Economy

Local Business & Economy

The health of independent businesses, storefronts, and local jobs.

Why it matters here

Storefronts create street life; local businesses keep money and character in the city.

Where this matters

Pacific OceanSanta Monica PierSanta Monica BeachDowntown Santa MonicaThird Street PromenadeMain StreetMontana AvenueSanta Monica Airport AreaSanta Monica CollegePalisades ParkReed ParkMemorial ParkVirginia Avenue ParkAirport ParkCivic CenterOcean ParkPico NeighborhoodMid-CityNorth of MontanaWilshire / MontanaSunset ParkNortheast Santa MonicaDowntown ResidentialMajor CorridorsE Line Stations

Santa Monica Pier

The wooden pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue — amusement park, fishing deck, aquarium, and the city's most recognized image.

What we love:
The Pier · The Ocean & Beach · Sunsets
Key issues:
Public Safety · Tourism · Maintenance & Cleanliness
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Downtown Santa Monica

The dense core between the freeway and the ocean — offices, apartments, hotels, shopping, and the E Line terminus.

What we love:
Walkability · Restaurants & Cafés · Local Businesses
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Housing · Public Safety
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Third Street Promenade

Three car-free blocks of shopping, street performance, and public gathering between Wilshire and Broadway.

What we love:
Walkability · Public Spaces · Arts & Culture
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Public Safety · Public Space
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Main Street

A low-scale commercial street from Pico to the Venice border, lined with independent shops, cafés, and restaurants.

What we love:
Local Businesses · Restaurants & Cafés · Walkability
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Parking · Transportation
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Montana Avenue

A tree-lined shopping street from about 7th to 17th, mixing boutiques, cafés, and neighborhood services.

What we love:
Local Businesses · Trees & Landscape · Walkability
Key issues:
Local Business & Economy · Parking · Transportation
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Santa Monica College

A community college with a main campus on Pico and satellite campuses across the city, known for transfer, arts, and workforce programs.

What we love:
Education · Diversity · Arts & Culture
Key issues:
Education · Housing · Transportation
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Pico Neighborhood

One of the city's most historically rooted and diverse neighborhoods, centered along Pico Boulevard east of Lincoln.

What we love:
Community · Diversity · Historic Places
Key issues:
Housing · Development · Environment
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Major Corridors

Wilshire, Santa Monica, Colorado, Olympic, Pico, Ocean, and Lincoln — the streets that carry the city and connect it to the region.

What we love:
Local Businesses · Bikes & Paths · Walkability
Key issues:
Transportation · Public Safety · Infrastructure
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What we value

  • Independent shops
  • Walkable retail streets
  • Local jobs

Improving something shouldn't mean losing what people already love about it.

Challenges

  • Vacancies (community concern — not verified data)
  • Rents and operating costs (community concern — not verified data)
  • Online competition (community concern — not verified data)

Ideas & opportunities

  • Pop-ups in vacant spaces
  • Markets and street events
  • Small-business support

Related projects

No projects or initiatives have been linked to Local Business & Economy yet.