The Street Seen: 2403 Main Street
2403 Main Street @ Hollister
The existing 2403 Main St is built in 1921 as a butcher shop. An automotive repair shop occupies the building from 1935 to 1961. A furniture design and antiques store is there from 1961 to 1980.
Prior to Current Building (1892 to 1919)
Before 19021 there is a single-family dwelling on the lot near Hollister at 2403 Main St.
Between 1902 and 1909, the single-family dwelling at 2403 Main St is expanded (or re-built).
In 1906 Emma L. Rissman (1850 – 1916)2 sells 2403 Main to Sophie and George Behrens.3 In 1918, the Behrens move to Venice, and the house is demolished - leaving a vacant lot.4
Current Building
Hollister Meat Market (1921 - 1935)
In 1921, J.R. Leonard builds the one-story 25-ft x 70-ft Hollister Meat Market and Groceries on the vacant lot at 2403 Main St. Leonard dies in 1935 (age 73).
E.L. Moore Automotive Service (1935 - 1961)
In 1935, E.L. Moore5 moves his automotive repair shop from 2521 Main St to 2403 Main St.6 Although he works on all automobile makes, Moore is a Ford specialist. His advertisements emphasise that he is a Flivver (a small cheap, usually old automobile) expert. Moore retires in 1961 (age 68).
Weidemann Designs (1961 - 1980)
In 1961, John J. Weidemann acquires 2403 Main St for a woodworking and antique furnishing business - Weidemann Designs.7 He remodels the 2403 Main store front with a plate glass window. Soon after, Weidemann acquires the adjacent vacant corner lot at 2401 Main St and, in 1966, builds a 2-story workshop that is connected to 2403 Main. The “Weidemann Designs” sign (no longer there) is installed in 1974.8
In 1967, Weidemann is involved in a dispute with the city over storing antique façade stone fragments on his parking lot. In 1981, he sells both 2403 Main and 2401 Main, and retires.
The 25-ft x 100-ft property is Lot 29, Block P of the 1892 Santa Monica Commercial Company Tract.
In 1906, Emma Rissman owns both 2401 Main St and 2403 Main St.
George Behrens (1873 - 1949) Born in Germany, in 1898, Behrens marries Sophie Johanna Becker (1875 – 1949). They come first to New York City in 1894 (George is a waiter). Then to Ocean Park in 1904. The Behrens and her father, Henry Becker (1843 – 1927), live at 2403 Main St. In 1918, they move to a new 6-room $1,950 Venice house built by the Peasgood Brothers. On the Venice Pier, they operate a cafe owned by Sophie and managed by George. In 1929, they move their cafe business to 4th & Rose, where they open the Rose Avenue Café. They both die in 1949.
Between 1902 and 1909, a single-family dwelling is built on the adjacent lot at 2401 Main. Sometime between 1918 and 1926, that house is also demolished, and the Hollister and Main corner lot is left vacant until 1966.
Edward Lewis Moore (1892 – 1975). Born in TX, by 1917, Moore is an auto mechanic in Denver, CO. In 1920, Moore marries Katherine A. Griffin (1887 – 1948) in Los Angeles. From 1925 to 1942, the Moore’s live at Hollister Terrace, then move to 2607 2nd St. In 1949, Moore marries Marie Ruth Kelly Moffatt (1898 - 1987).
In 1919, Moore runs his automotive repair business out of the Hollister Garage at 2412 Main St.
In 1921, Moore moves his automotive repair shop across Main Street to 2417 Main St. Then in 1923, needing a larger space, Moore builds an automotive repair shop at 2521 Main St.
He stays here until 1935 when the lot is acquired for an expansion of the Merle Norman building.
At 2403 Main in 1936, Moore has Santa Monica architect and contractor J.J. Verplank build a one-story 25-ft x 30-ft concrete block (C.B.) addition - from the rear of the 1921 building to the property line.
In the 1960s, Main Street gains a layer of distinction as “antiques row.”
The antique exterior wall fixtures (still there) are undoubtedly by Weidemann - probably in 1974 but no permit has been found.
