You’re weighing a trip to Fairfax for AAPE and wondering if it’s worth circling for a meter or just heading to Melrose for the flagship. Here’s the straightforward version from someone who has opened enough fitting rooms to know when a line is real and when it’s Instagram. AAPE has a dedicated storefront at 443 N Fairfax Ave with posted hours of Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm and Sun 12–6 pm, and a phone line at (323) 847‑5049 for same‑day stock questions. If you want the main BAPE line instead, the BAPE STORE sits at 8810 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, open Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm and Sun 11 am–5 pm. That split sets the tone for price, crowds, and what to expect once you’re in the door.
On Fairfax, meters actually are still the easiest move if you time it right. The Beverly–Fairfax parking‑meter zone sits at $1.50 per hour, and enforcement windows are printed on each head. If you see a cluster of open spaces around 3 pm on a weekday, take the first one and walk. Melrose, on the other hand, has short‑run meters mixed with block‑by‑block restrictions, and the “quick in and out” stop turns into a crawl after 5 pm. When that happens, it’s often faster to park once on a side street south of Melrose, respect the posted time limit, and do your loop on foot.
Yes, and the gap is wide enough to plan around. AAPE graphic tees at retail commonly land in the $69–$95 bracket, and most hoodies and crewnecks settle between $139–$209, with some special zip styles reaching the $255–$305 ceiling. By contrast, BAPE’s Los Angeles shop prices its core men’s tees in the $125–$129 range, and hoodies routinely cross $500 for Shark and collaboration pieces. If you’re outfitting for school or building a rotation on a firm budget, start on Fairfax. If you’re chasing that full‑zip hood with the teeth and patchwork camo, you’ll find it around the corner in West Hollywood.
One practical note that affects returns and exchanges. AAPE’s online purchases can’t be returned in‑store at Fairfax; their site processes returns for web orders within a 30‑day window for store credit and deducts a $8 restocking fee. That difference matters if you are shopping a gift or thinking you might swap sizes. If you plan to try on, buying in person saves you the return‑mail back‑and‑forth entirely.
Pick by what you want to come home with. Fairfax is where you’ll find the AAPE storefront, smaller footprint, and racks that lean into seasonal graphics, Moonface marks, and accessible denim. The posted hours at 443 N Fairfax Ave are Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm and Sun 12–6 pm. Foot traffic spikes midday on weekends, but weekday late afternoons are often manageable if you watch the meter limits. The meters on this stretch run in a defined zone with a $1.50/hour city rate, which keeps your parking math simple while you shop and grab food at Canter’s or Jon & Vinny’s.
Melrose is home base for the mainline BAPE store at 8810 Melrose Ave, with hours Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm and Sun 11 am–5 pm. Expect higher price points, deeper footwear and collab walls, and a shop team that keeps sizes moving quickly during new drops. There’s metered parking along Melrose itself and a patchwork of two‑hour residential signs just off the boulevard; meter times and limits vary block to block, so check the pole before you lock up. If you’re stacking both stops in one run, save Melrose for last; lines there tend to linger later in the day, and you don’t want to be jogging back to a Fairfax meter on a two‑hour clock.
When AAPE opened on this stretch, it slotted into a lineup of streetwear names that made Fairfax the buy‑local answer to hype cycles. Today, it’s also the most direct way to get the brand in Los Angeles without relying on third‑party resellers. If you’ve got an eye on specific graphics or co‑branded pieces, call the shop at (323) 847‑5049 a few hours before you drive to confirm they’re on the floor; deliveries can shift what’s hanging by size and color.
Budgeting is straightforward. Tees hover between $69 and $95, with long sleeves reaching into the $95–$125 pocket. Sweatshirts fall into $139–$209 most days, with some zips and collabs cresting $255 or more. If you shop online first and plan to return by mail, keep the 30‑day credit‑only rule and the $8 restocking deduction in mind. And remember that web‑order returns don’t route through the Fairfax register, so you can’t hand them to staff in person.
Parking strategy is different here than on Melrose. The $1.50/hour meter rate in the Beverly–Fairfax zone is stable, and the posted hours are printed on each head. If you’re coming for a quick tee pickup, grab a meter outside AAPE, and you can be out and fed within the two‑hour cap. If you’re planning a three‑store loop, check the neighborhood time limits south of Beverly and walk in; towing and ticketing on Fairfax move fast when it’s busy.
If your goal is past‑season BAPE at outlet pricing and you can spare half a day, the Cabazon run pays off often enough to be part of your plan. The BAPE PIRATE STORE at Desert Hills Premium Outlets lists its storefront as 48650 Seminole Dr, Suite L‑1124, Cabazon, with posted mall hours running Mon–Sat 10 am–9 pm and Sun 10 am–8 pm. Parking at the outlet center is free in the main lots, and you can usually find a spot without circling if you avoid peak holiday weekends. Figure on a drive that can be as quick as a bit over an hour from central LA when traffic behaves, but leave 90 minutes or more if you’re crossing downtown in the late afternoon.
It’s an outlet concept, so stock changes and sizes thin out in popular items. You won’t find the AAPE Fairfax assortment there, and current‑season Melrose product is not guaranteed. What you will find, if you’re patient, is a rotating wall of BAPE staples with price tags that sit below flagship retail. If you’re considering Cabazon for a same‑day gift, call Melrose first; if they have what you want in your size, the extra fuel and time might not pencil out.
| Store | Neighborhood | Address | Hours | Typical prices | Parking note | Why stop |
| AAPE STORE LOS ANGELES | Fairfax District | 443 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles | Mon–Sat 11–7, Sun 12–6 | Tees $69–$95; sweats $139–$209 with some zips up to $305 | Beverly–Fairfax meters at $1.50/hour | Direct AAPE line, steady size runs, fast in‑and‑out errands |
| BAPE STORE LOS ANGELES | West Hollywood/Melrose | 8810 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood | Mon–Sat 11–7, Sun 11–5 | Tees $125–$129; many hoodies $500+ | Metered street parking and posted two‑hour side streets | Mainline BAPE, footwear and collabs on the wall |
| BAPE PIRATE STORE CABAZON | Cabazon/Desert Hills Premium Outlets | 48650 Seminole Dr, Suite L‑1124, Cabazon | Mon–Sat 10–9, Sun 10–8 | Outlet pricing on past‑season BAPE | Free outlet center parking | Deal hunting if you can spare a half‑day drive |
If you’re aiming for AAPE on a weekday, plan the meter at either end of lunch. Meters along Fairfax turn over fastest right around 11:00 am and again near 2:00 pm when people move their cars after a meal. The $1.50/hour rate keeps costs predictable, but the time limits are strict; put a reminder on your phone the minute you pay. Saturdays run heavier from late morning through mid‑afternoon. If you must go then, park once on a residential block within the posted time window south of Beverly and do your loop to AAPE, then up to Melrose if you’re doubling up.
For Melrose, the best play is to skip tight curbside meters in front of the flagship, especially after 5 pm. Look one or two blocks off Melrose, respect the two‑hour caps, and walk. If you’re headed to Cabazon, watch the clock in the opposite way: morning departures out of central LA make the 90‑minute mark realistic, while late‑day returns can bite into your evening with freeway slowdowns.
The AAPE storefront is at 443 N Fairfax Ave in the Fairfax District. Hours are Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm and Sun 12–6 pm, which lines up with the rest of the strip. If you want to check sizes or a specific graphic before you head over, call (323) 847‑5049.
AAPE tees usually cost $69–$95 and most hoodies and crewnecks sit around $139–$209. At the BAPE STORE on Melrose, core tees land around $125–$129 and many hoodies cross $500. If you’re value‑hunting under two hundred bucks, start on Fairfax.
No. AAPE handles web‑order returns through their site within 30 days for store credit and deducts a $8 restocking fee, and they do not accept online returns in the Fairfax shop. If you want the option to try and swap on the spot, buy in person.
Saturday afternoons get crowded, but you can still land a meter if you aim just before lunch or later in the day. Meters in the Beverly–Fairfax zone are $1.50/hour; time limits are enforced, so set a reminder. If you plan to hit multiple shops, park once off Beverly within posted limits and walk.
Here is the short way to choose. If your budget ceiling for a hoodie is around $200, go straight to Fairfax and work from AAPE outward. If you want mainline BAPE or a shot at more limited footwear, build Melrose into the same run and expect higher ticket totals. If you love the hunt and can spare the drive, pencil Cabazon for a separate day and keep your trunk clear.
Published: September 10, 2026 · Reviewed by the This Los Angeles editorial team