I have a small addition to make to my current-day Gemco photo collection. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time I want to devote to the proper photography of these buildings, but I figured I should grab a few quickies this evening.
So, for starters, the Gemco I was most familiar with as a child: Cerritos. This location became a Target and had a refront a few years ago, removing most traces of its Gemco origins and moving the main entry from the middle to the corner of the front. However, the side walls show the original concrete block. The detail along the roofline appears to be common amongst Lucky buildings of the time. I don't have the numbers, but this Target has to be one of the chain's more successful locations, prompting the second Cerritos location to be built over by the mall on the former Fedco property.
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/retail/GEMCO-CER01.jpg The grown-up trees in this parking lot make photography more difficult.
A couple questions about Cerritos: I *think* I remember a gas station here, was it located to the north of the parcel? I also somewhat remember groceries in this store, am I correct?
Another Gemco I spent time around was Fullerton East. It was just down the road from the Grandparents' house. Sources on the internet say this was the first location to offer groceries - and launching the hypermarket concept for the Gemco. I don't remember much about the interior of this store, mostly the exterior which hadn't changed much until a couple years ago, when Target made a small modification to the front entry. Target also cut numerous skylights into this store, making it an EPA "Energy Star" store ... I don't believe this existed in the Gemco days.
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/retail ... FULB01.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/retail ... FULB02.jpg
... both are night shots ... unfortunately not as detailed as I'd like.
Question about Fullerton East: I believe that this store once had a freestanding sign like the Downey location, tripod-style and VERY tall, is this a false memory?
And since it wasn't far away, I took a peek at the North Fullerton Gemco. Interestingly, this location is nearly across the street from the Alpha Beta La Habra Distribution Center (CVS these days). This location was subdivided and converted to a Lucky (a Target is diagonal across Harbor/Imperial Highway, complete with the Neon-on-Grey interior. I'm not sure of Target's exact vintage.) The location is now an Albertsons via the 1999 buyout, with the Lucky interior. The other major tenant is Staples. Its almost identical to the subdivided Bellflower Gemco location (except that Bellflower became Staters and they repainted the Lucky interior and installed new Aisle Hangers.)
http://home.earthlink.net/~it345/retail ... FULA01.jpg
Again a night shot, someday when I have free daylight I'll be back, hopefully before Supervalu gets to the Lucky interior. (I'm curious though about how they will apply their new design to the Gemco converts, since they tend to be odd shaped stores by grocery standards, rather deep and narrow.)
Speaking of interiors, is there a connection between the late Gemco designs and Lucky's Teal Green/Red highlight interior? (Matter of fact, when did Lucky come up with the Teal Green scheme anyway? Its the only scheme I've ever seen in a Lucky, but there must have been something before it.) I find it notable that a yellow-orange triangle is on Lucky's aisle hangers... where did that triangle element show up first, the Blue Gemco Logo or Lucky?