He was resistant at first - thinking I was dragging him to a mall - but what a surprise he had. He bought more than I did. I think the guy is addicted to tube socks! He had to look at them in EVERY store. He also realy got into the hunt - helng me find a backpack purse to replace my old one. He's even planning out return trip!.
Great people watching, delicious bacon wrapped giant hot dogs and surprisingly not too crowded on a Saturday. Guess the recession is hurting everyone.
I've gotta' wonder though - whats up with all the giant bummed manniquins?? We also saw several with enormous boobs that looked like they had previously "worked" a peep show display window.
Bring: lots of quarters for parking, comfortable shoes, nothing larger than $20 bills, your patience.
Have a blast like we did!
"One word about this place.....CRAZY!!!!!!!
To your average suburbanite like me, this place will scare the living daylights out of you when you first encounter it. The first time I came here, I really kept on patting my pockets to make sure that my wallet was still there. But after I got used to the place, i actually developed a liking to the place. Aside from your typical knock-offs, you can find just about almost anything here. Some interesting finds that we have found here include:
-A collection of penis and vagina shaped lighters for $2
-A autographed picture of Jill Whelan (the funny looking little girl who played Vicki on the Love Boat). Which was surprisingly selling for $25
-A funny booth called "The Mexican Massager", which was some guy giving scary massages to people screaming out in pain. Only for $7 a session.
Another interesting site were all the little Latino guys who would come out of nowhere and display all their pirated DVD's of still in the movie theater movies on the ground.
Getting to Santee Alley can be hard, especially when it comes to parking. The weekends here are super crowded, but even the weekdays are pretty bad. Overall, a pretty cool place to experience in L.A., as long as you always keep a watch on all your surroundings."
Took my best friend here yesterday to show them what santee alley look like versus our regular Beverly Hills type.
They were astounded by the difference.
Of course they bought some nice stuff there and it's always packed.
I always spend my time there when I visit my customers, so I kinda know where to go and what to look for.
Parking down there is somewhat ok, but week end it's carzy there.
You can find some nice knock off stuff not to name everything, but you knoww.....
This is a place you can't really explain easily...it's so big, fun, kinda skeevy, and totally LA all wrapped into one place. (If that's what LA is...)
You'll find clothing, accessories, housewares-you name it-at rock bottom prices. You'll be smart to come on a Sunday (early, no parking meters to feed, park on the street for free) and wander through the place comparing things and checking out prices. Bring cash in smallish bills as they like to haggle-and will. Dress totally comfy and casual, it's not happened to me, but I can see it as pickpocket's wet dream...keep your stuff close.
Huge mix of people so it's fun to watch them. I scored an Indian skirt for 2 bucks that I saw the night before at the import shop on the Promenade for 45-, so deals are there! I don't know if there are restrooms and I haven't tried the food, so just be careful. (It really IS AN ALLEY, it's stinky and has trash in it) If you need a knockoff bag, wallet, sunglasses or watch-find it here! (good ones too!)
Jeez. I hate coming here, but my husband loves it.
Whenever I ask him to take me to the fabric/notion shops, he says "Only if we get to go to Santee Alley too!" It's knock-off city in there.
I do love those bacon-wrapped hotdogs though. Word of caution: Sometimes my stomach flipflops until the next day after eating one. The best vendor is the lady in front of the Maple Crafts store. I suffer a little less.
Wow, how have I lived in L.A. over 5 years and never been to Santee Alley?? I think my "friends" have been trying to hide it from me to keep the deals for themselves!
I.love.this.place! It was like Forever 21, H&M, Claire's, and other trendy-for-cheap places exploded in a few blocks Downtown. It's eBay on the street! I am not ashamed to say that I love a good bargain and hate spending a lot of money on trendy clothing. For those reasons I felt like a kid in a candy store when I was there.
The alley itself has tons of stuff: clothes, shoes, purses, luggage, jewelry, electronics, music, movies, lingerie (though I don't know I'd buy that unless you plan to make a follow-up trip to the gyno), etc. The clothing shopowners seem to be regular readers of Vogue and Bazaar because it seems like they had knockoffs of everything found in the latest issues. I'll be styling like Beyonce in no time and for 1/25 of the price.
I found street parking easily. I went on a weekday and it was crowded, so I can only imagine what it's like on a weekend. There are great discount shops on 11th and 12th, as well. After a while, the merchandise starts to repeat in the various shops, so don't feel like you have to walk the whole shopping radius. As others have stated repeatedly, come with cash. If you bring credit, you may not get the best deals or you may be able to purchase at all. This is not the place to be living off your credit. If you get thirsty or hungry, there are street vendors galore selling snacks, fruits and beverages.
Whichever Yelper said to go to Melrose, find out what's in style, and then buy it on Santee Alley was spot on.
I had no idea such a place existed in L.A. But, now that I do, I'll be a regular visitor, Downtown location and all.
I think everyone has been here and I am a regular here. I love going there for any clothing, clubwear, shoes, accessories. You have to bring cash, they accept credit cards but they also have ATMs there, so don't panic!
You can always haggle them to lower the price, trust me they want to sell it but act like they can't let it go for that price, and if you have a pretty face man...hands down you're going to get that deal! *remember her last haggle & is satisfied*
The fruit freshly cut and seasoned with salt, lemon and chili powder is good on a hot day. The bacon wrapped hot dogs are great for like what...$2 bucks or so!!! *f**k wienerswitzel & it's couch!*
Come here with a lot of time and patience cuz you will see a lot of the same things but observe and browse carefully. And don't expect them to give your money back, only exchange.
Happy Hunting!
Lots of cheap stuff for low prices but then again, it's all fake stuff so I wouldn't say it's that great of a deal. In a somewhat ghetto area.
this place can be awesome if you're with someone who has been here before and isn't intimidated by the crowds, merchants, and location. if you're coming with a bunch of noobs, you're gonna end up with a two star experience like the other greens on here.
The Alley, you either hate it or love it...
A place I avoid on the weekends, I go early in the mornings to stay far away from the crowd. The crowd I don't like...they annoy me; standing still in the middle of the walkway for no reason, the pushing crowd thinking they own this part of town....the crowd I never will be part of.
The Alley has some good spots for great deals,when I go I know what I want where to get it and that's it. I do the Ally 'In and Out' style.
Park your car a little bit away from the Alley, it's a couple of bucks cheaper and don't forget to pick up a 'Alley Dog' on your way out.
I feel sorry for the people that never get to enjoy life?
Ha so joking but Santee Alley is almost an icon of Downtown Los Angeles!
Its like you walked into TJ. how freakin awesome is that?
I love that word awesome ha!
It smells? hell yes, its crowded? oh ya! but its fantastic!
I send every tourist down that alley i mean the rent per square foot is more expensive then rodeo drive! WOW!
yes full of counter fit products but isn't cannel street in ny the same?
its the perfect place to grab to go socks, sunglasses, white tees and ladies forget forever 21 go shopping there thats where they get all there stuff anyway and trick is if you pay cash almost all the stores won't charge you tax!!!!!
I am all for santee alley!
I've been here twice already, and still I have much, much more to see and many, many more streets to go through. I consider Fashion District Santee Alley and I consider Santee Alley Fashion District. I guess its because its all intertwined with one another, or.. Santee Alley is within the Fashion District. However you wanna put it, this place is wonderful! I've never seen such cheap clothing before!! Theres tons and tons of people walking down these streets, but just as many stores, so one will never be too crowded. I see decent shirts going for $6.99! Something you'll basically never find in the city of San Francisco. I heard you can bargain here as well, but I haven't done that myself. Seriously.. this place would take days and days to go through if you really wanted to see it inch for inch. And because everything is so cheap, with many cute items to be found, you can end up spending lots of money. But you get your bang for the buck here for sure! The people are usually pretty nice here too (I've only encountered one rude salesperson). The only down side to this place would be there extremely ghetto fitting rooms. See for yourself ;)
P.S. And this may be shocking, but I've been to a couple of stores that DO TAKE CREDIT CARDS! 90%+ of them don't however. I'm not surprised.
This is the ultimate ... you can find shoes for literally, 1 dollar per shoe (flip flops)... The quality tends to be a bit on the lower side, but if you're just looking for a few cute pieces or some accessories and need to spend next to nothing... this is the place. Definitely splurge on some parking though... it defeats the whole purpose if you score a 5 dollar top and then get a 75.00 parking ticket.
NEGATIVE A MILLION STARS!!
There I was.. actually perusing this alley just to see what people were buying these days. Then got drawn to a pair of cute $10 boots.. gee only 10 bucks.. well hmmm what are they made out of? who cares there cute.. well i care since they could hurt or get worn out fast.. then i take a step back and look around and realize the horror that surrounds me. Fake everything.. material, goods, food, promises and lies.. This is the epicenter of everything that's wrong with American's economic sense.
I see low income families throwing money away on this and that.. only to come back again and again. It's like playing the lotto but you don't even expect that much back! These kinds of places are what's killing our planet and numbing our minds.
There is a reason why it's 10 bucks and not because it's fashion.. because it meant to appeal to your consumerism self.. that part of you that wants instant gratification!
Stop the Madness!
street hot dogs, sketchy illegal DVD sales, overpriced clothing at some stores, some okay priced stores, luggage, accessories, contacts, shoes, socks, and hats. Moral of the story: You need to BARGAIN BARGAIN BARGAIN...!
this was a big waste of time.. i felt like i was in some weird alley section of mexico city..
there are tons of people, tons of hoochie stores with $3 shirts and $15 shoes with lucite heels and of course, those nasty ass greasy hot dogs i keep smelling all over LA
all stores close at 6 and good luck getting back to the freeway if you don't know your way out of here
****Update 05/08: Took mom and sis here on a cloudy Saturday and realized I had never actually been in "the alley", I had only been on Santee St! You don't get nearly as many deals on the street itself so look for the yellow sign somewhere in between 11th and 12th St. and then you will hit the real-deal-Holyfield; purses, jewelry, shoes, DVDs -- so hard to walk away from an Iron Man rip! All laid right out in the open. Each store had its own music blasting so your ears were assaulted with indie-Mexican and R&B left, right, front and back. It was absolutely packed and reminded my mom of Mexico. I have to fall in love a little bit more with my city each time I have such a unique experience. So not LA, but yes, so very much so.*******
OK OK OK, I know it's wrong! (you know what I am talking about)
To walk down that street, find the perfect purse (you know what I'm talking about) and haggle it down, even a few dollars. It feels so good, especially when you are at work one day and this very obvious soccer mom freaks out because she loves loves loves your purse and wonders how much you spent on such a fine looking Gucci bag. (hee hee, I'll never tell mama)
Purses aren't the only things here with good deals. Sunglasses, dresses, shoes, jewelry, DVDs (although I would be careful as to the quality of those-- some are handheld camcorder recordings) -- they even have a food court with some decent fare.
Get out, get on that street and spend a lovely day outside. Enjoy the flea market-like atmosphere. Get yourself a *ahem* Fendi bag and watch the drool from all the ladies you pass by.
I know it's wrong, but it feels so right.
Sucks that I found out about this place so late in the game. Me and my husband went here on a whim last Saturday and came back to SD with bags and bags of clothes and other bullshit! I got 5 pairs of skinny jeans that were like $10/pair in several different colors and a Chavo del Ocho shirt that I'm all excited about...lol.
Dress comfortably and hold onto your wallet/purse like your life depends on it...trust me. This place gets mighty crowded.
Just check out the pictures I got of vendors getting arrested for selling fake sunglasses, place is crowded as hell, she loads of undercover investigators and cops....dirty, but satisfying if you were looking for something specific like I was....cheap hats to embroider on!
I did see some $20 chuck taylors, didn't get them, feared they may be fake (probably was for that price)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Women's Clothing
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Shoe Stores
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Fashion
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Women's Clothing
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