Vintage Photo Friday

Helms Bakery is a huge complex on Venice and Washington Blvds. in Los Angeles. From 1931 until 1969, this beautiful building housed the bakery that supplied bread to homes and businesses across the nation. They were the official bread of the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles...hence the neon sign that says "Olympic Bread." You can read a bit of the history here. Helms was famous for it's trucks and/or coaches that delivered bread and pastries throughout the city.

They had a distinctive sounding whistle that the driver would sound as he came up the block. Greeting the Helms truck was always a treat. Little kids used to climb inside to pull out drawers of donuts, pastries and cookies. You can still see an original coach inside the Helms Bakery Building.

Jacquie, Larry and Bob @Helms Bakery in 2011

Helms' famous neon sign is still there and operating (among others)

In the 1970's the Antique Guild took over the major building at the bakery and housed different furniture and fine art dealers under one roof. It was a great resource for antiques and antique reproductions in L.A. In the mid-1980's, the Antique Guild was gone, replaced by various furniture stores and shops in the main building.


The outer buildings now have home furnishing stores as well as restaurants, bars and galleries. The once-great Helms Bakery is now known as The Helms Bakery District. I'm glad that the building was retained in all it's 1930's beauty.
The Helms Bakery Helmsman that once graced the entrance to the bakery is now appropriately situated overlooking the main channel at Marina del Rey's Burton Chace Park.


Have a wonderful weekend!