Two popular Angeleno institutions under one roof: Ralphs arcade-style supermarket on Wilshire Blvd at Hauser Blvd with a Pig’n Whistle restaurant (their neon sign says “Up and down the coast.) I’m guessing this photo is circa early 1930s because the Pig’n Whistle was there from 1929 to 1938, when the Pig’n Whistle company opened its new upscale restaurant, Melody Lane, at Detroit and Wilshire. Also, those cars out front look pretty early. But what a magnificent building! It’s almost like a palace.
Ralphs supermarket on Wilshire Blvd and Hauser Blvd, 1928:
Ralph’s, circa 1950. It appears that people are lined up for a parade along Wilshire Boulevard:
The corner of Wilshire and Hauser in January 2018. The building there now isn’t quite as pretty, is it?
The original building was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements, a firm that did a number of buildings for the Ralph’s company. Frequently, that big tower room (seen on other Ralph’s buildings) on the second level was devoted to some sort of fraternal organization. M,W & C also designed the Pig n’ Whistle adjacent to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood
Hi Martin, Re: Jay 10, 2018 Ralph’s Market 5615 Wilshire Blvd.
Hope you are well and surviving the pandemic. I’m writing about this building in 1968, the year Ralphs sold it to Federated Dept. Stores. From March to June, it was Robert Kennedy’s Campaign Hdqts. for this Presidential run.
Do you know someone who was familiar with that building and the sale in ’68?
I worked there during the Campaign but in retrospect I can’t figure out why the building was empty? Federated was taking over but not ending selling groceries at 5615 Wilshire Blvd. I’m looking for an eye-witness.
Hi Bill, and thanks for stopping by. I’m rather shocked that that building was empty in 1968 but what a great space to have campaign headquarters in. Hopefully somebody will read this who was an eyewitness.
The original building was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements, a firm that did a number of buildings for the Ralph’s company. Frequently, that big tower room (seen on other Ralph’s buildings) on the second level was devoted to some sort of fraternal organization. M,W & C also designed the Pig n’ Whistle adjacent to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood
Ah! That’s why it reminds me of the Pig’n Whistle in Hollywood! Thanks Jim!
Hi Martin, Re: Jay 10, 2018 Ralph’s Market 5615 Wilshire Blvd.
Hope you are well and surviving the pandemic. I’m writing about this building in 1968, the year Ralphs sold it to Federated Dept. Stores. From March to June, it was Robert Kennedy’s Campaign Hdqts. for this Presidential run.
Do you know someone who was familiar with that building and the sale in ’68?
I worked there during the Campaign but in retrospect I can’t figure out why the building was empty? Federated was taking over but not ending selling groceries at 5615 Wilshire Blvd. I’m looking for an eye-witness.
Hope all is well with you,
Bill McNally @ Oakwood & Poinsettia
https://martinturnbull.com/2018/07/10/ralphs-supermarket-on-wilshire-blvd-at-hauser-blvd-with-a-pign-whistle-restaurant-los-angeles-circa-early-1930s-3/
Hi Bill, and thanks for stopping by. I’m rather shocked that that building was empty in 1968 but what a great space to have campaign headquarters in. Hopefully somebody will read this who was an eyewitness.
I went everyday for two months and this building is a memory mystery.