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Hamburger's Department Store

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Hamburger's Department Store, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 202557 sources
May Company California
Company typeDepartment store chain
IndustryRetail
FoundedOctober 29, 1881; 145 years ago (1881-10-29) in Los Angeles, California, United States
FounderAsher Hamburger
Defunct1993 (1993)
FateMerged with J. W. Robinson's to form Robinsons-May in 1993
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Area served
Southern California, Nevada (briefly)
Key people
Morton May (president), Thomas May (vice president), Wilbur May (treasurer)
ProductsDepartment store goods
Number of employees
1,200 (circa 1908)

May Company California was an American department store chain established in 1881 under the name A. Hamburger & Sons by Asher Hamburger. Following its acquisition by The May Department Stores Company in 1923, it adopted the May Company name. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it operated primarily throughout Southern California. Its prominent flagship location was the May Company Building in downtown Los Angeles, complemented by a notable branch on Wilshire Boulevard at Fairfax Avenue, which has appeared in numerous classic films. The parking garage constructed in 1926 at 9th Street and Hill Street was among the earliest parking structures in the nation and is designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

For a short period, May Company California expanded into Nevada after integrating Goldwater's, converting its Las Vegas outlet to the May Company brand. In 1993, May Company California merged with J. W. Robinson's, resulting in the dissolution of both entities and the creation of Robinsons-May.

19th century history

File:Hamburger's People's Store Spring Street Early 1880s.jpg
Hamburger's People's Store on Spring Street (early 1880s)

The origins of May Company California trace back to a retail store established by Asher Hamburger and his sons Moses, David, and Solomon upon relocating to Los Angeles from Sacramento. The initial store commenced operations on October 29, 1881, occupying a modest 20-by-75-foot space on Main Street near Requena Street. Originally named The People's Store, it distinguished itself by prominently displaying "One Price" tags.

Just a year later, in 1882, Hamburger's moved to a larger location within the Ponet-Bumiller Block at 45 North Spring Street (renumbered to 145 North Spring after 1890), situated at the southwest corner of Temple Street. This new site provided a retail area measuring 46 by 100 feet. Subsequently, the store expanded into the northern half of the ground floor of the newly constructed Phillips Block, located at the northwest corner of Spring and Franklin streets, and by 1887 had extended into the southern half as well. In April 1899, Hamburger's further enlarged its footprint by acquiring an adjacent space north of the Bumiller Block known as the Ponet store.

Later that year, Hamburger's undertook renovations to occupy the entire four floors plus basement of the Phillips Block. The expanded store officially opened on June 1, 1899, boasting approximately 3.5 acres (150,000 sq ft; 14,000 m2) of retail space and claiming status as the largest department store west of the Mississippi River at that time. Additional expansion included an extra 2,500 square feet (230 m2) area added along New High Street to accommodate growing operations.

20th century history

At the dawn of the 20th century, A. Hamburger & Sons had outgrown their Spring Street premises, which employed 520 staff across five floors. The Hamburger family opted to construct a significantly larger retail establishment at the southeast corner of Broadway and Eighth Street, a site then beyond the existing shopping district. Construction commenced in 1905, culminating in a grand opening in 1908. Known as the Great White Store, this location was the largest department store building west of Chicago at the time and eventually became the flagship for May Company California.

Upon its inauguration, the Great White Store featured one of the West Coast's earliest escalators and housed multiple amenities including several restaurants, a drugstore, grocery and bakery sections, a fruit market, meat counters, a U.S. post office, telegraph services, a barber shop, dental and chiropractic offices, a medical doctor’s suite, an auditorium, and an electricity and steam power plant in the basement capable of supporting a city with 50,000 residents. Additionally, it maintained a private volunteer fire brigade composed of 120 men. The retail space spanned 13 acres (482,475 square feet), surpassing all other department stores in Los Angeles combined at that time, with a workforce of approximately 1,200 employees.

From 1908 until 1913, the Los Angeles Public Library occupied space on the third floor before relocating to accommodate its growth. Woodbury Business College also briefly operated on the fifth floor. Around 1912, the fourth floor hosted a temporary free public menagerie featuring around 50 animals such as cassowaries, sun bears, orangutans, a 28-foot python, monkeys, and vividly colored birds.

The store's footprint expanded to encompass the entire block bordered by Broadway, Hill Street, Eighth Street, and Ninth Street. In 1923, a nine-story extension was added along Hill Street. Further expansion included a new nine-story building completed in 1930 covering approximately 250,000 square feet. By then, the combined floor area exceeded one million square feet. During the mid-1920s, May Company also established a warehouse at Grand Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard and constructed a nine-story parking structure at Ninth and Hill streets in 1927.

Purchase by May

On March 31, 1923, the Hamburgers transferred ownership of their store to the May family from St. Louis for a sum of $8.5 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year). Thomas and Wilbur May, sons of the May Company's founder, were appointed to oversee operations at the former Hamburger location. One of their initial initiatives involved enlarging the store by constructing additional sections on other sides of the city block.

Plans were finalized to erect a nine-story extension adjoining the Hill Street property to the south, with an estimated investment exceeding $2.5 million covering both lease acquisition and building expenses. This amount excluded a $600,000 expansion already underway, expected to be finished within several months. Architect Albert C. Martin was commissioned to supervise construction. The new segment featured a frontage of sixty feet and extended 150 feet eastward behind the Broadway store. Key executives included Morton May as president, Thomas May serving as vice-president, and Wilbur May as treasurer.

Following these developments, the May Company eventually expanded to occupy nearly the entire block bounded by Broadway and Hill Streets and between 8th and 9th Streets. In 1925, the former Hamburger establishment was officially rebranded as the May Company.

Expansion

File:Highsmithmaycompanywilshire.jpg
The 1939 Streamline Moderne style May Company Wilshire edifice, currently home to The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

In response to the substantial population surge in Southern California during the Great Depression, May Company launched its inaugural branch store in 1939 at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax. This project required an investment of $2 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year).[1] The groundbreaking for this modern five-story department store took place after securing a long-term lease on the site from Capt. G. Allan Hancock.[2][3] Known as "The Store of Tomorrow," the building was designed by architects Albert C. Martin and Samuel A. Marx and featured over 200,000 square feet of retail space.[3] Upon its opening on September 7, 1939, Morton J. May, the company's president, personally inspected the facility alongside his brother Tom May, vice president. The store housed 96 specialty shops including a beauty salon, rooftop restaurant, florist, and imported food market.[4][5]

Following World War II, May Company expanded with a second branch that opened on October 10, 1947, located on Crenshaw Boulevard at the northeast corner of Santa Barbara Street (now M. L. King Jr. Blvd.). This location was eventually incorporated into the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, anchored by The Broadway, situated just across the street to the south.[6][7][8][9][10]

Simultaneously, plans for a Hollywood store were announced but ultimately never realized.[6][11][12]

File:May Company California (logo).png
Historic logo

Between 1952 and 1992, May Company broadened its footprint by establishing multiple stores throughout suburban Los Angeles and Southern California (refer to table below). The May Company-Lakewood location debuted at Lakewood Center on February 18, 1952. This four-level facility spanned approximately 346,700-square-foot (32,210 m2), making it the largest suburban department store worldwide at that time.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In 1955, the North Hollywood store opened as part of the Valley Plaza shopping district. With about 452,000 square feet (42,000 m2) of retail space, it ranked as the second-largest suburban branch department store in the United States, surpassed only by a Hudson's branch in suburban Detroit.[13]

Transition to Robinsons-May

File:Robinsons-May Department Store Logo.png
Logo representing the Robinson's-May merger

On October 17, 1992, May Department Stores, the parent company of May Company California, declared the consolidation of May Company California with its affiliate J. W. Robinson's, resulting in the creation of Robinsons-May and marking the end of May Company California as a separate entity.[14] [15] [16] Additionally, it was revealed that the Wilshire location along with stores in West Covina, Buena Park, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino would cease operations by the close of January 1993.

Significant properties

At the outset of this division’s operation, May Company also played a key role in developing several early shopping centers and malls that evolved around initially standalone stores, with the Crenshaw site being a prime example.

The original May Company store—the former Hamburger's at Broadway and 8th Street in downtown Los Angeles—was shuttered following the opening of the new 7th Market Place location in 1986.[17] This historic structure holds the designation of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 459. After its sale, it primarily served as a facility for small-scale garment manufacturing firms.[18] By 2013, current ownership sought to sell the property amid active redevelopment in the surrounding district.[19] In April 2014, Waterbridge Capital announced its acquisition of the building but provided limited specifics on redevelopment plans beyond indicating a mixed-use project.[20]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Throughout the 1980s, the parent company attempted for several years to replace the iconic Wilshire store by engaging in mall development at Farmers Market.[21] Nevertheless, the project that eventually became The Grove at Farmers Market experienced nearly twenty years of delays. The St. Louis-based parent ultimately withdrew from this venture, and after May Company California merged with Robinson in 1993, no replacement for the Wilshire store materialized. Following closure, this Streamline Moderne architectural landmark was sold to Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1994[22] and is presently designated to become home to The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Store Directory

City Suburban Area Mall or Location Launch Date Closure Date Remarks
initially launched as Hamburger's
Victorian Downtown Los Angeles Main Street near Requena
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 1882 Retail space measuring 20 by 75 feet (approximately 1,500 square feet (140 m2)). Referred to as The People's Store.[23]
Bumiller Block, Temple and Spring, northwest corner of Spring Street and Franklin Avenue 1882 1908
  • Initial premises spanned 46 by 100 feet (4,600 square feet (430 m2)) within the Bumiller Block at the northwest corner of North Spring Street and Franklin Avenue.
  • In July 1888, expanded into the northern half of the ground floor in the newly constructed Philips Block, adding a retail area of 60 by 120 feet (7,200 sq. ft.) along with a basement storage area.
  • In April 1899, incorporated the Ponet store, extending 20 feet northward from the Bumiller Block.
  • Following renovations, on June 1, 1899, officially unveiled the full four-story Philips Block with a total floor space of 3.5 acres.[24][25]
  • Subsequently added an additional 2,500 sq. ft. at the rear side facing New High Street.[26][23]
Broadway, Downtown L.A. Block bounded by Broadway, Hill, Eighth and Ninth Streets August 10, 1908 1986 At opening, encompassed 482,475 sq. ft. Initially constructed as Hamburger's; ownership transferred to May Co. on March 31, 1923. Underwent significant expansions to exceed 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m2) by 1930.[27] Currently operates as Broadway Trade Center with mixed commercial use.
Refer to May Company Building (Broadway, Los Angeles)
launched as May Company
Miracle Mile Northeast corner Wilshire Boulevard & Fairfax Avenue September 7, 1939[3] January 1993 Spanning 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2), presently home to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
See May Company Building (Wilshire, Los Angeles)
Crenshaw District, Los Angeles Northwest corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (formerly Santa Barbara Avenue). October 1947 Approximately 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) in size. Opened as an independent store opposite Crenshaw Center. Integrated into Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza mall during the 1970s.
Lakewood, California South Bay/Long Beach, California Lakewood Center[28][29][30]
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
[30] 		'May Company-Lakewood' was the largest suburban department store globally at its inauguration with four levels totaling 346,700 square feet (32,210 m2).Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Drew clientele from Long Beach, competing with downtown shopping districts anchored by Buffums.
North Hollywood, Los Angeles San Fernando Valley Laurel Plaza[31][32]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 'May Co.'s fifth Los Angeles location featured departments for men’s, women’s and children’s apparel including Boy and Girl Scout uniforms; additional offerings included jewelry, appliances, sporting goods, books, toys and stationery. Amenities comprised a beauty salon, tearoom, snack bar, auditorium and parking for approximately 3,000 vehicles. Later incorporated a mall section. At 452,500 square feet (42,040 m2), it was the largest suburban branch in the Western U.S. Converted to mixed retail use post Macy's closure in 2016.[13] Designed by Albert C. Martin Sr. & Associates; initial store manager was Norman Caldwell.[32][31]
West Covina San Gabriel Valley Eastland Center[33][34] 1957 January 1993 Demolished after closure in favor of Target and Burlington Coat Factory developments since 1996.
Redondo Beach South Bay LA Co. South Bay Galleria[35][36] 1959
Mission Valley San Diego Mission Valley Center[37][38] February 20, 1961 The May Company Building at Westfield Mission Valley is currently unoccupied but regarded as an architectural landmark.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Buena Park North Orange Co. Buena Park Mall[39][40][41] August 19, 1963Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name January 1993 Formerly converted to Fedco in 1993; subsequently demolished for Walmart construction in 2003.
Canoga Park San Fernando Valley Topanga Plaza Shopping Mall[42][43] February 1964Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Rancho Park, Los Angeles Westside LA Co. Pico and Westwood Boulevards (later incorporated into Westside Pavilion)[44][45] August 2, 1964Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Whittier, California Southeast Los Angeles County The Quad at Whittier[46][47][48][49] 1964 March 31, 1987 Ceased operations six months prior to the Whittier Narrows earthquake on October 1, 1987; parking structure collapsed while main building sustained internal damage but remained until its controlled demolition years later.
Costa Mesa Orange Coast South Coast Plaza[50][51] February 21, 1966Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Arcadia, California San Gabriel Valley El Rancho Santa Anita Shopping Center[52]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[53] 1966 Designed by Victor Gruen & Associates with Spanish colonial interiors by Welton Becket & Associates; approximately 240,000[convert: needs unit name].
Previously housed a Vons supermarket; currently vacant.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
San Bernardino Inland Empire Inland Center[54][55] 1966 January 1993 Converted to Gottschalks in 1995; now occupied by JCPenney since 2016 following construction of a new Robinsons-May store later integrated into Macy's.
Montclair, California Inland Empire Montclair Plaza[56][57] 1968


Gallery

In pop culture

  • Within Jack Benny's radio and television shows, it was portrayed that Benny encountered his girlfriend Mary Livingstone (portrayed by his actual wife, Sadie Marks) while she was employed in the hosiery department at the May Company. This stands as a rare example where an authentic business was integrated into a storyline. (In reality, Jack and Mary Benny met through mutual acquaintances rather than at a department store.)
  • In the 1948 film noir Pitfall, directed by Andre de Toth, the character Mona Stevens, played by Lizabeth Scott, is shown working in the fine dresses section of the May Company's Wilshire Boulevard branch.

See also

References

Template:Ref list

Template:History of Retail in Southern California Template:Macy's history

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1938oct20
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1938nov13
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1939sep03
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1939sep07
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1939sep08
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1945jun07
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1945jun23
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wwd-1947oct09
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1947oct10
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wwd-1947oct15
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1931feb22
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1945jun08
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named vall
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1992oct17
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1992oct18
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1992oct22
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1985jan27
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1991nov01
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-2013jul04
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-2014apr12
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1989oct10
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1998oct22
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1888aug22
  24. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named express
  25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named opening1899
  26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sixty
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named million
  28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1950jun29
  29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1950oct15
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1952feb17
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1955sep08
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1955sep13
  33. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1954aug29
  34. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1957sep12
  35. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named tp-1957feb21
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1959feb10
  37. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1957oct10
  38. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1960may28
  39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1962sep30
  40. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1962oct21
  41. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wwd-1963aug20
  42. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1963feb10
  43. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes-1964feb11
  44. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1963jul25
  45. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1964aug02
  46. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1964may26
  47. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1964jul26
  48. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1964aug01
  49. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1964aug03
  50. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1966feb20
  51. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1966feb22
  52. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named monrovia
  53. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1965sep19
  54. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1965saug22
  55. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1966sep07
  56. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1966apr10
  57. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named lat-1968aug08

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