Myer Siegel
| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder | Myer Siegel |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Women's apparel |
Myer Siegel was a department store located in Los Angeles, established by Myer Siegel (1866–1934), with a focus on women's apparel.
History
Myer Siegel launched his retail business in 1886, originally located at 218 N. Spring St., where the inventory was limited to children's apparel and lingerie. On April 7, 1896, Siegel wed Flora Magnin, the daughter of I. Magnin, a distinguished San Francisco-based manufacturer and retailer of upscale clothing. During 1897 and 1898, I. Magnin & Co. promoted its merchandise at 237 S. Spring St., with Myer Siegel serving as the store manager.
The I. Magnin establishment under Siegel's management relocated to the Irvine Byrne Building at 251 S. Broadway on January 2, 1899.
First Myer Siegel location
On June 19, 1904, the Los Angeles branch of I. Magnin was officially rebranded as "Myer Siegel."
Second sequential location
Following a fire that razed the Irvine Byrne Building store on February 16, 1911, Myer Siegel promptly resumed operations by opening a new outlet at the former Brockton Shoe store premises located at 455 S. Broadway. This site eventually became a J. J. Newberry variety store and, from 1996 until 2022, was part of the Fallas Paredes department store complex, which also encompassed the ground level of the adjacent Metropolitan Building situated at the northwest corner of Fifth and Broadway.
Third consecutive location
In 1922, Myer Siegel underwent another relocation by merging with the company Seymour's and taking over its premises[1], situated within the former Central Department Store building at 617-619 South Broadway.[2]
Store locations
By early 1927, Myer, Siegel & Co. was managing a total of four outlets:[3]
- Downtown Los Angeles at 617–619 S. Broadway (established around 1922)[2]
- Pasadena, located at 440 East Colorado Boulevard near Los Robles (opened in 1922)[4]
- Fresno, housed in the T. W. Paterson Building at Tulare and Fulton streets (inaugurated on September 14, 1925)[5]
- Hollywood branch at 6687 Hollywood Boulevard near Las Palmas Avenue (opened November 7, 1925)[6]
Fourth downtown flagship
In the same year, the company transitioned from its Broadway location to a newly constructed $500,000 facility featuring six stories plus a basement and encompassing approximately 64,000 square feet[7]. This building was designed by the architectural firm Felchin, Shaw & Franklin.[8] Situated at 733 South Flower Street just below Seventh Street, this move followed the establishment of upscale retailers such as J. W. Robinson's expansive flagship (initially about 400,000 square feet and eventually growing to approximately 623,700 square feet) along Seventh Street between Hope and Grand in 1915. Additionally, other high-end stores like Desmond's and Coulter's, alongside numerous smaller boutiques, were relocating into this district.[9]
Fifth successive site
By the year 1934, the business had relocated to the intersection of 7th and Olive, occupying the former premises of the retailer B. H. Dyas and Co. At this stage, alongside its main downtown store, the company operated additional outlets in Pasadena, Hollywood, and along Wilshire Boulevard within the Miracle Mile district.[9]
Miracle Mile location
The branch situated in Miracle Mile, housed in what is currently called the Dominguez-Wilshire Building at 5400–10 Wilshire Boulevard, is recognized as a historic site by the Los Angeles Conservancy and underwent restoration in 2000.[10] This location featured several pioneering design aspects for its era, including air-conditioned fitting rooms, furnishings crafted from aluminum and exotic woods, intricate metalwork, and terrazzo flooring. The establishment was financed by and bears the name of the Dominguez family, recipients of one of the original Spanish land grants dating back to 1784.[11]
Westwood branch
In December 1937, a new store opened at 1025 Westwood Boulevard in Westwood, Los Angeles, designed by architect Allen Siple. According to the University of California photo archives: "The expansive glass brick panel positioned above the marquee allowed natural light to illuminate the mezzanine area, while marble wainscoting adorned the entrance flanked by travertine flooring. This structure remains intact today."[12]
References
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- ↑ 60x152-feet per floor x6 stories, as per the article "Plan $500,000 building"
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