LOS ANGELES — In the heart of Chinatown, where the clang of the Metro Gold Line mingles with the scent of spices and freshly baked pastries, a quiet revolution is underway. Fiestic, a brand known for crafting immersive experiences, has acquired its latest location at 1231 N. Spring Street in the historic Capitol Milling Building — a site that whispers tales of Los Angeles’ industrial ascent.
Stepping inside, visitors find themselves enveloped in the raw beauty of history — weathered brick walls, timber beams aged by time, and vast open spaces that once buzzed with the rhythmic hum of grain grinding. This is not merely an office space for Fiestic. It is a declaration — a testament to the brand’s commitment to honoring tradition while sculpting the future.
A Legacy Built on Grain
The Capitol Milling Building’s story begins in 1838, when Abel Stearns, one of Los Angeles’ earliest entrepreneurs, established a humble flour mill here, powered by the Zanja Madre, the city’s first aqueduct. Over decades, the mill evolved under the stewardship of Jacob Loew, a prominent figure in the city’s Jewish community, whose family ran the mill until 1998 — making it the longest-running family-owned business in Los Angeles.
But the story did not end there. In the early 2000s, the Riboli family — themselves stewards of a Los Angeles legacy — saw potential in the aging complex. Known for their San Antonio Winery, a family business founded in 1917 by Santo Cambianica, the Ribolis transformed the mill into a vibrant hub of retail and dining, preserving its historic character.