The Street Seen: 2919 Main St (James)
2919 to 2921 Main Street @ Kinney St
In 1912, a 2-story brick commercial building is constructed on the east side of Main St between Ashland and Pier. The upstairs is a furnished apartment/hotel. The ground floor is retail.
Construction
In 1912, Peasgood Bros build a 2-story, brick building for the recent Ocean Park arrival, real estate investor Joseph James.1 The 48-ft x 48-ft2 building is on a vacant3 50-ft x 100-ft lot on the east side of Main St between Ashland and Pier.4
The front facade of the commercial vernacular-style building features an ornate brick corbel table cornice. The four second-story windows are set in two shallow panels outlined by decorative brickwork.
Early Tenants
The ground floor has two retail stores at 2919 Main and 2921 Main Street.
2919 Main Street
2921 Main Street
2919½ Main Street
The 2nd floor is furnished apartments/hotel.
Revival of Main St
In the early 1970s, Al Ehringer, Bob Scura, and John P. Wilson are buying up dilapidated buildings along Main Street, fixing them up and luring restaurants and shops to fill the space. From 1971 to 1975, Wilson runs architectural antique store, Golden Movement Emporium, at 2919 Main St. After Wilson,11 the ground floor continues in its traditional retail use,12 and the 2nd floor is office space.
French transplant and Westwood restaurateur-turned-real estate investor, Philippe D. Chicha, acquires the property. The unreinforced masonry building is seismically strengthened in 1990.
Joseph James (1856 - 1942). In 1910, horse racing and hotel man James sells all of his Windsor, Ontario real estate and (age 54) moves to Ocean Park. He seems to have a fondness for the Ashland Ave area and builds his house at 2916 2nd St, and another next door at 2924 2nd St, for his son, Joseph Aloysius James (1883 – 1940). In 1912, in addition to Main 2919 St, James has Peasgood Bros build 1-story retail stores on both sides of Ashland on the west side of Main St at 2820 Main St and at 2900 Main St.
The 1912 building is only 48-ft deep. The 25-ft x 100-ft lots along Main St are sized for residential use. The 100-ft depth is not optimal for retail - too deep.
Lots 61 and 62 are the former location of the 1900 Kinney and Dudley Water Works and Pumping House, which is abandoned in 1907.
The 50-ft by 100-ft 2929 Main St property is Lots 61 and 62 of Block B of the Santa Monica Tract of 1893.
In 1928, J.H. Schultz adds a 46-ft x 36-ft 1-story brick storeroom at the rear for M.F. Nelson.
The 1928 addition is now referred to as 2917 1/2 Main St
Elizabeth R. Smith runs the dressmaking store, Ye Smart Shoppe. Her husband, Edward R. Smith (1858 – 1928), a former assistant chief of the LAFD, is an auctioneer. Before moving to 2919 Main St, from 1919 to 1921, the dressmaking store is at 108 Ashland Ave. In 1927, they move to 2804 Main St.
Morton F. Nelson (1886 – 1954) runs Nelson Furniture & Hardware from 1928 until 1953, when his son George Edward Nelson (1917 – 1996) takes over. In the late 1950s, Ocean Park is run down, and pedestrian traffic on Main St declines. Nelson Furniture & Hardware goes out of business in 1961.
Stillman Grant Smith (1864 - 1928) is born in FL and comes to Los Angeles in 1900 and to Ocean Park in 1905. From 1913 until his death in 1928, Grant Smith runs a tailor shop at 2921 Main St.
Adams & Neece sewing machines is operated by George Henry Adams (1855 - 1942) and his son-in-law George Joseph Neece (1885 – 1951). Adams & Neece sewing machines is next door at 2923 Main St from 1927 to 1928.
Fred Calkins (1872 – 1929), a Santa Monica Police officer, is the proprietor of the Alexandria Apartments Hotel.
Crescent Apartments Hotel caters mostly to seasonal tourists.
In 1975, Wilson moves his Golden Movement Emporium to 2911/2915 Main and then to 2821 Main St. In 1979, he sells his Main St properties and turns his attention to Pasadena.
Some recent tenants at 2919 Main St and 2921 Main St:-
[1979 to 1980] Atelier AIX clothing (2919 Main St).
[1977 to 1981] Oceans West residential interiors by Ken Calderhead (2921 Main St).
[1984 to 1995] Eugenia women’s apparel by Eugenia DeVirgilio (2919 Main St).
[1987] Nunsa B boutique by Nunsa Bronte (2921 Main St).
Eugenia at 2919 Main St and Nunsa B at 2921 Main St (1987) [1994] The Bey’s Garden Day Spa by Marcel Lavabre (2919 Main St).
The Bey’s Garden at 2919 Main St (1994) [1995] Fresh Jive Clothing (2921 Main St).
[2012 to 2020] Bryn Walker women’s apparel (2921 Main St).
[2021 to 2025] Mystic Journey Crystals (2921 Main St).
