Vintage North Hollywood

Valley Times Collection, 1964. Holiday Decorations at May Co., Laurel Plaza, 1955, designed by Albert C. Martin and Associates. Photo by Steve Young

Oh, those were the days of huge department stores decorated for the holidays! This was one of the largest May Company stores in Southern California. It was on Laurel Canyon in North Hollywood. Later, it became a Macy's. This is one extremely large piece of property. I've heard stories from a few of my friends that grew up in this neighborhood that they learned to drive in the huge parking lot when the store was closed.

In 2006 May Co. became a Macy's. Photo by David Crane, L.A. Daily News.

I would drive over the hill to this store once in awhile, when my own May Company or Macy's didn't have exactly what I was looking for. This store, because of it's size, always had a larger selection of various items.

Today, this store has been demolished. The lot will become a mixed use development, encompassing offices, movie theaters, shops, restaurants, parks and more. Read about it here. 

Eventually, all of Los Angeles will look the same. These mixed use developments are being built everywhere, especially along my Metro/Expo route from L.A. to Santa Monica. 

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