Retail Watchers

Drive-up teller windows were common in the LA area in the 1980s/1990's - especially for the two largest banks in LA County at the time - Security Pacific and Bank of America. Bank of America buildings that had those lanes replaced the windows with ATMs upon remodeling. A former Security Pacific Bank...

The 2 LA area Harmon stores are both standalone - the Pico store is its own square building (about the size of a standalone public library but smaller than a corner CVS) and the Pasadena Hastings store is a small space adjacent to Ralphs. Pico Blvd West LA https://www.yelp.com/biz/face-values-los-an...

If you look at the backside of a Family Dollar product and compare with some of the items from Dollar Tree, they come from the same DC (550 Volvo Pkwy Chesapeake VA). Most items at Family Dollar are from "Midwood Brands Inc" with that same address while Dollar Tree items are from "Gre...

That reminds me....I read somewhere long time ago - El Centro was likely a short-lived Max Foods Grocery Warehouse, probably similar to Montebello before it was rebranded as Albertsons. Not sure if it was a big store - Max Foods/Grocery Warehouse/Monte Mart/SuperSaver didn't have any pharmacy depart...

Possible plan - convert dead malls to homeless shelters or low-income apartments: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocregister.com%2F2017%2F06%2F24%2Fsouthern-californias-dead-malls-could-be-places-to-live%2F&psig=AOvVaw3VMqHjNORuZRY-qBQGd35M&ust=1643110326039000&...

Abandoned Carousel Mall in San Bernardino CA becoming a haven for homeless encampments.,

https://abc7.com/carousel-mall-san-bern ... /11489165/

luckysaver

The Carson IKEA (405 Freeway at Avalon Blvd) is a relic of the 1990's version of IKEA stores. It is still the smallest of their SoCal stores and the only one without a restaurant (just a takeout "Bistro" near the exit). When IKEA used to be in City of Industry in the late 1990's before mov...

BBB also owns Harmon Face Values (a no-frills drugstore without a service pharmacy department and clinical health & wellness services). Most HFV merchandise is also sold at BBB stores and website. There are only 2 locations in the Los Angeles area (in West LA on Pico Blvd across from Westside Pa...

I had a 7th grade history teacher (sadly he passed away from brain cancer a few years ago) who was obsessed with shopping at Pic n Save. He told me he was upset when heard all the SoCal stores converted to Big Lots. Pic N Save and 99CentsOnly were the leading bargain stores when I was in grade schoo...

Vacant Whittier Santa Fe Springs Rite Aid (corner of Washington Blvd and Norwalk Blvd) to become Pic N Save. Yes Pic n Save IS BACK!!!! - the owner of the new Anaheim location (and an outlet shop near Ontario Mills Mall) bought the rights to the name from Big Lots - he used to be in upper level mana...