Walker Scott
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (department store) |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Ralf Marc (R.M.) Walker and George A. Scott |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Fate | Closed; ownership transferred to Desmond's & Associates in 1985 |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | San Diego region |
Key people | Ralf Marc Walker (co-founder), George A. Scott (co-founder and leader after 1935), Eliza Fitzgerald Walker (president after 1935) |
| Products | Department store merchandise including apparel, housewares, appliances (until phased out) |
Number of employees | 503 (at opening in 1935) |
Walker Scott, also known as Walker-Scott or simply Walker's, operated as a department store chain serving the San Diego region from 1935 until its closure in 1986, with eight outlets at that time.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag He co-owned the substantial 125,000-square-foot establishment known as the Fifth Street Store, located at Fifth and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, which was founded in 1905.[1] Additionally, Walker possessed what would later be recognized as the Houdini Mansion situated in Laurel Canyon. His death occurred six months prior to the inauguration of the San Diego store on October 3, 1935.
George A. Scott, born in Scotland in 1907 and deceased in the United States in 1993, was a mentee of Walker. Walker had sent him to attend the New York University of Retailing and regarded him with a paternal affection; their relationship was notably close.[2]
Downtown flagship
In 1935, the building formerly housing the Holzwasser's department store—located at the northwest corner of 5th and Broadway within San Diego’s downtown retail district—had remained unused for over two years following Holzwasser's liquidation in 1933. Holzwasser's had once been San Diego’s largest department store.[3] This structure featured Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and was designed by John Terrel Vawter in 1919.
Scott and Walker visited San Diego to evaluate the opportunity of launching a Walker's branch within the vacant Holzwasser premises and resolved to proceed. They undertook renovations of both interior spaces and the exterior on the first and second floors; these modifications were executed by architects Quayle Brothers.[4] Tragically, Ralf Walker passed away on September 25, 1935, just one week before the scheduled grand opening.
The store officially opened seven days later on October 2 under George A. Scott’s leadership alongside Eliza Fitzgerald Walker, widow of Ralf Walker, who assumed the presidency while Scott became vice president. Among those attending the opening were Arthur H. Marston—son of George W. Marston who had been present at Holzwasser’s original launch fifteen years earlier—and Charles S. Holzwasser, former proprietor of the now-defunct Holzwasser store that occupied the site.[4]
At its launch, the store employed a workforce of 503 individuals, with 482 being local residents from San Diego. The initial year recorded sales totaling $800,000. Subsequent improvements included installation of escalators and expansion into the adjacent Owl Drug building to the west. In 1954, the store adopted the name Walker Scott.[4]
1969-70 Chain Growth
During the 1970 fiscal year, three comprehensive stores were launched, generating approximately $36 million in revenue and achieving profits of $850,000. The combined retail area across these locations totaled 525,000 square feet (48,750 square meters), with projections indicating a 70% expansion in the subsequent year. Planned store openings included sites in Solana Beach, Palm Springs, the Genessee Shopping Center in Clairemont, the City of Orange at The City Shopping Center, Point Loma within the Sport Arena Way Shopping Center, a smaller outlet in Coronado, and the College Grove Shopping Center near Lemon Grove.
Phase-Out
Between 1984 and 1985, Walker Scott phased out its major appliance departments and scaled back emphasis on hardline merchandise such as housewares and small appliances. In January 1985, confronted by heightened competition, the company shuttered its downtown and La Jolla locations, reducing its portfolio to 12 stores. Later that year, ownership transferred to Los Angeles-based retailer Desmond's & Associates. By November 1986, Walker Scott had ceased operations at all remaining outlets.
Store Locations
Opening years of various branches:
- 1935: Downtown San Diego at 1014 Fifth Avenue, situated at the northwest corner of Fifth and Broadway; this was formerly Holzwasser's department store.
- 1959: La Jolla location acquired through the purchase of Stevenson's Department Store, which continued operating under its original name for a period; this store closed in 1985.
- 1960: College Grove Shopping Center in eastern San Diego adjacent to Lemon Grove; upon inauguration, it was Walker Scott’s largest store.
- 1963: Linda Vista Shopping Center.
- 1964: Escondido Village Mall; this 60,000-square-foot ($3.75 million) store officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, April 6, 1964, at 11 A.M. Brand-Worth & Associates designed the interior featuring coordinated colors for walls, floors, and fixtures. Signage utilized classic raised Roman lettering. The carpeting displayed a multi-hued spectrum around the perimeter transitioning from red to blue across departments: dark blue in men's wear; reds and purples in dresses; pinks and orchids in juniors and lingerie; vermilion and lavender in ladies' sportswear. Wall murals with Roman motifs by artist Rick Chase adorned the space alongside metal sculptures including acid-etched brass trees recessed into apparel sections. The sportswear area featured three metal tree sculptures with over 9,000 stylized leaves. Escalator glass wells were enclosed with decorative grillwork.
- 1968: Clairemont and El Cajon locations acquired through purchase of Whitney's Department Stores; initially operated under that name. The Clairemont store later relocated to Clairemont Square. A third Whitney's outlet was converted into a Walker Scott home and gift center.
- 1970: Added fabric stores in Lakeside and Ocean Beach (the latter later converted into a specialty men’s and women’s sportswear shop), as well as El Cajon.
- 1970: Opened a large store (160,000 square feet) at The City shopping center in Orange; this location was replaced by May Company California in 1974.
- 1970: Palm Springs Mall location opened; it was succeeded by Buffums in 1989 and subsequently by Harris Gottschalks in 1990.
- 1970: Solana Beach store at Lomas Santa Fe Plaza; this site was acquired around 1988 or 1989 by Buffums.
- 1973: San Carlos branch inaugurated.
- 1973: Mission Valley Shopping Center location launched.
- 1975: Mira Mesa store opened with an area of approximately 63,000 square feet (5,853 square meters).
- 1976: Oceanside location introduced.
- 1982: National City branch commenced operations.
- 1983: Pacific Beach store opened.
References
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- Defunct department stores headquartered in San Diego
- Retail businesses founded in 1935
- Retail businesses closed in 1986
- San Diego-based companies
- San Diego buildings and structures
- Defunct department stores based in San Diego