If you look hard, downtown Claremont is still true to its funky college town roots. The prestigious Claremont Colleges and all their offerings are still next door. Landmarks like the Folk Music Center and Rhino Records still have big followings. And newer additions, like The Claremont Packing House featuring a eclectic collection of stores and restaurants like Three forks Chop House (an upscale "Cal-Montana" steakhouse), and Hip Kitty (An intimate fondue and cocktail lounge showcasing live jazz music nightly), help keep hipsters happy.
The recent village expansion has once again made Claremont a vacation destination with funky boutiques like American Apparel, Too Blonde, and Isabella Dees Clothing, Hip restaurants like Kazama Sushi, and The Pita Pit, Casa 425 and the Laemmle Theater have brought a new chic crowd to the Village.
Now, high-end lofts have been added to this neo-swanky environment. Many are loft condos built above new buildings or as separate town-homes, like the Village Walk homes that recently sold out. The Claremont Packing House, which opened last year, is a huge historic industrial building that was transformed into shops, restaurants, and live-work lofts! The live-work rental lofts feature big, vertical volumes and vintage architecture. If you are looking for an authentic loft experience in a spare-me-nothing yet classy environment, these will be hard to beat.
Links
The Claremont Packing House - www.claremontpackinghouse.com
City of Claremont - www.ci.claremont.ca.us
Claremont Chamber of Commerce - www.claremontchamber.org
