American Apparel Commits to 10 More Years Downtown

American Apparel, the nation's largest clothing manufacturer, has committed to extend its current lease in its Warehouse District headquarters until 2019. Its occupation of an 800,000 sf, 8-story pink warehouse tower is the largest tenancy downtown, both by size and value. The landlord, Meruelo Maddux Properties, Downtown's largest lessor, filed for bankruptcy just four months ago. As their largest client, Meruelo Maddux would be in even greater trouble had the iconic clothing brand not decided to extend its lease.

American Apparel, whose previous lease ended in December of last year, had been scoping out possible replacement locations, including a former Boeing plant in Long Beach. According to LA Downtown News, the company's CEO was satisfied by renewed negotiations on behalf of Meruelo Maddux. Whether there were concessions made to terms or prices on the new lease remains unclear, and the extension has yet to be approved in bankruptcy court. The company, which was founded in 1989 and is now publicly traded, has been housed in its current location since 2000.

The site, located at 747 Warehouse St., is not only home to the company's factory, warehouse, and corporate headquarters, but also a retail store boasting the company's largest collection at reduced prices. The vertically-integrated company, which has taken a progressive, vocal stance on issues such as immigration reform and gay marriage, famously uses its advertisements to promote its message, including the unmistakable billboards that grace the large headquarters. As its own advertiser and marketer, the manufacturer has been enormously successful at creating and disseminating its brand, which includes the tagline Made in Downtown LA. "Made in the Industrial LBC" doesn't quite have the same ring.