Las Palmas Market, 1259 N. Las Palmas Ave., via Google Street View.
While architectural styles have changed over the centuries, the use of buildings has remained virtually unchanged, meaning an older bank building can still function as a bank, a restaurant can remain a dining establishment, and so on. Most retail and commercial buildings can remain financially viable for centuries, operating as originally intended or by adaptive reuse into other businesses, thus revealing history at the same time. Grocery stores most often seem to continue operating for decades, serving the neighborhoods around which they were constructed. Two 100 year-old markets continue to serve their neighborhoods here in Los Angeles, just as they did when first opened.
Las Palmas Market, built in 1912 and located at 1259 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood as part of the Strong and Dickinson’s Hollywood High School Tract, still serves as a local market. When first constructed at the intersection of Las Palmas and Fountain Avenue two blocks east of Highland Avenue, it served the tiny community of citrus farmers which surrounded it known as Colegrove. More prosperous residents resided in the more upscale community of Hollywood, just a few blocks north. The approximate 1000 square foot wood frame structure was built at a cost of $1,500 per the Los Angeles County Tax Assessor’s site, with the store located on the first floor and a residence on the second. The original owner remains unknown. As with most small markets, the store sold meats, dry goods, home products, and produce to patrons.
“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory is now available at Amazon and at local bookstores.
