In Spring of 2000, Inglewood commissioned an historic survey of Market Street. The purpose was to identify individual structures of historical significance and to determine the potential for an historic district project.

Using the National Register of Historic Places Criteria for Evaluation, each structure was looked at with regard to its historic significance locally, regionally and nationally. For structures to qualify, they need to be at least 50 years old, meet at least one National Register Criteria within their historic context and have retained their integrity.

Market Street, La Brea Avenue and Locust Street— from Florence Avenue to Hillcrest Boulevard—was the project area.

One hundred and twelve buildings were surveyed; of these, 47 were deemed to have historic potential. We will concentrate on the eight deemed to have National Register potential.

170 N. La Brea was originally the Citizens Savings Bank, built in . It is notable due to its association with early commercial development in Inglewood. It is now a Chinese restaurant.

320 S. La Brea built in 1948 as Sparkling Cleaners. This is a fine example of Post- War late Moderne style.
3. 330 E Manchester is the Bank of America and a very good example of PWA Moderne built in 1948. The structure next door at 320 was remodeled in 1954 to be part of the bank.

100 N. Market was the Bank of Inglewood built in 1927. It is a beautiful example of Mediterranean Revival style. In 1936 the building was sold to Bank of America National Trust and Savings. For several years it has been a bookstore.

115 N. Market, the Fox Theatre, is the only structure included on the National Register of Historic Places and is the focus of the “Save the FOX” campaign by the Inglewood Historic Preservation Alliance. This fine example of the late Modern style movie theatre was built in 1949 on the site of the Granada Theatre from 1921.

200-204 S. Market is currently Cox Menswear, but was constructed in the Streamline Moderne style so popular in the late 1930s as Scotty’s Men’s Shop.

233-239 S Market, the S H Kress Variety Store built in 1927, is eligible due to its association with the chain store concept of merchandising developed in the 1920s. California was a significant area for Kress. The first store opened in San Diego in 1918 and by 1928, there were 28 stores statewide.

330 E. Queen has been the home of the Chamber of Commerce since construction in 1948. It is a distinctive example of Post-War architecture and one of the finest examples remaining in Inglewood.

I hope you enjoyed this quick tour of the architectural treasures of Market Street and La Brea Avenue. With the coming of the MTA Light Rail, it is hoped that these gems of our early history will be saved and not fall victim to wholesale new development.