History of retail in Palm Springs, California
| Company type | Shopping center |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1936-11-01 |
| Headquarters | Palm Springs , United States |
| Products | Retail stores, department stores |
This article explores the development of department stores and retail establishments in the downtown area of Palm Springs, California.
Palm Springs Plaza
Originally named Palm Springs Plaza, now known as La Plaza, it debuted on November 1, 1936. It was among Southern California’s earliest shopping centers designed with a single owner, developer, and cohesive architectural style, following the example set by Westwood Village in 1929. The center featured a three-level parking structure accommodating 141 vehicles, marking it as the largest garage within Riverside County. Desmond's (department store) served as one of the initial anchor tenants and remained operational there until 2005.
Resort stores
In 1930, Bullock's, a prominent upscale department store located on Broadway in Los Angeles, launched a Spanish Colonial-inspired "resort store" situated within the Desert Inn complex. Subsequently, I. Magnin established its own resort store at the El Mirador resort on December 1, 1933; this location ceased operations in 1942 when the resort was converted into a military hospital. After Bullock's inaugurated a full-scale department store at 151 Palm Canyon Drive in 1947, J. W. Robinson's, another major Los Angeles retailer, occupied Bullock’s previous resort store site and opened its own branch there.
Full-line and specialty department stores
Following the construction of La Plaza, a number of junior and full-service department stores began to emerge along Palm Canyon Drive, directly adjacent to La Plaza. Notable establishments included Bullock's/Bullocks Wilshire (#151, operating from 1947 to 1990), J. W. Robinson's (#333, active between 1958 and 1987),[1][2][3] and Saks Fifth Avenue, which opened its doors on October 16, 1959 at No. 490.[4] Collectively, these stores established a prominent retail corridor.
In 1967, the Desert Fashion Plaza mall was introduced; it became home to I. Magnin, which remained until its closure in 1992.[5] At the same time, Saks relocated from its original spot into a larger store within the mall. Subsequently, in 1969, Joseph Magnin Co. launched a substantial 26,000-square-foot department store inside the mall.[6] Alongside these retailers and a Sears located at 611 Palm Canyon Drive, downtown Palm Springs featured seven department stores for approximately twenty years. Additionally, the Palm Springs Mall, situated about 1.5 miles east, operated from 1959 until its closure in 2005.
References
- ↑ Murphy, Gavin (October 28, 1988). "World Market Plan Dies". Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA).
- ↑ "Robinson's celebrating 75th anniversary", Desert Sun(Palm Springs, CA), January 9, 1958
- ↑ Murphy, Gary (March 6, 1992). "Merchants bemoan loss in Palm Springs of I. Magnin Store". Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA).
- ↑ "Saks will open here tomorrow". Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA). October 15, 1959.
- ↑ "'New Era' Launched as I. Magnin Opens". The Desert Sun. Vol. 41, no. 62. 16 October 1967. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ↑ "Ground Broken Today for New Major Store". The Desert Sun. Vol. 42, no. 183. 6 March 1969. Retrieved 27 December 2019.