The weekend's LA Times focused on a study to draw more tourists to Leimert Park, Thai Town and Little Armenia. What do the "SAVE LEIMERT PARK" folks, who oppose change and growth, think about this idea for the depressed business climate of the Village?

At least one business owner here would love some more customers.

"It would be absolutely great to have more cultural tourists down here," said James Fugate, co-owner of Eso Won Books in Leimert Park. "They would help the area a tremendous amount."

Fugate said his business has plunged by 50% since he moved his store from La Brea and Rodeo Avenues last October because of rising rents.

Leimert Park is more affordable, he said, but a tad "lonely" when it comes to foot traffic, he said.

Uncommon L.A. aims to increase visitors by touting Leimert Park's performance art — jazz at World Stage, blues at Babe's and Ricky's Inn, and hip-hop at KAOS Network. But whether that will help boost business for area merchants is uncertain, mainly because performances usually don't start until 9 p.m., long after vendors selling African American jewelry, clothing, art and other artifacts close shop.

"Most tourists from other cities tend to see only a small part of L.A. — Disney Hall, Griffith Park … " said Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, chair of the UCLA urban planning department, who helped launch Uncommon L.A. "But there is a whole vibrant part of Los Angeles they're missing: all of our ethnic neighborhoods. If we can help make them more visible, we see this as a model for economic development," she said.

Ethnic neighborhoods may be of particular interest to repeat visitors who already have seen the region's major landmarks, said Michael McDowell of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Half of the 25 million tourists who visit Los Angeles annually are from the San Diego-San Francisco-Phoenix triangle, he said, and probably are familiar with the region.