Eastern-Columbia Department Store

Eastern-Columbia Department Store

Industry	Retail (Department Store)
Founded	September 12, 1930 (1930-09-12) in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Founder	Adolph Sieroty and family
Defunct	1957
Fate	Closed downtown flagship and branch stores; continued operations in some other locations
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Products	Department store goods (furniture, clothing, home goods)

Eastern Columbia Building

The Eastern Columbia Building, also referred to as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a thirteen-story structure exemplifying the Art Deco style, designed by architect Claud Beelman. Situated at 849 S. Broadway within the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles, it officially opened its doors on September 12, 1930, following a rapid construction period of just nine months. Constructed at an expense of approximately Template:US$ million (roughly equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in today's dollars), the building served as the new headquarters and 39th retail location for the Eastern-Columbia Department Store. This enterprise originated from the Eastern and Columbia stores established by Adolph Sieroty and his family.

At the time of its erection, Los Angeles city regulations imposed a height restriction of 150 feet (46 m); however, an exemption was granted for the building’s ornate clock tower, which reaches a height of 264 feet (80 m). The general contracting work was managed by J. V. McNeil Company.

This landmark is easily recognizable from various points across Downtown Los Angeles, including views from the Interstate 10 - Santa Monica Freeway. Its distinctive appearance stems from the vivid "melting turquoise" hue of its terra cotta cladding combined with a signature four-sided clock tower. Each face of this tower prominently displays the word "EASTERN" illuminated in bright white neon.

Regarded as one of Los Angeles’ finest surviving examples of Art Deco architecture, the building ranks among the city's most frequently photographed landmarks and stands as a celebrated icon within the Art Deco movement.

Architecture

Distinctive glossy turquoise terra cotta exterior

Constructed with steel-reinforced concrete, the Eastern Columbia Building features a gleaming turquoise terracotta façade accented by rich blue and gold detailing. Its vertical lines are highlighted by deeply set pairs of windows and spandrel panels made of copper, divided by upright columns. The exterior is richly ornamented with a variety of designs, including sunburst motifs, geometric patterns, zigzags, chevron shapes, and stylized representations of flora and fauna. Topping the structure is a four-sided clock tower displaying the word "Eastern" in bright neon, crowned by a central smokestack encircled by four decorative flying buttresses. Surrounding sidewalks along Broadway and Ninth Street showcase multi-hued terrazzo arranged in energetic zigzag and chevron designs. The main entrance features an impressive recessed two-story vestibule embellished with a blue and gold terra cotta sunburst, which originally opened onto a pedestrian retail arcade running through the building's core.

20th century

Designed to accommodate the then-separate Eastern (furniture and home goods) and Columbia (clothing) department stores, both owned and operated by Adolph Sieroty—who began his Los Angeles retail enterprise as a clock shop at 556 S. Spring St. in 1892—the building reflects their combined business operations.

At its 1930 debut, the structure offered 275,650 square feet of space. The first four floors plus mezzanine were shared between Columbia and Eastern stores, with Columbia occupying the corner at 9th & Broadway. From the seventh floor upward, all floors belonged to Eastern. The layout was organized as follows:

• Ground floor – L-shaped arcade with glass display cases, foyer with elevators, Columbia apparel
• Mezzanine – Eastern pottery section, Columbia apparel
• 2nd floor – Eastern musical instruments, Columbia apparel
• 3rd floor – Eastern rugs and floor coverings, Columbia apparel
• 4th floor – Eastern bedding and related products, Columbia apparel
• 6th floor – shipping department
• 7th floor – Eastern porch and patio furnishings, lamps
• 8th floor – Eastern living room furniture
• 9th floor – Eastern dining sets, breakfast room furniture, and children's items
• 10th floor – Eastern glassware and household accessories
• 11th floor – stock record department staffed by 50 employees
• 12th floor – administrative offices and an auditorium seating 700
• 13th floor – employee amenities including showers, clubroom, luncheonette for 700; also housed heating, air filtration, electrical systems, water storage (100,000-gallon tank), and incinerator facilities

By 1940, advertising referred to the business as the Eastern-Columbia Department Store. In 1950, the establishment expanded to occupy the entire block side stretching from Broadway to Hill Street.

In 1957, operations ceased in the downtown flagship building along with branch locations on S. Main St., Central Ave., Whittier Blvd., and Long Beach. However, Eastern stores continued in Bakersfield, Fresno, and Sacramento while Columbia maintained branches in Huntington Park, Lakewood, and Long Beach. Following this closure, the Eastern Columbia Building was converted into office space primarily serving wholesale apparel businesses.

21st century

The building's vertical design prominently featured.

In 2004, proposals were introduced to transform the structure into residential condominiums. On June 23, 2005, a ceremonial event involving city officials and preservation advocates marked the reactivation of the long-silent clock tower, commemorating the building’s 75th anniversary. The developer KOR Group partnered with Killefer Flammang Architects to execute an extensive $80 million renovation completed in 2006, converting the property into 147 condominiums. Interior design was overseen by Kelly Wearstler Interior Design. These live/work lofts blend early 20th-century architectural elegance with contemporary amenities.

This redevelopment project received several accolades, including California Construction Magazine’s Best Redevelopment award in 2007, McGraw Hill’s Best Redevelopment of 2007, and the Multi-Housing News Adaptive Reuse Award of the same year. Additionally, the Eastern Columbia Lofts were honored with a 2008 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. The building also participates in the Mills Act Historic Property Contracts Program, which supports historic preservation.

In 2014, through the Bringing Back Broadway initiative, the building secured a grant of $34,647 to enhance the decorative lighting on the archway above the Broadway entrance. Since 2015, a proposed neighboring development—the 26-story Alexan Broadway project at 9th and Hill Streets—has sparked controversy. Opposition arises from concerns that this new construction would obstruct views of the Eastern Columbia Building and its iconic clock.

Skyline view of the Historic Core

Notably, actor Johnny Depp purchased five penthouses within the building in 2007, totaling approximately 11,500 square feet (1,070 m²). In 2016, billionaire Ronald Burkle sold a three-level penthouse here for $2.5 million, representing one of the highest per-square-foot residential sales in the Historic Core district.

Recognitions

The structure has been hailed as the definitive example of Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles and is often described as one of the "grand dames" representing Streamline Moderne style within the city. Architectural historian Robert Winter praised it as a brilliant illustration of Southern California’s architectural golden era. Christopher Hawthorne, a critic for the Los Angeles Times, labeled it among the most stunning architectural works in the city. Rory Cunningham, former president of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, regarded the building as one of the nation's foremost Deco landmarks. Ken Bernstein, who leads the Office of Historic Resources at the City Planning Department, affirmed that this building stands out as one of Los Angeles’ signature Art Deco icons and included it in his selection of the city's most visually striking buildings. Affectionately known by many as the "Jewel of Downtown" and the "Art Deco Jewel of the West," the Eastern Columbia Building continues to captivate admirers.

Monument designation

In 1985, the Eastern Columbia was officially designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 294. This recognition reflects its significance in representing important cultural, economic, and social narratives at local and broader levels. The building has become an iconic visual symbol epitomizing the dynamic retail and commercial heart of Los Angeles.

Located within Downtown Los Angeles’ Historic Core—an area renowned for its wealth of historic architecture—the building benefits from preservation efforts that have helped maintain the district’s architectural integrity. These efforts include initiatives by the Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources, Los Angeles County Historic Preservation programs, and advocacy by organizations such as the Los Angeles Conservancy. Additionally, supportive measures like the 1999 Adaptive Re-Use Ordinance and Councilmember Jose Huizar’s "Bringing Back Broadway" campaign have played crucial roles in sustaining this historic environment.

In popular culture

Eastern Columbia entrance

• The 1930 film Sin Takes a Holiday, featuring Constance Bennett, opens with exterior scenes of Manhattan followed by a close-up of the Eastern Columbia building, misleadingly suggesting it is situated in New York.
• For many years, Los Angeles radio broadcasts promoted Downtown’s flagship department store with the memorable jingle "Eastern Columbia, Broadway at Ninth," alerting shoppers to new stock and special deals. This tune was composed by Julian M. Sieroty, son of Adolph Sieroty, founder of the Eastern Columbia chain. Its catchy melody gained such popularity that it became a frequent target for television parodies.
• The building was a central element in the September 29, 1946 episode of The Jack Benny Program. During the broadcast, cast members repeatedly cited "Eastern Columbia, Broadway at Ninth" as the source of various items. This catchphrase was humorously revisited on the October 6, 1946 show in an absurd exchange where Jack asks Dennis Day where his mother acquired his father, to which Dennis replies "Eastern Columbia, Broadway at Ninth," prompting Jack's witty remark, "Gee, they have everything!"
• In the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, a sniper targets the main character from a building named the "Eastern Cranmoor Building," depicted as located in Manhattan in 1936.
• The 1978 movie I Wanna Hold Your Hand portrays the Eastern Columbia building in the backdrop near the CBS transmission tower outside Studio 50, where The Ed Sullivan Show was filmed. This scene coincides with a protester attempting to disrupt The Beatles’ inaugural U.S. television performance, again implying a New York setting.
• The climactic scene of the two-hour pilot episode of Moonlighting (1985) features Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis scaling the building’s iconic clock tower.
• Both the original Nickelodeon series iCarly and its Paramount+ revival utilize digitally modified images of the Eastern Columbia Building to represent Bushwell Plaza, the fictional apartment complex where the main characters reside and film their web show.
• The Eastern Columbia Building appears in several productions from 1990 including 12:01 PM, Predator 2, and also in Season 3, Episode 16 of the TV series Lucifer.
• It was prominently featured throughout the movie The Last Hour.
• On April 14, 2022, during the Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard defamation trial, significant attention was drawn to the building as Depp owned five penthouse units within it.[1]
• The Eastern Columbia Building was featured on the show Downtown hosted by Huell Howser.
• In the 2024 release Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the building makes a notable appearance.

See also

• List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Downtown Los Angeles
• List of contributing properties in the Broadway Theater and Commercial District

External links

• Eastern Columbia Homeowners Association
• Monumental Deco – The Work of Architect Claude Beelman in Los Angeles, from MGM Studios to Historic Downtown