I thought it would be appropriate to start a new thread over here in Commercial Archaeology, because I have some pictures of my own to share of this location.Dean wrote: Is this Downey site off the 605? Vacant, correct?
The store is no longer vacant. It has reopened, this time as a "World of Decor." I still need to get inside. The store sat vacant for a few years after previous tenant Sam's Club closed it (I think in favor of their location at the Long Beach Towne Center, further down the 605.) Of coruse, prior to Sam's Club it was a Gemco. *Edit: I forgot about PACE, but now I remember* The Sam's Club labelscar is visible on the freestanding tripod-legged sign. It has been painted over in black, and is visible in the late afternoon sun.
Here's an enhanced photograph that shows the labelscar more clearly: http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/downeylabelscar.jpg
Here's a link to their website if you're interested in what kind of stuff the "World of Decor" sells: http://www.shopworldofdecor.com/
They give an address of 11111 Florence Avenue, Downey, CA 90241. I don't know if Gemco used the same address or if it has changed. It is an odd shaped lot formed by the intersection of the 605 and 5 freeways. As I said somewhere else, Gemco did seem to have a knack at picking good real estate locations.
Anyway, here's the building as it appeared a couple days ago:
Front Views:
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcodowneyfront.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcodowneyfront-2.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcodowneyfront-3.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcodowneyfront-4.jpg
Freestanding Sign:
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcotripod-1.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcotripod-2.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcotripod-3.jpg
Auto Shop, now an independent shop:
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/gemcodowneyauto.jpg
So... if anyone has a complete list of Gemco's locations, or even a partial one focusing on Southern California, I'd appreciate it. I know many stores have been radically changed or in some cases have been demolished, but there have to be a few more out there worth photographing.
Speaking of being demolished, Gemco 508 - 9880 Warner, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 is no more; I went down there after looking at live local... the store was a pile of concrete rubble being loaded into trucks. It was also a former Sam's location. Sadly gone before I could catch it. But the local.live.com for the store still shows "as it was."