We live in this big old 5-story department store, that was cut up into apartments. 20 ft lofted ceilings are nice

But on the ground floor there is this sort of marketplace where people rent store areas (they're not walled in, it's sorta open, but more permanent than a flea market.) They sell all kinds of crap - cell phone accessories, knock off clothes and shoes, watches, quinceanera dresses (this is the Hispanic neighborhood), wedding cakes, you name it.
I went down there today to try and find some cheap electronic toys to circuit bend. One of the places has glass windows all around it and I peeked in. It's a recording studio, with a booth! Although I did some investigating and it's basically a hip-hop/rap place, where you pay your fee (I'm guessing like $100?) they lay down some beats and you rap over it. And they give you a burned CD-R and maybe the protools tracks at the end.
Not sure what they'd do if I schlepped all my guitar gear down there to play some fuzzy folk rock.
It wasn't open so I didn't talk to anyone.

