As one of the oldest markets in the country, the City Market of Los Angeles was incorporated in
April
of 1909 and has been in continuous operation since that time. A group
led by, then City Attorney Edward J. Fleming, and long time friend A.G.
Jong founded the Company. Other
founding Directors were local businessmen of the area.
Originally, the local farming community gathered around the
circle at the Plaza, near Olvera Street, Los Angeles,.
With circled flat bed wagons pulled by horses, the farmers were
able to sell their fresh picked crops to customers.
Gradually, more and more space was required, and the need for an
organized produce market.
The
Company was incorporated under the laws of the state of California, and
began operations basically as a cooperative.
In order to be permitted to rent a "Stall" in the
open-air marketplace, you were required to own a minimum number shares of
the capital stock in the "Market Company".
Thus, capitalized by the users of the Market, the company grew,
and gradually added buildings, steel yard sheds and other amenities.
The company continues to provide space for produce wholesalers at a
reasonable cost, and the operation remains much as it has been from the
turn of the century. The
produce Market still remains our base and core business.
In 1990 the Company converted a produce loading facility to
wholesale garment use. This
project was a tremendous success, fully leasing in two days.
It is now scheduled for demolition in favor of a much larger
development, which will share the name of the original: City Market
Fashion Dock. In 1995 the
Company completed it's second garment development called the City Market
Fashion Plaza. It is a
four-story structure with eight wholesale units and 2 1/2 floors of
parking.
The
City Market of Los Angeles is undertaking some new construction
projects. The new projects
on the drawing boards include the new 50,000 sq. ft.
Fashion Dock, a new 10,000
sq. ft. warehouse to replace one that was destroyed by
fire, and a re-model of our warehouse style maintenance shop
into three garment stores. Further down the pipeline is another 15,000
sq. ft. garment oriented building on San Julian Street.
The City
Market has played an important role in the development of Los Angeles,
while you're our guest, take a moment and visit our City
Market Photo Album
of circa 1909
