Potomac Block
The Potomac Block was a commercial building with a historical role in the retail history of Los Angeles, at 213–223 S. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, on the west side of Broadway between 2nd and 3rd streets. It was developed by lumberyard and mill owner J. M. Griffith, designed in 1888 by Block, Curlett and Eisen in Romanesque architectural style[1] and opened on July 17, 1890.[2] Tenants included Ville de Paris (department store),[1] and City of London Dry Goods Co. It was the first time major retail stores opened on South Broadway, in what would be a shift of the shopping district from 1890 to 1905, from the 1880s-1890s central business district around Spring, Main, First and Temple streets to S. Broadway, and ever further south along Broadway.
In 1904 Coulter's bought the building and combined it with a building to the south and at the back (facing Hill St.), renovated and combined them into one, opening it as a 157,000 sq ft (14,600 m2) new store in June 1905.[3]
The building was demolished in 1953 and is still the site of a parking lot.[4]
External links
- Image of Potomac Block shortly after its 1890 opening
References
- ^ a b "Potomac Block", Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library
- ^ "Potomac Block. The Work of Building Up a Great City". Los Angeles Herald. July 18, 1890.
- ^ "Great Store for Coulter". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 1904. p. 13.
- ^ "Potomac Block and Bicknell Block", Tour of Romaneque Los Angeles, Pocketsights
- v
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with origins in
| Central Los Angeles |
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|---|---|
| L.A. neighborhoods |
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| Long Beach |
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| Pasadena | |
| Rest of L.A. Co. |
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| Bakersfield | |
| Inland Empire |
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| Orange Co. |
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| San Diego–Tijuana |
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| Elsewhere |
- Bond's
- Brooks Clothing
- C. H. Baker shoes
- C&R Clothiers
- Hartfield's
- Judy's
- Leed's shoes
- Mandel's (shoes)
- Miller's Outpost/Anchor Blue
- Victor Clothing
- Weatherby-Kayser shoes
- Zachary All
membership stores
- The Akron
- Curacao
- Fedco
- Fedmart
- Gemco
- Pic 'N' Save
- Unimart
- White Front
- Zody's
- Disco Drug and Discount Centers
- Sav-on
- Schwab's Pharmacy
- Thrifty
home furnishings
- Alpha Beta
- Boys Markets
- Chaffee
- Food Giant
- Giant
- Haas, Baruch & Co./Hellman, Haas & Co.
- Hughes Markets
- Market Basket
- Pantry Food Stores
- Pavilions
- Ralphs
- Shopping Bag
- Stater Bros.
- Smart & Final
- Thriftimart
- Tianguis
- Vons
tainment, appliances
- Adray's
- Cal Stereo
- Federated Group
- Golden Bear Home and Sport Centers
- Ken Crane's
- Leo's Stereo
- Pacific Stereo
- Rogersound Labs
- University Stereo
- Builders Emporium
- National Lumber
- Ole's Home Centers
- Licorice Pizza
- Music Plus
- Peaches Records and Tapes
- The Wherehouse
- Wallichs Music City
- Los Angeles:
- Plaza
- 1880s-90s CBD
- Broadway (CBD)
- Broadway & 87th, South L.A.*
- Seventh St.
- Flower St.
- Hollywood Blvd.
- Lankershim, North Hollywood
- Miracle Mile, Wilshire Blvd.
- Westwood Village (near UCLA)
- Other cities:
- Beverly Hills: Rodeo Drive
- Burbank: Golden Mall
- Huntington Park: Pacific Blvd.
- Long Beach: Pine St.
- Palm Springs: La Plaza/Palm Canyon Dr. - See also History of retail in Palm Springs
- Pasadena: Lake Ave.
- Pasadena: Old Pasadena
- Santa Ana: 4th St.
- Santa Monica: Main St. - 3rd St. Promenade
shopping center
"firsts"
- Oldest origins of a major L.A. chain: Harris & Frank (1876) - 1st dept. store on Broadway: A. Fusenot Co./Ville de Paris - 1st dept. store on 7th off Broadway: J. W. Robinson's (1915) - 1st planned shopping district: Westwood Village (1929) - 1st suburban dept. store branch: B. H. Dyas/Broadway Hollywood (1927) - 1st center with multiple supermarkets: Broadway & 87th Street shopping center (1936) - 1st center with department store anchor: Broadway-Crenshaw Center (1947) - 1st enclosed mall: Lakewood Center (1951) - 1st mall in Orange County: Anaheim Plaza (1955) - 1st center with 4 dept. stores: Panorama City Shopping Center (1964)
34°3′7.5″N 118°14′51″W / 34.052083°N 118.24750°W / 34.052083; -118.24750
