The Street Seen: Japs Dudley Building
2000 - 2010 Main Street on Southwest Corner with Bay St
In 1923, E.C. Japs and T.H. Dudley build a 1-story automobile showroom (Henderson Motor Mart) on the southwest corner of Main and Bay. In the 1980s, the building is occupied by Pioneer Boulangerie before it is demolished in 2004 to make way for the Avalon Apartments.
In December 1922, automobile businessman E.C. Japs, in a joint venture with Ocean Park Bank president T.H. Dudley,1 announces a $35,000 automobile showroom on the southwest corner of Main and Bay - across the street from Japs recently opened Crescent Tire Works. They have a 25-year ground lease from Arthur Stoll.2
The 1-story commercial building, which replaces Stoll’s Ocean Park beach house, is constructed by design-builder J.L. Schimmer. The building occupies the entire 120-ft (Main) by 105-ft (Bay) lot and, as with most of Schimmer’s Main St buildings, has a pressed brick with white tile facade.
In 1923,3 Main Street is seen as the new automobile row, and there is much excitement over the April 1923 opening of Henderson Motor Mart. Santa Monica mayor S.L. Berkley is the principal opening speaker. Max Bouquet's Orchestra plays. A gold-plated Lafayette automobile chassis is on display. The showroom interior is decorated with mountain and beach scenes (spirit of the outdoors) by Arthur Reese.4
Henderson Motor Mart combines Cliff Henderson’s5 Nash dealership6 with his brother Phil Henderson’s7 Star dealership.8 Hattie (Mrs. Phil) Henderson runs the office.
Production of the Star automobile ceases in 1927. By 1928, the Henderson Brothers abandon the automobile business, and the building is vacant. The Depression begins in 1929.
From 1930 to 1970,9 the building descends into a series of used clothing, second-hand furniture, wholesale grocery, and meat packing stores, and a parking garage.10
From 1976 to 1993, the building is occupied by the Pioneer Boulangerie, which conceals the 1923 building under a stucco facade and faux dormer roof.
In 2004, the Japs Dudley building is demolished to make way for the Avalon Santa Monica On Main.
Also listed on the January 1923 building permit is the recently divorced Dudley’s new wife, Louise Riddell (1884 – 1958).
Simon Stoll’s son, Arthur Stoll owns the property. The newspapers erroneously report that Los Angeles coffee king George Henry Stoll (1865 – 1951) is the Main and Bay St property owner. There are reasons for the mixup. George Stoll (no relation) also has a beach house in Santa Monica. And in 1923, George Stoll leases the southeast corner of Santa Monica Blvd and 7th St (bought in 1921) to A.S. French for 99 years for $1MM.
Arthur L. Reese (1885 - 1963). Arthur Reese is a pioneering African American entrepreneur in Venice during the early 20th century. Reese comes from New Orleans to Venice in 1903. Known as the "Wizard of Venice," he serves as the Head Decorator of the Abbot Kinney Company, decorating Venice of America and designing gondolas for the canals. Reese is a successful businessman who owns several Venice properties and businesses.
Clifford William Henderson (1895 – 1984). Born in IA, Henderson attends USC and serves in the Army Air Service during World War I. After the war, Cliff opens a Nash dealership at 1424 2nd St before joining his brother Phil at the Henderson Motor Mart in 1923.
Cliff Henderson turns his attention to aviation, serving as chairman of ground arrangements for the Army's Around the World Flight in 1924 from Clover Field. With his brother, Phil, Cliff manages the National Air Races from 1928 to 1939. Cliff Henderson builds the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in 1935 and the Pasadena Winter Garden in 1940. In the late 1940s, Cliff Henderson and another brother, Randall, found Palm Desert.
The Nash Motors Company is a Kenosha, WI based automobile manufacturer operating from 1916 until 1937.
Philip Thor "Phil" Henderson (1893 – 1946). Son of well-known Santa Monica automobile dealer, Nelson Rankin Henderson, Phil attends USC and is in the Naval Air Service before coming to Santa Monica. In 1917, he marries Hattie Georgina Devereaux (1893 - 1991). He opens a Star automobile dealership at 2011 Main before joining with his brother Cliff at the Henderson Motor Mart in 1923.
After the Star automobile ceases operations, Phil briefly opens Henderson Nash Company. He is soon assisting his brother, Cliff Henderson, managing the National Air Races from 1928 to 1939. Phil then devotes time to the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, local sports arenas, professional hockey, and the Ice Capades skating review.
The Star is an American automobile assembled by the Durant Motors Company between 1922 and 1928. In 1927, the Durant line is shut down to retool for a new, modernized car for 1928, and the top-selling Star line is dropped.
In 1946, Arthur Stoll sells the property to Santa Monica wholesale grocer Lorin A. Pennington. Hotel and restaurant supplier Pennington Wholesale Grocery shares the building with a series of meat-packing companies.
The Main Street Garage operates at 2010 Main from 1930 to 1940.
