If you’ve lived in this part of Los Angeles, you know the 99 Cent Only Store on Wilshire. For years, it was my reliable go-to—the kind of place where you knew exactly which aisle held that one oddly specific thing you needed. Walking back through those doors this week was a strange hit of nostalgia; the bones of the store are exactly as I remember…
but instead of the usual hum of retail, the space has been transformed into a massive, living installation.
Presented by The Hole, the entire store has become an “artist flea market” of sorts. While the walls are anchored by works from Barry McGee’s personal collection, the sheer scale of the project is what’s truly impressive. We’re talking about pieces from over two hundred friends of The Hole and artists, creating a community-driven “healing center” inside a carcass of LA consumerism.
The diversity of the art is incredible, but it’s the way it interacts with the space that really got me. Exploring the massive walk-in cooler—a place I’d seen from the outside for years—and looking back out at the empty store from that perspective was surreal. It’s gritty, vibrant, and surprisingly immersive.
It’s rare to find an experience that captures the “haunt” of a neighborhood’s history while filling it with such a chaotic, creative future. If you’re looking for something that feels uniquely Los Angeles, this is it.
The Details
• What: Free Exhibit – Barry McGee & Friends Art
• Where: 6121 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles The former 99 Cent Only Store
• When: Monday February 23rd to Sunday March 1st, noon – 6pm daily
• Website: thehole.com/exhibitions/la-barry-99cent
I’ve posted a walkthrough video so you can see the scale of the installation for yourself: