The End of Robinsons-May

The Robinsons-May department store chain, representing more than a century of retailing history in Los Angeles, is nearing its end. The few stores that survive the current series of "going out of business sales" will be converted to the Macy's moniker this fall.

The experience of Southern Californians is not unique. More than a dozen local department store names are being eradicated nationwide as part of Federated Department Stores' acquisition of May Department Stores, executed last year. The nature of retailing has changed; Federated has gambled that a "national brand" will help it compete against mass-merchandise titans like JCPenney, Kohl's, and Wal-Mart.

A few weeks ago Chizi and I visited a "going out of business" sale at the Robinsons-May store in the Westfield Santa Anita mall. It was only a couple days before the store closed forever, and the shopping environment was strange indeed:

Note: These manequins were on sale for $5 apiece.

As strange as it was to see the Robinsons-May store at Westfield Santa Anita reduced to such a bargain-hunting frenzy, it was downright bizarre to see the once-prestigious Robinsons-May store in Beverly Hills become "the world's largest garage sale" (cash only).

Prompted by a post at Curbed LA, Chizi and I made a pilgrimage to the shuttered Robinsons-May in Beverly Hills on Saturday to experience the "garage sale." We traveled through the 240,000-square-foot store, listening to pleasant Musak while viewing selling floors devoid of merchandise:

I was desperate to get a souvenir of some kind. After all, the Beverly Hills store (opened in 1952) was the first branch of J.W. Robinson's, one of Los Angeles' most upscale and exclusive department stores. I wanted to leave the "garage sale" with some piece of Robinsons-May's history.

In the end, I left with a framed "Robinsons-May Presidents' Club" poster for $5. Chizi thinks I could've bought it for less money, but I'm happy with it all the same. Here's a photo:

I'm proud to say that I own something with the Robinsons-May name on it; I have a little piece of Los Angeles retailing history, a history that I hope will not be soon forgotten.

Note: Please forgive the poor quality of many of the photos in this post, as they were taken with a cameraphone.

Previously on P.U.:
Remembering Robinsons-May (7/31/2005)
Macy's: Coming Soon to a Mall Near You (7/31/2005)
Big Changes in Store for Southern California's Malls (9/3/2005)
Pink Slips Galore (9/22/2005)
As the Merger Churns (10/27/2005)
End of an Era (11/07/2005)

See all my photos from "The End of Robinsons-May"

Above the Santa Clarita Valley

While urban planning is not the most glamorous profession, it does have its perks. On Thursday I was able to enjoy a helicopter ride above the Santa Clarita Valley in northwestern Los Angeles County.

Best known as the location of the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, the Santa Clarita Valley is an attractive suburban enclave set among rolling hills and oak trees. As recently as the 1960's, it was a sparsely populated rural area. Having experienced rapid growth for the last few decades, the Valley is now home to over 200,000 residents, with thousands more expected in the coming years.

In 1987, residents of several Valley communities (Canyon Country, Newhall, Sand Canyon, Saugus, and Valencia) came together to support the incorporation of the City of Santa Clarita. While the City continues to govern much of the Valley, several other communities (Agua Dulce, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, and Val Verde) remain in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, where most of the recent growth has occurred.

The City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County have joined forces to create a joint General Plan for the Santa Clarita Valley called "One Valley, One Vision." While the Valley is divided among two jurisdictions, City and County leaders have recognized that all Valley residents are confronted with similar planning issues. This ambitious effort seeks to create a General Plan containing a common vision for the Valley's future that will shape future development in territories governed by the City and the County.

As a County planner, I've been involved in "One Valley, One Vision" over the last several months. I was invited to join other City and County staff on Thursday's helicopter ride to gain a better understanding of the Santa Clarita Valley and its planning issues.

I've never been in a helicopter before, and I must admit the experience was exciting. As a planner, it was extremely useful to see the Santa Clarita Valley from the air. Not even the 3-D aerial images of Google Earth can compare! I have a new appreciation for the area's urban form and topography that has provided me with an entirely new perspective.

I'd like to share 12 of the 25 photographs I took from the helicopter (click here for the rest):

Photo 1: Above the Angeles National Forest, looking south down Bouquet Canyon. This is a rural area north of the City's boundary.

Photo 2: Above the Angeles National Forest, looking south down Seco Canyon. This is a recently developed area. Note the graded hillsides.

Photo 3: Tesoro del Valle in the foreground (a recently developed area). Beyond Tesoro del Valle is the Valencia Westcreek development, currently being graded.

Photo 4: Above Castaic, looking southeast. Castaic began as a truck stop along Interstate 5 (note businesses at left) but has experienced more residential development in recent years (note subdivisions at right).

Photo 5: Above Val Verde, looking southeast. Val Verde is a rural enclave that began as a community of "vacation homes."

Photo 6: Valencia Commerce Center (an office and light-industrial employment center) in the center, beyond the mountain ridge. Although the Valley is a suburban, residential area, it continues to attract new jobs.

Photos 7 and 8: Above Newhall Ranch, looking east. Located west of Magic Mountain, Newhall Ranch is a master-planned development that will be built over the next 20 years.

Photo 9: Stevenson Ranch in the center, beyond the mountain ridge. Stevenson Ranch is a master-planned community built during the 1990's.

Photo 10: Above Newhall, looking northwest. This photo shows several generations of development in the Valley: Newhall, a community dating to the 1880's, at lower right; Valencia, a master-planned community dating to the 1960's, at center right; Stevenson Ranch, a master-planned community dating to the 1990's, at upper left.

Photo 11: Fair Oaks Ranch in the foreground (under development). Note the grading of hillsides.

Photo 12: Last but not least, a Wal-Mart Supercenter (in the foreground). You know I couldn't resist! The Angeles National Forest is in the background.

See all my photos "Above the Santa Clarita Valley"