B. H. Dyas
| Industry | Retailing |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Dyas & Cline |
| Founded | 1905 in Los Angeles |
| Founder |
|
| Defunct | 1932 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters |
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B. H. Dyas Co. began as a sporting goods retailer in Los Angeles before evolving into a department store, ultimately ceasing operations during the 1930s. The company was founded and owned by Bernal Hubert Dyas (1882–1959).[1]
Founding as a Sporting Goods Business
In 1905, Bernal Hubert Dyas partnered with George T. Cline to launch a sporting goods enterprise named Dyas & Cline at the intersection of Main and 3rd (116 E. 3rd St.).Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Subsequently, the business relocated to a site on 7th Street near Hill Street.
Department Store at Seventh and Olive
The Ville de Paris department store, situated at 321-5 W. 7th Street and Olive, was sold to B. H. Dyas in 1919.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name From that year until 1927, the establishment was marketed under the combined name "Ville de Paris–B. H. Dyas Co." before adopting simply the B. H. Dyas brand thereafter. The downtown location and the associated B. H. Dyas name were discontinued around 1930. Today, the building at Seventh and Olive houses the Los Angeles Jewelry Mart, part of the larger Jewelry District within the Historic Core neighborhood.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Promoted as "The Most Interesting Store in California," this venue featured unique attractions such as a log cabin interior, an indoor rifle range, an aquarium stocked with rainbow trout, along with various taxidermied wildlife displays.[2]
Hollywood branch
In 1927, B. H. Dyas established a location in Hollywood, situated in the building now known as the Broadway Hollywood Building. Initially, in 1922, shares were issued to fund the construction of a facility intended for a Boadway Bros. branch, which ceased operations in 1923. Subsequently, B. H. Dyas took over the opportunity to open his store in that space. The building, designed by architect Frederick Rice Dorn and commissioned by local entrepreneur Frank R. Strong, showcased the Classical Revival architectural style specifically for Dyas' retail outlet. Construction extended into 1928 and represented the first department store branch outside the core Downtown Los Angeles central business district. This development paved the way for other significant commercial expansions beyond downtown, including establishments like Bullocks Wilshire. However, due to the financial strain of the Great Depression, Dyas was compelled to retreat operations to its original flagship store. In 1931, The Broadway acquired the remaining 30-year lease for $2 million (equivalent to approximately US$Template:Inflation million in today's dollars).
Demise
The store located at 7th and Olive entered receivership in 1932 and ultimately shuttered in 1933, marking the conclusion of the B. H. Dyas department store enterprise. The premises at 7th & Olive were later occupied by Myer Siegel, who opened their modern retail space there in 1934.
In October 1933, Dyas' son tragically lost his life in a car accident near Rawlins, Wyoming. B. H. Dyas himself passed away in 1959.