Location Hunting: How Upway Found the Perfect Spot for Its LA UpCenter
Written by: Marta Anadón Rosinach | March 11, 2025 | Time to read 5 min
As the House Hunters adage goes… “Location, location, location”. Here’s how Upway found the perfect spot for its recently opened LA UpCenter.
More about the Author: Marta Anadón Rosinach
Engineer by training, I spent years at Uber in Strategic Finance and Operations across Europe and the US. I led Upway's US launch—joining the funding team and scaling the e-Bike business. I'm also a proud mom of two toddler boys, a baby girl, and an energetic Dalmatian.
Upway recently closed the deal on its new UpCenter in Los Angeles after a fast-paced yet thorough search for the perfect location. Opening our doors in LA makes a home on the West Coast, in addition to Upway’s UpCenter in Brooklyn, New York and centers in various countries in Europe. But we didn’t just stumble upon the ideal spot for our latest UpCenter— I’ll explain how Upway found the right commercial real estate location in Los Angeles and important tips we’ve learned along the way.
LA’s commercial real estate market
Upway US has called our New York City UpCenter home for the past two years, but our West Coast search meant we had to become familiar with Los Angeles’ commercial real estate market. The market is highly professionalized, especially compared to New York, and we noticed the overall quality of available spaces tended to be higher.
The tight real estate market and high efficiency means that there are fewer arbitrage opportunities or, in other words, less room for bigger negotiations or under-the-radar deals. The professionalized market also means that tenant improvement allowances are standard in most contracts. These high standards made for a promising start to find a high-quality space for Upway’s newest e-Bike UpCenter.
Landlord landscape
It’s also important to understand the conditions regarding ownership of spaces and landlords in the area, and Los Angeles has its own qualities in this respect. First off, a significant percentage of available units are owned by large public or private investors. Smaller landlords, on the other hand, may not be as familiar with working with startups like Upway. This means startups can face a learning curve and negotiations can be a bit more complex, especially as it relates to deposits.
Larger landlords or investor-owned properties may desire tenants to handle the refurbishing— however, this isn’t as advantageous for smaller, fast moving companies who want to get started as soon as possible. While working with a local agent is valuable during the property search, the small pool of decision-makers in the real estate market may create conflicts of interest in finding the best deal.
Larger landlords or investor-owned properties may desire tenants to handle the refurbishing— however, this isn’t as advantageous for smaller, fast moving companies who want to get started as soon as possible. While working with a local agent is valuable during the property search, the small pool of decision-makers in the real estate market may create conflicts of interest in finding the best deal.
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Choosing the right location matters
Realtors’ favorite phrase, “Location, location, location” drives this point home, but it really is true that choosing the right location plays a huge role. Los Angeles is very large and diverse with distinct differences between areas. From South Bay to the Valley, including Downtown LA and Gardena, the commercial landscape offers a wide range of options.
Even within desirable areas, there are pockets of lower safety and operational challenges so careful selection is key to narrow in on the perfect spot. Additional considerations include proximity to high-quality talent, safety, and operational costs— even weather patterns can make a difference.
Even within desirable areas, there are pockets of lower safety and operational challenges so careful selection is key to narrow in on the perfect spot. Additional considerations include proximity to high-quality talent, safety, and operational costs— even weather patterns can make a difference.
Why Redondo Beach was the perfect fit for Upway
In the end, Upway sealed the deal on an amazing location in the Redondo Beach area. The location is conveniently close to talent hubs— it’s close to Inglewood and other hubs with high density of blue-collar talent as well as only a 20–30 minute drive from Culver City and beaches that may attract white-collar workers.
As is more common in California than in other places, the weather is ideal with moderate temperatures making it comfortable year-round. The Redondo Beach UpCenter is well-connected to the Interstate 405 freeway for easy logistics. Additionally, Redondo Beach stands out as one of the safest areas in the South Bay. Proximity to the beach and boardwalk area is perfect for cruising around on our favorite hybrid e-Bikes or step-thru models from Upway’s top brands!
As is more common in California than in other places, the weather is ideal with moderate temperatures making it comfortable year-round. The Redondo Beach UpCenter is well-connected to the Interstate 405 freeway for easy logistics. Additionally, Redondo Beach stands out as one of the safest areas in the South Bay. Proximity to the beach and boardwalk area is perfect for cruising around on our favorite hybrid e-Bikes or step-thru models from Upway’s top brands!
Finding the right landlord makes the difference
From the very beginning, our team recognized the importance of finding the right landlord for both short-term goals and opportunities for long-term growth. Building a long lasting relationship with a trustworthy landlord is key to sustainable success and can make or break goals. Throughout the entire process, Upway’s partnership with Rexford has been a game-changer— the partnership and communication is highly professional, transparent, and responsive.
Contract details to watch out for
Reading the fine print and keeping a vigilant eye open is crucial for successful real estate agreements. There can be hidden costs that aren’t so obvious initially, so, for example, it’s best to understand the full breakdown of CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges. In terms of zoning laws and permits, ensure your plans comply with local regulations and be aware of any environmental requirements tied to the property. Before sealing the deal, confirm general liability, excess liability, and property insurance obligations.
Key Takeaways
- Upway’s LA UpCenter Expands Coast-to-Coast: The launch of the LA UpCenter in Redondo Beach marks a major milestone in Upway’s U.S. expansion, solidifying its presence on both coasts and strengthening its role in the growing California e-Bike market.
- Boosting Sustainability: The LA UpCenter contributes to a more sustainable mobility industry. With over 7,500 e-Bikes already given a second life, Upway aims to refurbish 1 million bikes globally by 2035.
- Customer & Partner Benefits: The new location enables faster delivery, free trade-in pick-ups, and lower prices for West Coast customers, while also creating local jobs and strengthening partnerships with leading bike brands.
