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| In 1930, the May Co depicted its store in a very modern way, but it erroneously showed the original Hamburger's building as six stories. |
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| A different newspaper image was more truthful, if less stylistic. |
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| This image of the May Co store shows the store's five- story frontage on 8th street, and the 1924 and 1929 additions on Hill Street. |
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Broadway, 8th & Hill
801 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
MAdison 6-3535
Street Floor
Costume Jewelry 22 • Fine Jewelry 725 • Authentic Jewelry 13 • Silver 48 • Fashion Accessories 19 • Handbags 26 • Hosiery 7 • Gloves 3 • Neckwear 58 • Cosmetics 0 • Fragances 100 • Toiletries 100 • Street Floor Blouses 31 • Street Floor Sweaters 31 • Street Floor Lingerie 28 • Boulevard Shoes 112 • Misses Casual Shoes 112 • Women’s Shoe Salon 51 • Red Cross Shoes 51 • Forecast Shoes 12 • Boulevard Sportswear 16 • Hat Bar 733 • Millinery 732 • Candy Center 78 • Stationery 66 • Office Machines 110 • Liquor-Wines 107 • Adult Leisure 50 • Camera Center 37 • Electronics 37 • Luggage 36 • Notions • Konditori Bakery • Books 68 • Mayflower Shop • Modern Market 108
Men’s Store Men’s Outerwear 21 • Men’s Clothing 21 • Men’s Sportswear 45 • Men’s Sport Shirts 84 • Men’s Furnishings 6 • Men’s Accessories 80 • Men’s Toiletries 0 • Men’s Jewelry 80 • Men’s Shoes 60 • Barrton Hall Shop 83 • Pace Shop 130 • Mike’s Place 176 • Mach Ten 83 • Adidas Sportswear 45 • Men’s Robes • Men’s Hats 8
Mezzanine-Broadway Side
Repair Center • Hearing Aid Center
Mezzanine-Hill St. Side
Tea Room and fountain
Second Floor
Fabric Center 5 • Patterns 59 • Art Needlework 40 • Sewing Center • The Marketplace • Fine Food Shop 108 • Beauty Salon • Sheets 34 • Bedding 41 • Towels 35 • Bath Shop 139 • Linens 30 • Boys’ Furnishings 23 • Boys’ Shop14 • Little Boys’ Shop 52 • Mike’s for Boys • Girls’ Shop 56 • Little Girls’ Shop 77 • Girls’ Lingerie 79 • Infants’ Shop 38 • Punch and Judy Shop 38 • Pre-Teens 90 • Deb Set 67 • Children’s Shoes 70 • World Travel Bureau
Third Floor
Misses’ Sportswear 72 • Sports Separates 101 • Better Blouses 39 • Better sweaters 39 • Misses’ Dresses 96 • Cosmopolitan Shop 96 • Boulevard Dressses 95 • Boulevard Coats 103 • Daytime Dresses 61 • Town & Travel 49 • Action Woman 76 • Large and Lovely 70, 85 • New Directions 171 • Contemporary Sportswear 102 • Forecast Shop 86 • Forecast Dresses 20 • Miss Forecast Shop 119 • Bride’s Shop 97 • Evening Shop 97 • Maternity Shop 105 • Misses’ Coats 27 • Misses’ Suits 65 • Fur Salon 47 • Young Signature Dresses 94 • Campus Shop 43 • Young Signature Coats 24 • Co-Ed Shop 55 • Loungewear 53 • Sleepwear 79 • Lingerie 28 • Day Lingerie 44 • Shape Shop • Jr. Lingerie 132
Fourth Floor
Housewares 33 • Small Electrical Appliances 74 • Gifts 82 • China 46 • Table Top 29 • Kitchen Furniture 87 • Televisions 722 • Radios 728 • Stereos 728 • Records 723 • Hardware 62 • Garden Shop 62 • Paint Center 87 • Cleaning Supplies 33 • Fireplace Equipment 87 • Pictures and Mirrors 75 • Artist’s Supplies 739 • Toys 42 • Luggage 36 • Sporting Goods 50 • Pet Shop 743
Fifth Floor
Bedroom Furniture 143 • Occasional Furniture 144 • Upholstered Furniture 35, 141 • Patio Furniture 146 • Accent Furniture 144 • Recliners 141 • Lamps 63 • Rugs 32 • Floor Coverings 32 • Sleep Equipment 145 • Curtains 113 • Draperies 11 • Major Appliances 74 • Vacuums 73 • Credit Office • Auditorium
Sixth Floor
Offices
Seventh Floor
Mayflower Roof Garden • Fur Restyling Salon •
Photo Reflex Studio
Street Floor
Mayflower Shop • Costume Jewelry 22 • Fine Jewelry 725 • Authentic Jewelry 13 • Silver 48 • Fashion Accessories 19 • Handbags 26 • Hosiery 7 • Gloves 3 • Neckwear 58 • Cosmetics 0 • Fragances 100 • Toiletries 100 • Street Floor Blouses 31 • Street Floor Sweaters 31 • Street Floor Lingerie 28 • Boulevard Shoes 112 • Misses Casual Shoes 112 • Women’s Shoe Salon 51 • Red Cross Shoes 51 • Forecast Shoes 12 • Boulevard Sportswear 16 • Hat Bar 733 • Millinery 732 • Candy Center 78 • Stationery 66 • Office Machines 110 • Liquor-Wines 107 • Adult Leisure 50 • Camera Center 37 • Electronics 37 • Notions • Konditori Bakery • Mayflower Shop • Modern Market 108 • Dorothy Thorpe Gift ShopMen’s Store Men’s Outerwear 21 • Men’s Clothing 21 • Men’s Sportswear 45 • Men’s Sport Shirts 84 • Men’s Furnishings 6 • Men’s Accessories 80 • Men’s Toiletries 0 • Men’s Jewelry 80 • Men’s Shoes 60 • Barrton Hall Shop 83 • Pace Shop 130 • Mike’s Place 176 • Mach Ten 83 • Adidas Sportswear 45 • Men’s Robes • Men’s Hats 8
Appliance Building
Major Appliances 74 • Vacuums 73 • Small Electrical Appliances 74 • Kitchen Furniture 87 • Patio Furniture 146 • Hardware 62 • Garden Shop 62 • Paint Center 87 • Cleaning Supplies 33 • Fireplace Equipment 87
Mezzanine
Books 68 • Beauty Salon • Repair Center • Hearing Aid Center • Optical
Second Floor
Misses’ Sportswear 72 • Sports Separates 101 • Better Blouses 39 • Better sweaters 39 • Misses’ Dresses 96 • Cosmopolitan Shop 96 • Boulevard Dressses 95 • Boulevard Coats 103 • Daytime Dresses 61 • Town & Travel 49 • Action Woman 76 • Large and Lovely 70, 85 • New Directions 171 • Contemporary Sportswear 102 • The Oval Room 86 • Forecast Dresses 20 • Miss Forecast Shop 119 • Bride’s Shop 97 • Evening Shop 97 • Maternity Shop 105 • Misses’ Coats 27 • Misses’ Suits 65 • Fur Salon 47 • Young Signature Dresses 94 • Campus Shop 43 • Young Signature Coats 24 • Co-Ed Shop 55 • Loungewear 53 • Sleepwear 79 • Lingerie 28 • Day Lingerie 44 • Shape Shop • Jr. Lingerie 132
Third Floor
Housewares 33 • Televisions 722 • Radios 728 • Stereos 728 • Records 723 • Fabric Center 5 • Patterns 59 • Art Needlework 40 • Sewing Center • Sheets 34 • Bedding 41 • Towels 35 • Bath Shop 139 • Linens 30 • Boys’ Furnishings 23 • Boys’ Shop14 • Little Boys’ Shop 52 • Mike’s for Boys • Girls’ Shop 56 • Little Girls’ Shop 77 • Girls’ Lingerie 79 • Infants’ Shop 38 • Punch and Judy Shop 38 • Pre-Teens 90 • Deb Set 67 • Children’s Shoes 70
Fourth Floor
Luggage 36 • Bedroom Furniture 143 • Occasional Furniture 144 • Upholstered Furniture 35, 141• Accent Furniture 144 • Recliners 141 • Gifts 82 • China 46 • Table Top 29 • Lamps 63 • Rugs 32 • Floor Coverings 32 • Sleep Equipment 145 • Curtains 113 • Draperies 11 • Pictures and Mirrors 75 • Artist’s Supplies 739 • Toys 42 • Luggage 36 • Sporting Goods 50 • Pet Shop 743
Fifth Floor
Wilshire Terrace Tea Room • Executive Offices
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| Wilshire 6051 Wilshire Blvd. at Fairfax September, 1939/1948 275,000 s.f. Wilshire Terrace Tea Room |
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| Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza October, 1947 266,000 s.f. The Snack Bar |
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| Lakewood 5100 Lakewood Blvd. February1952 347,000 s.f. The Lakeshore Room |
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| Laurel Valley Plaza, North Hollywood September, 1955 North Hollywood 452,000 s.f. The Plaza Room and Fountain |
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| West Covina Eastland September, 1957 342,000 s.f. Garden Tea Room and Fountain |
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| South Bay Hawthorne Blvd. at Artesia Redondo Beach February, 1959 351,000 s.f. Bayshore Tea Room and Fountain |
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| San Diego Mission Valley Center February, 1961 San Diego 376,000 s.f. The Mission Room |
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| Buena Park Buena Park Shopping Center Dale and La Palma August, 1963 249,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
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| Canoga Park Topanga Plaza February, 1964 251,000 s.f. Terrace Room |
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| West Los Angeles Westland Pico at Overland August,1964 251,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
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| Whittier The Quad August, 1965 248,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
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| Costa Mesa South Coast Plaza February, 1966 250,000 sq. ft. The Sumptuary |
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| Arcadia El Rancho Santa Anita August, 1966 251,000 sq. ft. Terrace Restaurant |
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| San Bernadino Inland Shopping Center September, 1966 204,000 sq. ft. Valencia Restaurant |
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| Montclair Plaza August,1968 156,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
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| Carlsbad Plaza Camino Real 1969 150,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
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| Oxnard The Esplanade November,1970 155,000 sq. ft. Maykro Danish Restaurant The Viking Room |
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| El Cajon Parkway Plaza September, 1972 115,000 sq. ft. |
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| Riverside Tyler Mall August, 1973 156,000 sq. ft. The Alpiner |
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| Eagle Rock Plaza 150,000 sq. ft. 1973 Gilhooly’s Irish Pub |
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Cerritos
Los Cerritos Center
"May Co. Fashion Place"
28,000 s.f.
April, 1974
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| Orange The City Santa Ana Freeway at Chapman May, 1974 150,000 s.f. The Homestead |
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| Westminster Mall August, 1974 150,000 sq. ft. Gilhooly’s Irish Pub |
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| Culver City Fox Hills Mall 1975 150,000 sq. ft. Gilhooly’s Irish Pub |
Brea Mall
August, 1977
150,000 sq. ft.
Gilhooly’s Irish Pub
Thousand Oaks
The Oaks
April, 1978
150,000 sq. ft.
Gilhooly’s Irish Pub
Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo Mall
April, 1979
150,000 sq. ft.
Gilhooly’s Irish Pub
La Jolla
Village Square
October, 1979
150,000 sq. ft.
The Fountain Room
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| Sherman Oaks Galleria October, 1980 The Orange Tree |
Coming in due course.
Several corrections to state: the Orange store originally opened as Walker-Scott (of San Diego) in 1970, and sold to May Co. in 1974. The Oxnard store opened in 1970, Sherman Oaks in 1980, and Palos Verdes in 1981. A store in Mission Viejo, which has identical architecture to the Thousand Oaks store opened in 1979 before La Jolla. Also, the Cerritos store was just a small apparel-only store called "The Fashion Place" at Los Cerritos Center. Its previous occupant was a branch of the San Francisco-based Roos-Atkins fashion store, which pulled out of the Southern California market about two years after opening here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Randy for the information. I really appreciate clarity on these items; from time to time, I only have sketchy information, or I make an error. So I have made the corrections you have offered.
ReplyDeleteI will cover the Orange store with Walker Scott, when that becomes possible.
Soon, I will be adding The Broadway. It is difficult to determine a store layout for The Broadway in downtown LA; I had to look at ads from the forties to determine how the departments were located in the store, and extrapolate from there; then I found an end-of-the-month sale ad indicating that by the time it was closed in the early 1970s, it was down to 3 floors and a home-furnishings basement.
I'd appreciate it if you could proof the exhibit for me when I post it.
I obtain the stores' opening dates from newspaper archives, including the Los Angels Times and Chicago Tribune (same ownership) from the dept. stores of those respective cities. Do you plan to do an exhibit of Wieboldt's from Chicago?
ReplyDeleteYes, Wieboldt's is coming. I don't have a lot of branch store illustrations, but I do have some. I'll put it in the next batch. I was lucky to have shopped at Wieboldt's; it was a good store.
ReplyDeleteThe downtown May Co. started as Hamburger's in 1881, acquired by the May Department Store Co. in 1923, and renamed May Co. California two years later
ReplyDeleteMay Company also had opened
ReplyDeleteMontebello - 1985
Moreno Valley - 1992. Last May Co store before the Robinsons-May merger.
Pasadena store opened in 1979 or 1980. Palm Desert opened in about 1983.
ReplyDeleteI worked for the Oxnard May Co, around the time it was becoming Rob-May, it was sad to see the name change and the whole environment changed as well. I also had the opportunity to close down the Wilshire Blvd May Co, that was quite an experience for me being in the original May dept store.
ReplyDeleteMay Co. branch opening dates:
ReplyDeleteWilshire - Sept. 7, 1939
Crenshaw - Oct. 10, 1947
Lakewood - Feb. 18, 1952
Valley/Laurel Plaza - Sept. 12, 1955
Eastland - Sept 16, 1957
South Bay - Feb. 9, 1959
San Diego - Feb. 20, 1961
Buena Park - Aug. 19, 1963
Topanga Plaza - Feb. 10, 1964
West LA/Westside Pavilion - Aug. 3, 1964
Whittier - Aug 2, 1965
South Coast Plaza - Feb 21, 1966
Arcadia - Aug, 8, 1966
San Bernardino - Sept 6, 1966
Montclair - Aug 5, 1968
Carlsbad - Feb 10, 1969
Oxnard - Nov 2, 1970
El Cajon - Sept 1, 1972
Riverside - Aug 20, 1973
Eagle Rock - Oct 1, 1973
Cerritos Fashion Place - Apr 1, 1974
The City (Orange) - April 29, 1974
Westminster - Aug 7, 1974
Fox Hills - Oct 4, 1975
Brea - Aug 17, 1977
Thousand Oaks - Apr 27, 1978
Mission Viejo - Apr 19, 1979
La Jolla - Oct 4, 1979
Pasadena Fashion Place - Aug 16, 1980
Sherman Oaks - Oct 2, 1980
National City @ Plaza Bonita - Mar 5, 1981
Palos Verdes - Aug 6, 1981
Palm Desert Town Center - Oct 4, 1982
Montebello - Sept 20, 1985
Escondido - Feb 13, 1986
7th Market Place in Downtown LA - Mar 13, 1986
Bakersfield @ Valley Plaza - Mar 17, 1988
Dear Sirs,
ReplyDeleteMy father, Faustino Lastra, recorded at your "downtown store" some poems in two small records on April 22, 1946 and the problem is that the said records are so damaged by age that their contents cannot be listed to at all.
Would there be a way to find the master recording for these poems and send them to me in Spain (in a pen drive for instance). My father passed away many years ago and this would be the only opportunity to keep a sample of his voice in our family records.
I would really appeciate what you could do for me on this occasion.
Yours sincerely,
José Luis Lastra.
My Email address: jllastra9@gmail.com
Madrid, Spain.
Can somebody tell me if there was a May store or Warehouse in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway that had candy making equipment. Around 1976 or 1977, the candy making equipment was sold to the Magic Fruit and Nut Company.
ReplyDeleteMichael there was a candy counter on the first floor of the May Co on Broadway. It is quite possible that there was candy making at the May Company itself also. I have a booklet circa 1908 titled "History of Hamburger's and Facts About the Great White Store" that lists a candy making factory on the sixth floor. Hamburgers was the Department store in that building before the May Company. BAK if you would like a copy of this in PDF form I'd be happy to send it on to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff: Can you please mail a copy to me at mkeith328@gmail.com..... Thanks Mike
DeleteDear Jeff:
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I would love to see it. I am presently compiling a brief history of The May Co in Los Angeles, and it would be a great help.
You may send the PDF to bakgraphics@comcast.net.
Thanks for your contributions, and thanks, as always, for visiting the site.
Bruce
Michael, they had a full candy kitchen at their Service Building on the corner of Jefferson and Grand on the 5th floor of the 46 building. When I first Started there in '72 it was in full operation,by the end '76 is was already dismantled. Sad to see it leave.
ReplyDeleteJeff is there any way that you can send me a copy of the PDF as well. Thanks Mike mkeith328@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBack in 1980, when I was a supervisor for the company-owned Hickory Farms of Ohio specialty food stores, we took advantage of the Christmas shopping season by negotiating with mall and department store managers for space to erect merchandised "kiosks" to sell product and take orders for shipping. I'll never forget my dealings with the downtown May Co.! It took much effort to convince the store manager that our little kiosks did quite well in these settings, and that we would bring to their customers a very popular seasonal gift option. After much negotiating, financially and otherwise, and after obtaining all the many permits required by the city and state, we were "allowed" to construct only 1/2 of our modular unit in a small space--so as not to take up much room. I had to trudge the unit into the closed store on a Saturday night and completely merchandise it for Sunday opening. I must say that unloading a van in the middle of the pulsating downtown area on a saturday night was quite interesting, and making my way through the cavernous and very dark department store was kind of creepy. The real kicker was that the kiosk did such a brisk business, that the management demanded that we come back on the following Saturday night and erect the second section of the kiosk and bring much more merchandise! I got to experience the whole thing a second time--not to mention getting to tear it down after New Year's.
ReplyDeleteWe both did well that season and got to do it every year until the big store finally, along with the other downtown shopping palaces, passed into history. Shopping today just doesn't have the same feeling that it once did. Thanks for this lovely site to revive old memories!
The Wilshire store had the stunning gold "turret" on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire. So Moderne! The Tea Room was all pink with huge white chandeliers. Sadly, when I would visit there in the 80's, there would be hardly any other customers.
ReplyDeleteBy the way there was a very cool store directly across the street--Ohrbach's. I remember, as a kid, seeing credits at the end of some TV shows: "fashions by Ohrbach's." They used to spell their name, in the 80's, as "Oh!rbach's'. Do you remember that?
I had Jester Christmas dolls from downtown Ohio. Do you have any records of these dolls? Any answer will be highly appreciated. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFeeling very nostalgic, and for some reason Googled MayCo Los Angeles. Happily came across this site. During the late 1960's and up until Christmas of 1972, we (my mother, brother, sister, and I) would take the number 4 bus east on Olympic to Hill Street, and Christmas shop at MayCo downtown, and at the other department stores as well. I seem to recall that Bullock's downtown had a fairly spectacular animated Christmas window display as well. Mall-shopping just doesn't measure up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for starting this site.
Is this the same May Co. That was also in Baltimore, MD?
ReplyDeleteThe stores were both divisions of the same May Company. When the May Co. bought The Hecht Co., the May Co. store took the name of the Hecht-May Co. until it became the main Hecht Co. store. It still stands in Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteBruce
Any history of J. E. Beaumont, who founded May Co. His daughter Vivian Beaumont Allen once lived in the house I grew up in. It is located in Amityville, Long Island, NY.
ReplyDeleteDo you know anything about a murder that was committed in the restaurant in the May Co. building on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles? Someone mentioned it to me today, but I had never heard of that.... do they mean Bullock's?
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see this website regarding May Company in downtown Los Angeles. I have for years been trying to find out about the delicious bakery on the street floor. As I remember as a kid it was facing towards the esclator heading down and next to the womens shoe department. They had the most delicious sprinkle cookies and the cute box with dots made it more memorable. Any info, Greatly appreciated:0
ReplyDeleteI worked for the May Dept. Stores after High School Graduation in 1955. I remember being hired at Xmas time as an extra employee and from that I landed a job as a full-time employee. I went into the Management training program or as it was called a Junior Executive position. I worked at the May Co. Crenshaw store until after I married and started a family. I managed the Ivy League Shop for awhile and then Men's Furnishings. $50.00 a week was not cutting it for me so I had to quit and make changes. I must say I made friends there that I still know to this very day. I loved working for the company and seeing the many stars that shopped in the store.
ReplyDeleteI worked for The Fountain Pen Shop in Downtown L. A. and we were able to contract the pen repairs for all the May Co. stores. The person I had to contact was the Stationery Department Buyer, her name was Tessie Goldwater, and she was a real "Bear". But we got along well, and had a very long relationship with the May Co.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a young child growing up in Montrose Ca. in the 60s & 70s, my mom use to take me to a May Co. somewhere in the Los Angeles area. I think it was attached to a mall. They had an ice skating rink that I would spend the day at while she shopped. I came across your site while telling my wife about the experience. Does anyone by chance know which store that would have been? I have been on the east coast for the last 30 years and cannot for the life of me remember which store that was. I do remember a lot of good memories at that store and that ice rink. Does anybody have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI just guided my family on a walking tour of Historic Downtown LA. My grandmother used to work at the May Co in the 30s. My mother was wondering where that building was, I wish I had found your website beforehand. This is an incredible collection you have here. Do you have modern pictures of these LA Department stores? It would be great to see, well depressing, to see what they look like now. If you don't I could accomodate, it would be fun!
ReplyDeleteI worked at may company on wilshire,Ther was a person who was murder there,it was a sales associate ,she was killed in the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother left me a May Co. fur over the shoulder. I'm intrested in knowing if there is an actual May CO Musuem? Is this something they would be intersted in displaying?
ReplyDeleteDurhamrl@hotmail.com
This is going to sound strange, but I was watching a rerun of the Brady Bunch the other day and it was the episode where Jan had to pay for the silver platter and they ended up singing on an amature show to raise the money for the engraving. In the beginning of the show, they showed a modified version of the May Company store as the department store Jan shopped at.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody have any information about the MayCo fashion awards? My Mother was a recipient in the 60's. She has long since past away and the statuette has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteTo Hoss25, the May Company that was attached to the Mall with the Ice Skating Rink was the one on Laurel Canyon in North Hollywood. The mall (and ice skating rink) were torn down after the Northridge earthquake. But the May Company building is still there, it is a Macy's now. It's a giant building but comparatively, very little of it is devoted to selling floor space.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info! I was wondering what had happened to it. I could not remember which location it was actually at. That would certainly make sense since we were living in North Hollywood at the time I believe . Of course I was a very small child then and memories fade...
DeleteWhat an interesting site! I am a theatrical costumer. I have a very dilapidated ladies hat from circa 1919. The lining says "Hamburgers, Los Angeles" beautifully embroidered in a vivid blue. Always curious re history, I just Googled Hamburgers and found this terrific site. Anyone have any info to impart or memories to share possibly re the 1920's or earlier years of the store?
ReplyDeleteThe May Co Crenshaw was use in the 1952 Bette Davis film 'The Star'.
ReplyDeleteI am doing the research for a book on a 1926 beauty contest that was held in Galveston, TX. One of the participants later went to work for May and Co. in Los Angeles in the 1940's.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if the company records were preserved? I also have several photos of her that were taken at the store and bear "The May Co. Los Angeles" embossing on them.
Thanks.