Groceries Apparel Expands LA Space in Move to Alameda Square

Eco-fashionbrand Groceries Apparel is on a growth spurt.

Itwas announced Nov. 5 that the brand will more than double the size of itsoffice and manufacturing facility when it moves next week into a33,000-square-foot space at Alameda Square, amanufacturing, creative office and retail campus on the corner of South Alamedaand East Seventh streets in downtown Los Angeles. Groceries signed a five-yearlease with Alameda Square developer Evoq PropertiesInc.

Forthe past year, Groceries Apparel has maintained a 14,000-square-foot office andmanufacturing space at 421 Colyton St., which is less than a mile north fromthe Alameda Square space, said Matthew Boelk, co-owner of Groceries Apparel,which he co-founded in January 2010.

“Thiswill be a big move for us,” Boelk said. “It will enable us to supply the demandwe created.” For 2012, he forecast his company will report sales of $4.5million. In 2013, he forecasts the company will earn sales of $10million to $15 million. Groceries anticipates it will double the number of itsemployees to more than 60 people in 2013.

Boelkco-owns his company with Robert Lohman and his father, Gary Lohman. They makefashion basics for men and women out of organic materials such as hemp, organiccotton and recycled plastic. Groceries aims to make clothes at a James Perse quality but at an American Apparel price, Boelk said. The clothes have been soldat Los Angeles–area boutiques such as General Quarters, Kitson and PlanetBlue.

Last month, Evoqannounced that Splendid and Ella Moss will move their corporate headquarters to the 1.4million-square-foot Alameda Square campus in Spring 2013. American Apparel Inc.maintains its headquarters on the Alameda Square campus, where it occupies halfof the campus’ space. —Andrew Asch