Downtown LA is a different beast than it was ten years ago. Back in 2014, when the Ace Hotel Los Angeles first opened its heavy doors at the corner of 9th and Broadway, the neighborhood felt like it was finally, actually, truly turning a corner. You had the historic United Artists building—a 1927 Spanish Gothic masterpiece built for Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin—suddenly filled with people wearing expensive denim and drinking artisanal mezcal. It wasn't just a hotel. It was the flag planted in the ground for the "new" DTLA.
But things change.
If you’ve tried to book a room lately, you’ve probably noticed something is off. The Ace Hotel Los Angeles as we knew it officially closed its doors in early 2024. The building is still there, of course. You can’t exactly miss that "JESUS SAVES" sign glowing nearby or the intricate terra cotta fretwork of the theater. However, the partnership between the Ace brand and the building’s owners ended, leaving a massive hole in the cultural fabric of the Broadway Corridor. It’s a bummer, honestly.
The Rise of the United Artists Building
To understand why everyone obsessed over this place, you have to look at the bones of the building. This wasn't some cookie-cutter Marriott. The United Artists Theatre and its adjoining office tower were designed by C. Howard Crane. It was an architectural middle finger to the boring corporate styles of the time. We’re talking about a style often called "Spanish Gothic," but it’s really a fever dream of stone carvings, vaulted ceilings, and murals that make you feel like you’re in a cathedral dedicated to the gods of silent film.
When the Ace team moved in, they didn't gut it. That’s the key. They kept the grime and the glory. They worked with Commune Design to create interiors that felt lived-in, dusty, and sophisticated all at once. The lobby was always a bit dark. The elevators were slow. The concrete floors in the rooms were cold.
And yet, it worked perfectly.
You’d walk into the lobby and see a local freelance writer working on a screenplay next to a Japanese tourist and a musician who was performing at the theater that night. It was a communal hub. Most hotels say they want to be a "neighborhood living room." The Ace actually pulled it off without sounding like a corporate brochure.
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The Theater: A 1,600-Seat Time Capsule
The crown jewel of the Ace Hotel Los Angeles was always the theater. Honestly, if you never saw a show there, you missed out on one of the best acoustic and visual experiences in California. The ceiling is covered in thousands of tiny mirrors that catch the light, making it look like a shimmering disco-ball galaxy.
- It hosted the "A Public Being" talks.
- Spiritualized played there.
- The silhouettes of the Mary Pickford-era murals stared down at crowds watching indie film premieres.
The theater was more than just an amenity for guests. It was a revenue driver and a cultural magnet. Because the theater is technically a separate entity in many ways—often referred to now as the United Theater on Broadway—it has managed to outlive the hotel brand’s tenure in the building. It’s still hosting events, but the "vibe" of walking from a concert directly into a buzzing hotel bar is currently in a state of flux.
Why Did It Close?
The question everyone asks is: Why? If it was so cool and so iconic, why did the Ace Hotel Los Angeles leave?
The answer is a mix of boring real estate math and the harsh reality of post-pandemic Los Angeles. The building is owned by a real estate investment group, and the Ace group was the operator. Reports indicate that the owners decided to pivot toward a more "limited service" model or perhaps a different management structure to save on the high overhead costs of running a lifestyle boutique hotel.
Let's be real: DTLA has struggled. The recovery from 2020 has been slower in the Historic Core than in places like the Arts District. Between the rise of remote work leaving office buildings empty and the persistent challenges of homelessness and public safety on Broadway, the foot traffic shifted. The Ace thrived on a specific type of density—people walking between shops like Acne Studios and Tanner Goods. When those shops started seeing less action, the hotel felt the pressure.
It’s also worth noting that the Ace Hotel Group itself has undergone massive changes. After the passing of co-founder Alex Calderwood years ago, the brand has been navigating a new era of hospitality. Sometimes, the math just doesn’t track anymore.
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What it Feels Like There Now
If you walk by 933 South Broadway today, the ghost of the Ace is still visible. The signage has changed, and the hotel has been rebranded as STILE Downtown Los Angeles by Kasa.
It’s a bit different now. Kasa is known for a more tech-forward, "hands-off" approach. You might not find the same level of curated, high-touch service or that specific "Ace" energy at the front desk. It functions more like a high-end apartment-hotel hybrid. You still get the room with the concrete walls and the big windows. You still get the view of the Eastern Columbia building’s turquoise clock tower. But the soul of the place—the curated vinyl collections in the rooms and the specific scent of the lobby—has shifted.
The rooftop bar, formerly "Upstairs," was legendary. It was the place to be for a sunset drink. It felt like a Moroccan riad dropped onto a Los Angeles skyscraper. While the space is still accessible under new management, locals still refer to it as "the Ace roof." Habits die hard.
Where to Go Instead
If you were a die-hard fan of the Ace Hotel Los Angeles and you’re looking for that same hit of design-heavy, culturally relevant hospitality in DTLA, you have a few spots to check out. None of them are exact replicas, but they carry the torch.
- The Proper Hotel: Located just a few blocks away, this is the current heavyweight champion. Designed by Kelly Wearstler, it is stunning. It’s more expensive than the Ace was, but it has that same "converted historic building" DNA.
- The Hoxton: Right across the street from the old Ace. It’s younger, slightly smaller rooms, but the lobby is constantly buzzing. It’s probably the closest thing to the Ace's social atmosphere left in the neighborhood.
- Hotel Figueroa: A classic. It has a feminist history and a killer pool. It feels like "old LA" without being stuffy.
The Legacy of the 9th and Broadway Corner
The Ace Hotel Los Angeles didn't just provide beds; it proved that people were willing to go to Downtown for something other than a Lakers game or a court date. It sparked the renovation of the surrounding blocks. Without the Ace, you probably don't get the Apple Store in the Tower Theatre or the dozens of restaurants that popped up in the vicinity.
It was a catalyst.
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Even though the brand is gone, the United Artists building remains one of the most important structures in the city. It has survived the decline of the theater district, the transition to the "jewelry district," and the various waves of gentrification. It’s a survivor.
Moving Forward: How to Visit DTLA Now
If you’re planning a trip to the area formerly anchored by the Ace, don’t let the rebranding scare you off. The neighborhood is still dense with incredible food and architecture.
- Eat at Orsa & Winston: It’s Michelin-starred and nearby. It represents the high-end culinary shift of the area.
- Walk the Broadway Corridor: Look up. The architecture above the first floor is some of the best in the United States.
- Check the Theater Schedule: The United Theater on Broadway is still booking incredible acts. Seeing a show there is a non-negotiable LA experience.
- The Rooftop is Still There: You can still get a drink and look at that view. The view hasn't changed, even if the name on the door has.
The era of the Ace Hotel Los Angeles was a specific moment in time. It was the "cool" era of the 2010s, defined by Pendleton blankets and record players in hotel rooms. While we’ve moved into a new chapter of Los Angeles history, the impact of that hotel stays. It taught us how to love Downtown again.
If you want to experience the building, book a night at the rebranded STILE or grab a ticket for a show at the theater. Just don't expect it to be 2014 again. The city has moved on, and in a weird way, that’s exactly what Los Angeles is supposed to do.
Keep your eyes on the theater's marquee. That is where the heart of the building still beats. Broadway is changing, but as long as those mirrors in the theater ceiling are reflecting light, the spirit of what the Ace started isn't completely dead. It’s just evolving into whatever is coming next for DTLA.