 |
| 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. |
 |
| A different newspaper image was more truthful, if less stylistic. |
 | |
|
 |
| 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. |
 | |
|
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
 |
| Wilshire 6051 Wilshire Blvd. at Fairfax September, 1939/1948 275,000 s.f. Wilshire Terrace Tea Room |
 |
| Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza October, 1947 266,000 s.f. The Snack Bar |
 |
| Lakewood 5100 Lakewood Blvd. February1952 347,000 s.f. The Lakeshore Room |
 |
| Laurel Valley Plaza, North Hollywood September, 1955 North Hollywood 452,000 s.f. The Plaza Room and Fountain |
 |
| West Covina Eastland September, 1957 342,000 s.f. Garden Tea Room and Fountain |
 |
| South Bay Hawthorne Blvd. at Artesia Redondo Beach February, 1959 351,000 s.f. Bayshore Tea Room and Fountain |
 |
| San Diego Mission Valley Center February, 1961 San Diego 376,000 s.f. The Mission Room |
 |
| Buena Park Buena Park Shopping Center Dale and La Palma August, 1963 249,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
 |
| Canoga Park Topanga Plaza February, 1964 251,000 s.f. Terrace Room |
 |
| West Los Angeles Westland Pico at Overland August,1964 251,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
 |
| Whittier The Quad August, 1965 248,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
 |
| Costa Mesa South Coast Plaza February, 1966 250,000 sq. ft. The Sumptuary |
 |
| Arcadia El Rancho Santa Anita August, 1966 251,000 sq. ft. Terrace Restaurant |
 |
| San Bernadino Inland Shopping Center September, 1966 204,000 sq. ft. Valencia Restaurant |
 |
| Montclair Plaza August,1968 156,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
 |
| Carlsbad Plaza Camino Real 1969 150,000 sq. ft. Terrace Room |
 |
| Oxnard The Esplanade November,1970 155,000 sq. ft. Maykro Danish Restaurant The Viking Room |
 |
| El Cajon Parkway Plaza September, 1972 115,000 sq. ft. |
 |
| Riverside Tyler Mall August, 1973 156,000 sq. ft. The Alpiner |
 |
| Eagle Rock Plaza 150,000 sq. ft. 1973 Gilhooly’s Irish Pub |
 |
Cerritos
Los Cerritos Center
"May Co. Fashion Place"
28,000 s.f.
April, 1974
|
 |
| Orange The City Santa Ana Freeway at Chapman May, 1974 150,000 s.f. The Homestead |
 |
| Westminster Mall August, 1974 150,000 sq. ft. Gilhooly’s Irish Pub |
 |
| 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
 |
| 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.
ReplyDeleteI was the Asst. Mgr. in the Candy Dept. around 1971/72 at May Co. Wilshire@Fairfax & got to see the candy operation in the service building & ask questions. Loved the Catalina Mints!
DeleteHenry, do you have any idea where one could find the recipe (or company) for the chocolate cream filled eggs?
DeleteJeff 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.
ReplyDeleteTessie was my great aunt and tough as nails but when it came to her family she was a gentle soul what an amazing person she was
DeleteWhen 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?
ReplyDeletePretty sure that was in the Valley Plaza (North Hollywood) mall. I barely remember, but I do believe there was an ice rink in that mall for some time.
DeleteI 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.
I got pictures of the earthquake damage to May Co. Whittier nobody has ever seen . My Grandmother took them.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous25 May, 2017 16:05
DeleteHi, I wonder if you could help. I heard a rumor that there was a flood in the May Co building, downtown Los Angeles, sometime during the 1970's and sharks were supposedly swimming in the basement. Is there any truth to this?
There are no records of this or of a flood in the May Building in the 1970's. It is used as 'evidence' of a prophecy made 15- 20 years earlier however no evidence exist. The full prophecy is that part of Los Angeles will fall into the sea. This has been reduced over the years to a flood with sharks in the May building.
DeleteWhen we lived in Los Angeles, as a little girl our clothes shopping was at May Co, Crenshaw. Our Christmas shopping was alway a thrill because there was the "hugest" lighted Santa Claus and reindeer attached to the side of the building...It was spectaclular and my sister and I LOVED going there during Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteI have a vintage Christmas box 5"x2-1/2"x2-3/4"D
I'll bet there are no others. I'd like to know what, if any,it's worth? Write back to janie@wwdb.org
Another poster mentioned that the last May Company to open as a "new" store was Moreno Valley in 1992.
ReplyDeleteI believe the last "new" store to open as May Company was the location in Santa Clarita, located in the newly opened (at the time) Valencia Town Center.
The Santa Clarita location opened in September 1992. The location was expanded once as Robinsons-May, and expanded again as Macy's.
As far as new built from the ground up locations, Temecula (as Robinsons-May) opened in August 1999, and in 2002, Irvine opened as a "test" location with a smaller two story format. Irvine was the last "new" Robinsons-May location to open before Macy's acquired the chain.
The last two Robinsons-Mays that opened before the Macy's acquisition were at Simi Valley Town Center and Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga.
ReplyDeleteRandy,
ReplyDeleteOMG...How could have I forgotten those two locations? Ironically, I'm in Simi Valley slutting around frequently and pass by the location often. I must have had too much alcohol at that late hour as I wrote my thoughts, and the brain waves were asleep...lol
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
I work in a museum and it has been said that May Co. purchased human remains- Native American to be specific. Is this true?
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what happened to the beautiful women's bathroom on the second floor of the Downtown Los Angeles location? The first floor is an abomination with swap meet stalls. Please tell me that art deco gem is still in tact.
ReplyDeleteJust came across this great site while Googling my old hang out Fox Hills Mall. Besides waiting for the bus outside of May Co my mom and I frequently shopped their, and at The Broadway too. I have a deep-rooted fascination with L.A. history and my dream is to open a museum and research center(ala The Getty Center) dedicated to every single person, place and thing that helped make L.A.
ReplyDeleteHello, thank you for the great site and shared memories. I, too, have fond memories shopping with my grandmother, her sister, my mother and cousins- when it was appropriate to "dress for downtown" complete with patent-leather shoes, gloves, and hair- and we would literally spend an entire day there. I feel exceptionally fortunate to still use a bedroom set purchased by my great-great grandmother, with original "May Co 1905" labels still on their backs. I know that she had the set shipped to her to San Bernardino, California, but don't know from where. I also wish that there was a May Co Museum. Thanks again, Karen H.
ReplyDeleteI am 60. When I was about 8 or 9 years old my mother did not drive, but she took me to downtown Los Angeles from Los Feliz often on the MTA bus to all the department stores. She would leave me with the two kindly gentlemen that had the stamp and coin concession in May Co. I spent many an hour looking through the shoe box full of foreign coins, and making my small purchase, listening to them speak of geography, history, and art.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that memory. I find it fascinating, and it speaks of the nature of our lives when you and I were growing up. These gentlemen were kind and trustworthy, and you were open-minded enough to receive the knowledge they were willing to share. It was, sadly, another and vastly different era, one we'd do well to examine for its good qualities, unfortunately (for humanity) lost in the fog of .time.- Bruce
ReplyDeleteDear sir, where can I get information on old pictures that came from the Pictures & Mirror Dear sir, where can I get information on old pictures that came from the Pictures & Mirror Dept., Third Floor. Circled, written number on back: 3617. Painter, not sure. PHA? Beautiful scenery: landscape, trees with running stream, sunset. Church and little house in background . Where can I find information? Could you help? Sincerely, Fawn
ReplyDeleteAll I can do is publish your request. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the topic than me could help you find more information.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
I worked for May Co. for 23 years, first in stock and sales in the Laurel Plaza store #5 and then after the executive training classes as an Operations manager in their Riverside store and then as Manager of their Methods & Systems department in the Downtown location. Really enjoyed this site.
ReplyDeleteBeginning research on the May Company's Famous Barr store. Specifically, the Southtown branch, which opened in August of 1951 in St Louis Mo. It was the second branch store and was designed by Noel Leslie Flint. The store closed in the summer of 1992 and demolition began in November of 1994. l spent the first 40 years of my life- literally within the shadows of the quaint essential structure that towered over the intersection of Kingshighway & Chippewa in the southwest sector of the city. Met an employee there that became my wife and began building my collection of 45rpm hits out the 3rd floor record department. Even "gained access" to the abandoned structure before it came down. From it's rounded façade, laced in smooth sandstone- like a cigar band above the main entrance- to those gleaming display counters and the aromas that drifted over the midways it was a shopping experience like none other. Any help or guidance regarding in-depth research efforts would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMIKE
For those who may not be aware, the May Co Wilshire location was purchased by the LA Co. Museum of Art (which it adjoins) several years ago. LACMA sold it to the Motion Picture Academy, which is completely re-doing the interior to create the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, scheduled to open in 2017. Currently there is a joint costume exhibit with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London on the ground floor, to run through early March 2015. I attended yesterday and recommend it. I grew up shopping in various May Co stores, and remember shopping at this one several times before it closed. Nice to know the building will have a great future, still tied to the history of Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteDo you know the name of the restaurant on the 3rd floor of the May co in Whittier way back when? Thank you
ReplyDeleteWhere they are known, the names of the restaurants in branch department stores are listed below their picture in italic. The original name of the Whittier Restaurant was The Terrace Room. It may have been changed in a renovation later, but that was the original name as advertised in the newspaper at the time of opening.
ReplyDelete- Bruce
I have a history with the May Company/Downtown Los Angeles. My father, Richard Bleistine Faranow (1924-1984) was first in advertising after WWII, left to work in Michigan for the L.H. Fields Company, and then returned to the May Company L.A. in 1956 where he worked until 1965 as a Buyer of Women's Daytime Dresses in the basement. I literally grew up in that store. He took me to work with him and I would sit all day and amuse myself with a typewriter, pretending that I could type. He would take me on breaks to the Jewish deli across the street and I would visit with his cronies and became very comfortable in that environment. I would say that I wanted to work for the May Company when I grew up. After high school graduation in 1970, my first full time job was indeed working for the May Company as a typist in the credit department where I started in August of 1970. After three months, I was moved to the Bank Check department, where we processed returned checks. I even went to court as a representative for the store on a collection case at the ripe old age of 18! The following May, I was promoted to Secretary and worked on the mezzanine in Corporate Personnel. The office was right next to the snack bar/fountain, outside the Tea Room. I worked for Ann J. Williamson, in charge of Special Programs, and Larry C. Davis, the Wage and Salary Administrator. It was a wonderful environment: lunches in the Tea Room made by Chef Christian Rasmussen; Seeing the store decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving; Watching people stampede up the escalators at month end sales. There was positively everything in that store: an engraver, tobacco shop, millinery shop, jewelry, juice bar, shoe repair, appliances, toys, furniture - there was no need to shop elsewhere! I transferred to the Voucher Office which handled the part time pool of "floaters" during the Christmas season 1972. The store would send 400 people to training, and those that failed out of training would be paid off in little cash packets that came from payroll on the 2nd floor. In February of 1973, I was being promoted to Employment Manager at the Arcadia Store when another opportunity came my way that was closer to home, more money, more benefits....all sounded good, but it was a disaster from day one. I eventually went to work in local government, where I retired from after 25 years of full time work. I remember my time at the May Company, both as a child and as an employee, with the greatest affection. The window displays at Christmas were positively magical. I was also there during the 1971 earthquake, and the damage to the store was significant. Older elevators were uncovered and elevator operators were once again employed. Employees used the back staircase, and the wall between the second and third floor was completely gone! Most of the picture windows were covered over following the earthquake. Again, the May Company was a big part of my young life and I miss it dearly. Marie Faranow Delgadillo, Diamond Bar, Ca
ReplyDeleteHi, Nice story. My dad was the millinery (women's hats) buyer, for The May Co. downtown L.A. in the late 40's, 50s and I think the 60's too. He might have known your dad. cool.
DeleteHow would you go about finding personal that worked at May Co in Montclair CA in the 80's? During 1983 - 1985, I am trying to find some people that worked there.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Montclair May Co during that time and probably know people you're looking for. BTW, are you Brenda from Security?
DeleteBefore my graduation from the University of Washington in 1973, I interviewed with a Mr. Parker from the MayCo Executive Personnel Department. It was the first time that the MayCo had held interviews at the UofW. I was the first one selected for their Executive Training Program. The MayCo flew me down to Los Angeles for an additional meeting and eventually mailed me a formal letter offering me a position as an Executive Trainee.
ReplyDeleteI moved to Anaheim, California, just a few blocks away from the Buena Park, MayCo store. I was assigned to the huge, Lakewood MayCo store. I worked in the women's RTW area and Mrs. Dorothy Hopper was my training supervisor.
After 6 months of training I received a raise and was promoted to the position of Department Manager. I was the only male ready to wear manager in the entire Los Angeles Division. As I recall there were 31 stores at the time. It was fantastic being the only male manager! I was then promoted to Assistant Shoe Buyer and then to Assistant Buyer in the Ladies Sportswear Division. As I recall, the Los Angeles Division of the MayCo at that time was generating approximately $379 million in sales at that time.
My fondest memories of the MayCo are the great people that I worked with. The stores were beautiful. The retail training was excellent. The MayCo prepared me for a very successful retail and wholesale future. It was a great time in my life.
may company had an art gallery on the 3rd floor on Crenshaw and king. Their were photos of an Indiana tribe. I swear the queen/chief looked like my grand mother. At that time I could not get a sales person up stair and just let it went I wish I would have took the picture to the cashier. Those were the good old day.
ReplyDeleteWhat happen to the gallery pictures that was displayed in 1982 to 1986. On Crenshaw and martin Luther King Blvd.?
ReplyDeleteI am seeking information regarding photographs (of individuals) or photo studio at The May Co. Los Angeles. Would the negatives have been archived somewhere? Destroyed?? I'm actually just trying to date an older family photo and there is a letter & numbers (in pencil) on the back of the photo with stamped instructions to mention them when reordering. It also says the negative of this photograph will be kept on file [with The May Co. Los Angeles, Calif] I'm guessing photo to be circa early 1940's...; but actually hoping it is dated much earlier than that. It would be an awesome find if I can date this pic to 1923/24. (Probably only wishful thinking, I'm fighting what I already believe is a 1940's photograph)
ReplyDeleteWas there a May Co. in Century City Calif.?
ReplyDeleteAn earlier commenter asked about a murder at one of the May Co. stores, and I remember it very well. It was in 1989. An elderly man shot his wife, and then himself in the fifth floor restaurant. The wife was with her card-playing friends (poker, canasta, bridge, whatever.) I was told by a friend policeman who was among the first to answer the call that the couple were recently separated. He approached the table, asked if she would take him back. She said "no" and he shot her, then himself. There's an old L.A.Times article that briefly confirms the facts of this story.http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-21/news/mn-2605_1_elderly-man-shot-mid-wilshire-shot-several-times
ReplyDeleteSanta Barbara, Calif. has what may have been a 60s May Co. store:
ReplyDeleteIn 2012 I was up there (hometown of Katy Perry and YouTuber Miranda Sings!) and what looked like a 60s May Co. a la the examples shown was there, same inside. Honolulu Hawaii which I visited in 2009, 2012 and 2013 via cruise ship also had an apparent former May Co,60s store. Architecture gave it away.:) No sites mention it.....(All of these were through cruising by ship)
I am not aware of a May Co store in either location, and I have searched the LA Times far and wide to get an accurate list of stores up until 1980. Liberty House of Hawaii had a large store in the Ala Moana center that could pass for one of the May Co's 1960s stores, and that is probably what you saw. Santa Barbara is more difficult to explain; perhaps it was the same architect designing for another company?
ReplyDelete-Bruce.
Santa Barbara location was most likely a Robinson's location that later became a Rob-May location.
DeleteYes, the Robinson's La Cumbre Plaza store. Opened in 1967. Design much like the San Diego Fashion Valley store.
DeleteHmm. Could be. BTW the little nameplace underneath the COSTA MESA/SOUTH COAST one says CANOGA PARK, whis is the TOPANGA one.,.therefore the COSTA MESA's picture should have Costa Mesa underneath its picture....Steve
ReplyDeleteOr maybe Santa Barba had a sister store of May Co. as probaly Hawaii did...anyway..maybe it WAS the same designer. Albert C.Martin Co. designed so many of those great May Co.stores in each era...and the Bakersfield Broadway store illustrated on the Broadway entry of this site looks a lot like the era's May.Co stores.
ReplyDeleteHere in Whittier, home of the August 1965-1987 May Co. and the Broadway, 1961, at Whittwood which still stands now as a Sears,
uptown there is a Streamline-Modern parking garage which looks a lot like the Wishire and a few other May Co.'s stores I went in and out of the bathroom and on the builders plaque WHO should I see but A.C.Martin and Co. I KNEW there was a reason that the parking garage (just north of Philadelphia) resembled a 1940-1952 May.Co.!
I hope you can help me, or point me in the right direction ...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, in the early '70's, my dad used to go to the May Company in downtown L.A. It had a book department. My brothers and I received many books, but the ones I remember best were a very thick compilation of fairy tales, nursery rhymes, children's poetry, and fables; and another, similar (probably same publisher) with sections on insects, reptiles, mammals, dog and cat breeds, world languages. Neither my older brother nor I ever forgot those books (we wore them out, alas), and we often wish we could replace them, but have no idea of the publisher. Did The May Company have their own publishing house? I recently discovered fairy tale illustrations by Walter Crane, and I recognized some of them as being included in my book.
I would very much appreciate any help anyone can offer. Thank you.
Really, the best I can do is to put it out there in case someone else remembers them. I assume you have tried amazon and ebay searches for the genre: I have had a lot of success acquiring old books I had in the past. Good luck!
ReplyDelete- Bruce
What a discovery! Thank you, Bruce, for this website! Such memories! I worked for May Co.--first Whittier, then Costa Mesa, then opened Fox Hills (as part of the original department management staff), and finally downtown in the buying offices--from 1972 to 1977. And shopped at MOST of the others. It was sad to see the decline in the quality of the shopping experience as sales staffs were cut from the levels of the mid-70s. I opened Men's Sportwear at Fox Hills with a staff of 8 or 9 regular staffers, and was glad to move to the buying offices a couple of years later when my sales had grown significantly, but my staff had been cut in half, with "floaters" staffing the floor much of the time. Of course, this was happening everywhere, and today it's unusual to find much if any knowledgeable staff at any of the current dept. stores. Self-sevice all the way! I love being reminded of the good old days at stores like May Co., Bullock's and Robinson's!
ReplyDeleteI don't see any reference to the May Co. that opened in late 1989 at the Northridge Fashion Center on southwest wing of the mall. Also a Robinson's had opened on the northwest wing of the mall as well. Later on they were rebranded to Robinsons-May and eventually consolidated into one store in the southwest location; which is now the Macy's Men's and Home store.
ReplyDeleteIn general, the exhibits here focus on the period prior to 1980, before so many department stores became homogenized. The list of branches is not meant to be comprehensive.
Delete- Bruce
Northridge was store 39. The location was totally destroyed in the 94 Northridge earthquake.
DeleteThis website is a blast from the past .... as a former buying exec for May from from Jan 1986 thru the last day of the May Dept Stores July 31, 2006. My first store opening ...Store 37 Escondido until the end.....good people for the most part. So Cal dept stores have gone by the way of the dinosaur.
DeleteI know that the Wiltshire/Fairfax store opened in 1939, but when did the expansion occur that gave the store additional square footage as they built northward? It must've been sometime in the early 1940s. Anyone know?
ReplyDelete(Worked there in the 1970s)
--Bob
I just read that the expansion was added to the building in 1946. Now that the building is the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, their website mentioned that the 1946 addition was removed, ostensibly to provide more room for the modern construction.
DeleteHi, I wonder if you could help. I heard a rumor that there was a flood in the May Co building, downtown Los Angeles, sometime during the 1970's and sharks were supposedly swimming in the basement. Is there any truth to this?
ReplyDeleteI have hear the same rumour...
ReplyDelete"Hi, I wonder if you could help. I heard a rumor that there was a flood in the May Co building, downtown Los Angeles, sometime during the 1970's and sharks were supposedly swimming in the basement. Is there any truth to this?"
There is no reference to a flood or sharks at the May Co. in the Los Angeles Times archives. It was probably an urban legend around the time of the popularity of the film "Jaws."
ReplyDeletePlease, did the sharks swimed in the May co basement during California earthquake? Did the water came till the May co in downtown Los Angeles? Please let me know
ReplyDeleteYes there were sharks swimming in the may buildings basement this was confirmed by a worker there at that time a memo was sent to all workers to stay out of the basement due to sharks swimming there.
DeleteNO. Nos sharks, no flood on record.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the San Fernando Valley. We would drive through Laurel or Coldwater Canyon to go shopping at the Wilshire store. (I also remember eating deep fried halibut at Van de Kamps.) We switched to Laurel Plaza when that store opened.
I am mainly writing for information on the May Co. Mints. They came in dark or milk chocolate or pastels. They were in a long box about 12” long x 3” wide and 2” high. They were May Company Mints. They chocolate was very thick. So thick, you could eat out the center of the mint and then eat the chocolate! We bought them at least every holiday and my great aunt always had them in her house in Encino. We saved the boxes and used them to store jewelry, etc.
Does anyone have the patent for these mints? Can I buy them somewhere? They were the best mint patties I have ever tasted. They were about 1/2” thick.
Hi, Grammy, I definitely remember these mint patties. My dad loved them. They were called Catalina Mints. Would love to know if anyone still makes them.
ReplyDeleteOmg, I've been looking for information about the Catalina mints for years. My mom always had a box or two of them in her freezer. They were the absolute best. God I miss those things
DeleteMe too. They were wonderful with the thick chocolate covering on top and the mint filling had just the right amount of flavor. They were perfection. Hopefully they are still being produced.
DeleteYour California May Co. stores sound very similar to the ones here in
ReplyDeleteNorthern Ohio. I was fascinated by the Bette Davis film, "The Star,"
since that department store looked exactly like the one that opened
here in Lorain, in 1953. The M. O'Neil stores in Akron, were set up
exactly as described by this site manager, including the bakery shop.
Do I have to tell you how incredible those Bavarian pastries, and fresh
cream puffs tasted?! They also had a restaurant on the first floor, just
behind the bookshop and bakery. Their b.l.t. club sandwiches, and banana
cream pies defied description! Thanks so much for this site, and allowing us to share our memories. Those department stores were a vital part of our lives, and a high point in American culture.
Dave
Hello, I stumbled across this forum when doing research on an oil painting from the 1950's created on an old The May Co canvas panel. I now know that the artist purchased it on the 4th floor of one of the Los Angeles area May Company department stores! Reading some of the comments brought back fond memories of my mother taking me to the store in Whittier. She used to buy my clothes there and we used to eat in The Terrace Room restaurant. When I was a senior at La Serna High School I worked as a security guard at The Quad (1979-80) right after they built the enclosed portion of the mall. I happen to be visiting my mom when the earthquake hit at around 7:30-8:00am in 1987. The talk of the town was that it was a blessing that the May Co had closed since employees would have been arriving for work at that time and they had parked their cars in the parking structure which got leveled. One Rio Hondo college student got killed if my memory serves me correctly. The Quad is nothing like it used to be...now it's just a strip mall with no anchor stores...and, of course, there's a Starbuck's there.
ReplyDeleteI have an old book with a sticker inside that says "Property of the May Co." and another rubber stamp that says "May Co. Circulating Library" I wonder if it's from the original store?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who the manager of the downtown store was in 1959?
ReplyDeleteHELLO ...I FOUND A SMALL GIFT WRAPPING AND BOX ..THE TOP AND BOTTOM AND THE TOP WITH THE LABEL "BULLOCK'S. IT HAS SOME CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS ....WOULD ANYONE KNOW IF HAVING THE BOX INTACT AND THE ORNAMENTS BE WORTH ANYTHING AT ALL.....THANKS
ReplyDeleteHi There - I'm looking for pictures inside of the Eagle Rock Plaza May Company for a piece I am writing. Any help would be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteIn 1971, I became an Executive Trainee at the San Diego May Company.
ReplyDeleteIn 1972, I opened the El Cajon store as the Department Manager of Towels, Bedding, Linen, Draperies, and The Bath Shop.
In 1974, I became an Assistant Buyer in Towels & Linen in the big downtown Corporate store on Hill Street.
In 1975, I became the Divisional Sales Manager of Household Goods at the Crenshaw store.
That is where I met my May Company demise, as I was constantly at odds with the General Manager, and I was in way over my head as a DSM.
At the San Diego store, I picked up the tradition of writing my name on the stock room wall as an Assistant Department Manager. I continued this tradition at the El Cajon store as the first Department Manager. I was fascinated by the labyrinthian corporate headquarters, and I used to spend much of my time exploring the higher floors. I was amazed to find the phone operators working in a little house on the roof. I found seclusion and solitude in the boneyard of mannequins. And I used to have fun racing the elevator down the stairs, leaping from landing to landing, and then watching the shocked looks of those who had entered on the higher floors as they saw me calmly walking by when they exited.
I made some great friends during these years, and it was while trying to track down a few of those that I came across this great site. I remained good friends with my mentor, Harry Cohen (buyer of towels and linen,) who passed away, but I lost track of people like Jim Harrigan, Irene Bowers, and others. If anyone was around back then, I would love to hear from you.
I was a trainer for May Co in the early 80's, eventually supporting every store from Oxnard to Pasadena along the east side of LA. Laurel Plaza had been remade as the "flagship" store in that era; there was still a bomb shelter underneath that store where they stored MREs, blankets, and other emergency supplies in the event of a nuclear attack. The shelter was very well equipped with a small "chapel" as well as a medical room and equipment to provide first aid/conduct examinations. Thanks for this site as it reminded me of the early days of my career. :)
ReplyDeleteThere was also a very nice bar downstairs that i got 86d from, for giving drinks to a dept manager i had huuge crush on, think it was around 1983, good times, i was part of the dock crew.
DeleteMy first job was in 1947 when I was 15 at the May Company on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire. I worked for a few weeks in the lingerie department. The job didn't last long. I was let go because I lacked a work permit that required I be 16. Two weeks before I turned 16 I was let go. That day I sold more lingerie than anyone else in the department. As I recall I sold about $125 of lingerie. I also recall that my paycheck was all of $3.50 for the 8 hour day. The minimum wage at the time was 50 cents an hour and the pay check reflected deductions for Social Security. For a 15 year old high school student $3.50 was a lot of money but certainly not so good for someone who had to support a family.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what candy company made the catalina mints offered in either dark or milk chocolate.
ReplyDeleteWas there a “Tea Room” where they had fashion shows in the Pico Blvd store? I was on the Teen Board in 1965 or 1966. I thought I was at the Wilshire store, but my friend insists we were at the Pico store! We did a fashion store in a Tea Room!
ReplyDeleteWould anyone happen to know the name of the architect(s) of the 1963-1966 stores, such as the Buena Park location? They appear to resemble the works of William Pereira, who I am also curious to know if he also designed The Broadway in Cerritos.
ReplyDeleteQUESTION
ReplyDeleteWAS THERE A FLOOD AROUND MAY COMPANY IN 1976 WHERE FISHES WERE SWIMMING IN IT?
DAMANOR@YAHOO.COM
My grandmother passed away a couple of years ago & in her things I found a 1948 Store Directorty booklet for Mayco.Wilshire, Wilshire & Fairfax.I also found my gradfathers 10 years of service letter signed by the chairman of the board for Bullocks Inc. 1962 Bullocks Los Angeles. 💕
ReplyDeleteGreat history and posts on May company California. My mom used take me to the Montebello Town Center location (now Macy’s ) when I was a baby.
ReplyDeleteI was What did the montebello store looked like on the inside and outside?
A little history on the May company at Montebello Town Center. It opened in 1985 as mentioned by the posters and website. The May company was one three original anchors stores (the other two being Jc Penny and Mervyn’s) to the Montebello Town Center. In 1993 the montebello location became Robinsons-May.
A little tangent here, in 2001 a fourth anchor store, Macy’s opened at the montebello town center. For a period of time, the mall had Macy’s and Robinsons-May. Finally in 2006, Fedrated department stores(owner of Macys) bought out Robinsons-May, so the montebello location became a Macy’s. The original Macy’s in the Mall, became A Macy’s home store.
My mom still shopped there when the May company in montebello became Robinsons-May. She still shops there to this day now a Macy’s.
Great history and posts on May company California. My mom used take me to the Montebello Town Center location (now Macy’s ) when I was a baby.
ReplyDeleteI was What did the montebello store looked like on the inside and outside?
A little history on the May company at Montebello Town Center. It opened in 1985 as mentioned by the posters and website. The May company was one three original anchors stores (the other two being Jc Penny and Mervyn’s) to the Montebello Town Center. In 1993 the montebello location became Robinsons-May.
A little tangent here, in 2001 a fourth anchor store, Macy’s opened at the montebello town center. For a period of time, the mall had Macy’s and Robinsons-May. Finally in 2006, Fedrated department stores(owner of Macys) bought out Robinsons-May, so the montebello location became a Macy’s. The original Macy’s in the Mall, became A Macy’s home store.
My mom still shopped there when the May company in montebello became Robinsons-May. She still shops there to this day now a Macy’s.