El Monte Shopping Center Explained

The El Monte Shopping Center was a major shopping center, for decades the largest shopping center in El Monte, California, at 400 Peck Road just north of the San Bernardino Freeway. It opened in phases in 1958 and 1959 and was initially anchored by a 263951square feet Sears plus its 20000square feet automotive center[1] as well as a 39000square feet Food Giant supermarket,[2] a F. W. Woolworth five and dime, and a Bond's clothing store.[3]

In 1989 Katersky Financial bought the center and at that time tenants included a Home Club home improvement superstore (later HomeBase/Longo Lexus dealership), Tianguis (later Big Kmart/Sears Essentials/Outlet), the Longo Toyota dealership, Thrifty Drug Stores (later Dearden's Furniture), Sizzler, and Big 5 Sporting Goods.[4]

The Sears Outlet store closed in 2012.[5]

The location now functions as a community shopping center with some vacant anchor stores.

References

34.0729°N -118.0266°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Center's Initial Store Readied . Los Angeles Times . November 2, 1958.
  2. News: In New Center . Los Angeles Times . October 19, 1958.
  3. News: Ground broken for store building in El Monte Center . Los Angeles Times . January 25, 1959.
  4. News: Katersky Financial purchases El Monte Shopping Center . Monrovia News-Post . March 26, 1989.
  5. News: Lloyd . Jonathan . El Monte Store among Sears Closures . NBC Los Angeles . December 29, 2011.