The Street Seen: Ocean Park Electric Trolley Depot
SEC Nielson Way and Pier Avenue
The Ocean Park electric trolley depot on the South East Corner of Neilson and Pier is built in 1910. The trolley service is discontinued in 1950, and the depot is demolished in 1955 to make way for a parking lot and a Bank of America.
In the early 1900s, Los Angeles Pacific Railroad (LAP) builds the electric trolley Venice Short Line from downtown Los Angeles to Venice, Ocean Park, and Santa Monica - passing through Culver City on Venice Blvd.
Between Venice and Ocean Park, the Venice Short Line electric trolleys run on the LAP owned Trolleyway right-of-way.1
The Venice Short Line has depots at Venice,2 Ocean Park, and Santa Monica.3
The railroad owns the property on the east side of Neilson between Pier and Marine and builds a substantial 1-story brick building with extensive leased space. In addition to the ticket office, the Ocean Park depot has many small businesses - including overtime, a cafe, a newspaper store, a drug store, a jeweler, a barber, a bank, Ocean Park Chamber of Commerce offices, and a Wells Fargo Express office.
In 1911, Los Angeles Pacific (LAP) becomes the Pacific Electric Railway (PE). In 1926, Main St is widened, and the Shearon building (3008 - 3010 Main St) is rebuilt 40 ft west of its previous location - with the corresponding loss of a 40 ft strip of Pacific Electric property. Â Â
After years of heavy use, the Pacific Electric streetcar line (Venice Short Line) along Neilson begins losing popularity. Streetcar service is reduced in 1933, and the line is abandoned entirely in 1950.
In 1955, the Ocean Park Pacific Electric depot is demolished to make way for a parking lot and Bank of America4 - followed by Charmer’s restaurant,5 then Blockbuster Video,6 and then returns to its 1956 bank origins as Wells Fargo7 in 2008.
The Neilson trolley right-of-way is owned by the railroad. It is private property and so does not have an official name. To avoid confusion, beginning in 1905, the thoroughfare is called Trolleyway.  In the late 1930s, the trolley line ceases operations, and the right-of-way converts to automobile street use in 1950. The name is changed to Neilson Way in 1954, in honor of deceased City Council member George A Neilson (1890 – 1954).
The Venice Pacific Electric depot is located at the corner of Windward and Pacific Avenues.
The Santa Monica Pacific Electric depot is at 1450 Ocean Avenue - just north of the Santa Monica Pier (and across from Broadway).
In 1955, the Ocean Park Pacific Electric depot is demolished to make way for a Bank of America branch, which lasts till 1979.
Jane Erickson spends 3 years getting permits to change the bank to a restaurant. Charmers Market & Restaurant opens to bemused but enthusiastic acclaim in 1982; but closes in 1986 due to the (unrelated) bankruptcy of her financial backer, Doug Christmas.
The vacant building is sold to Bill Cosby (as SAH Enterprises). A replacement restaurant can’t be found, and in 1995, the building changes to retail use - a Blockbuster Video store.
In 2008, the building returns to its banking origins as Wells Fargo moves in.
In 2015, Redcar acquires (along with three Main Street properties - 2671 Main Street, 3010 Main Street, and 3016 Main Street ) the Wells Fargo site from C.O.C. Real Estate LLC.
