Mullen & Bluett
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | 1880s |
| Founder | Andrew Mullen, W. C. Bluett |
| Fate | Acquired by Grodins in 1968; closed by 1972 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Men's apparel |
Mullen & Bluett
Mullen & Bluett operated as a department store located in Los Angeles, primarily focusing on apparel for men.
Founding
Established during the 1880s by Andrew Mullen and W. C. Bluett, the company originated at the intersection of First and Spring streets in Downtown Los Angeles. Following the passing of the original founders, Arthur R. Mullen assumed control of the store's operations.
Broadway store
In 1910, the business leased both the ground floor and basement levels of the Walter P. Story Building situated at Sixth and Broadway. This move coincided with a period when all prominent Los Angeles department stores—such as May Company California, The Broadway, Fifth Street Store/Walker's, Bullock's, J. W. Robinson's, and Desmond's—were consolidating their presence on or near Broadway.
Ambassador Hotel
The company inaugurated a retail location within the Ambassador Hotel on November 16, 1921,[1] positioned at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard in what is presently identified as the Wilshire Center/Koreatown district of Los Angeles. This addition followed I. Magnin's earlier establishment within the hotel upon its January opening that same year.[2]
Hollywood Boulevard
On May 19, 1922, Mullen & Bluett launched a store on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, precisely at the iconic junction of Hollywood and Vine. The building featured a two-story Tudor Gothic architectural style, constructed from brick with stone accents.[3] This location was among the initial upscale clothing and department stores that appeared during the early 1920s, contributing to Hollywood Boulevard’s rise as a premier shopping district in Los Angeles, second only to Downtown’s Broadway and Seventh Street area.
Miracle Mile branch
Architect Stiles O. Clements designed multiple stores across Greater Los Angeles, including the one located at 5570 Wilshire Boulevard along the Miracle Mile, Los Angeles. Alongside his adjacent Phelps-Terkel building at 5550 Wilshire, these structures were recognized as landmarks by the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee. Despite this designation, the Miracle Mile store was demolished in 2006 and replaced by a sizable apartment complex featuring faux Art Deco styling.[4]
Expansion and Closure
By 1968, Mullen & Bluett had grown to encompass eleven locations, including sites in Hollywood, along the Miracle Mile section of Wilshire Boulevard, within the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, as well as in Pasadena, South Coast Plaza in Orange County, and at Montclair Plaza situated in the Inland Empire region.
That same year marked a significant change in ownership when Grodins, a men's apparel retailer based in Northern California, acquired the chain.
However, by 1972, Grodins decided to withdraw from the Southern California market. This decision was attributed to the economic downturn during the 1970-71 recession and instability in the stock market, which hindered their ability to finance both the acquisition of Mullen & Bluett and their $1 million investment in a new flagship store opened in San Francisco in November 1969 through an initial public offering.
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- ↑ "Mullen and Bluett (Demolished)", Los Angeles Conservancy