RESTAURANT—Popular Palm Chain Planning 2002 Debut Next to Staples Center

0

Make way for steaks and hoops.

In another step toward remaking downtown L.A. into a vibrant nightspot, the Palm restaurant chain has announced plans to open a high-end eatery across from Staples Center.

The restaurant, whose West Hollywood location is renowned for large, pricey portions and a slew of celebrity clients, could be open by early next year, in time for the inaugural Pac 10 Basketball Tournament in early March (and, presumably, the Lakers post-season).

The 400-seat eatery will be housed in an historic brick building that was one of the first car showrooms in Los Angeles when it opened in 1919 at 11th and Flower streets. The Palm, a small chain of privately owned American steakhouses, started in New York in 1926. It was lured downtown by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the historic building as well as Staples Center.

Developers plan to turn the surrounding 27-acre area into a major sports and entertainment complex. The Staples II project is designed to include a 7,000-seat theater, a 1,200-room hotel, a second hotel and two apartment towers. The Palm plans to invest $2.8 million in setting up the restaurant. Anschutz Entertainment will make some landlord improvements in exchange for a percentage of gross sales.

No posts to display