Now, Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar wants to bring back Broadway.
Huizar proposed that the City study creating a pedestrian-friendly corridor with no vehicle traffic on Broadway between 1st and 12th streets.
The councilman says the area has already benefited from an economic development initiative called "Bringing Back Broadway," and the car-free concept would further enhance businesses.
Some visitors to the area are skeptical.
"I think they've got a lot of pedestrian aspects to it, but if you close down this street, it's just going to create more traffic and more problems for all the neighboring businesses as well," said Greg Valentine from Huntington Beach.
Dani Ardilla from Torrance was a little more receptive to the car-free concept.
"I think it would give more people time to actually see what's here, so they could visit everything. Yeah, I think it's a good idea," Ardilla.
Councilman Huizar says that under the "Bringing Back Broadway" initiative, nine of the twelve historic theaters are back in operation, either as theaters or for retail use.