FIRE! ON FAIRFAX. FROM ASHES TO...?
Last week, I posted a short video to TikTok showing the aftermath of a terrible fire the night before that had destroyed two vacant storefronts on a notably deserted stretch of Fairfax. The smell of smoke was so intense from a mile away that it woke me up from a dream and had me thinking that my own apartment was up in flames. With surrounding fog, the lingering scent of smoke and a blaring alarm echoing from inside one of the units, my daily commute looked like an apocalyptic scene straight out of The Purge.
According to reports, the fire spread from the historic Diamond Bakery, moving through the attic to an old jewelry shop next door that I can't even recall the last time was open. For context, Diamond Bakery had been a Fairfax landmark since it opened in 1946. In 1969, it was sold to two couples who met in Auschwitz in 1944 before being liberated by Allied Forces. The bakery ultimately closed its doors last December, citing the challenges of keeping business alive on a dying street. Both the bakery and the equally fire-ravaged jeweler next door, epitomize the “Fairfax is Dead” movement. The destruction is poignant metaphor for the evolution of modern cities in a post-pandemic world that puts profits over human lives.
Within just 24 hours of posting the clip to TikTok, the video had over 100 thousand views and 500 comments. I started Fairfax is Dead to spark conversation, and that’s exactly what has been happening. This one street has had and continues to have a massive impact on countless residents and visitors alike. Over 600 people have now commented, citing their frustrations along with their favorite Fairfax memories. Tons of people shared experiences from decades ago, naming iconic locals, shops and bars that you can’t even Google for further information. Teenagers, who can’t remember a time when things were much different, have found themselves engaging with Boomers and Gen X’ers reminiscing about their vibrant experiences in the 80s and 90s - which many consider to be the glory days of LA. And while opinions may vary on when exactly things peaked, almost everyone agrees that the once iconic street has been in decline for quite some time.
My personal memories of Fairfax and Melrose date back to the late 2000s when Bapestas were the hottest thing money could buy. Like many people, I used to equate Fairfax to Mecca for streetwear and street art subcultures. I remember watching people camp outside the Supreme store for their weekly drops, while interacting with the Odd Future crew that had just opened their first shop as teenagers. First time visitors now would be surprised to learn that the strip from Melrose to Beverly was once packed and inspiring. I even took my cousins there in 2014 when they visited from Italy, feeling a sense of responsibility to show them what many of us locals considered to be one of the coolest streets in the county.
Reading the comments on this TikTok is a crash course in sociology. It’s fascinating to watch how age, gender, race, and political affiliations all shape the conversations at large. To no surprise, politics play a significant role, reflecting the divided state of our nation. Both conservatives and liberals expressed frustration about the state of Fairfax and the city at large, but many conservative commenters blamed Democrats for the decline. This has sparked heated mini-discussions and even various kinds of hate, but it has also lead to a mic drop about the big picture - capitalistic corruption is driving the death of once-vibrant and unique cities like LA. Greedy landlords charge exorbitant rents for small spaces, leaving storefronts empty and boarded up for years, while only a few popular retailers—like fast-fashion store Dolls Kill—can survive. So, while the name is “Fairfax is Dead,” this isn’t just about one street in LA, this is about the macroenvironment at large. People are simply struggling to compete with rising costs and a world that favors corporate e-commerce behemoths like Amazon.
Aside from the few expected trolls in the comments, the overwhelming majority of commenters “get it” and want better for our city. Fairfax is Dead isn’t just a platform to complain. While it’s important to first shed light on the darkness and stir up some passion, my greater goal is to breathe life back into this community instead of letting the effects of hyper-capitalism tear us all apart. Like a phoenix from literal ashes, Fairfax absolutely has the potential to make a come back as one of the few happening, artistic and walkable streets in LA, similar to Larchmont Blvd, Main St in Santa Monica and Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake. While I’ve always appreciated the grunge of Fairfax and don’t want to watch it become a sanitized version of itself, I do want to watch it become a lively epicenter of artistic community once again.
With that said, I’ll be organizing an art show and fashion market at a longstanding gallery on Fairfax on December 15th to keep the conversation going. More details to follow. In the meantime, you can watch the TikTok here.
-SID
