Automotive Signs of the Times in Whittier, Cal.

Back in August I surveyed vacant auto dealerships.  Recently two more dealerships fell.  Whittier Daily News reported that Harris Buick Pontiac GMC at 13617 Whittier Boulevard closed on September 24th.

Along with its sister company, Saturn of Whittier at 13809 Whittier Boulevard, they are the sixth and seventh dealerships in the city to close in the last three years.

Back in Uptown Whittier at Pickering Avenue, a quirky VW Goldmine, seller of new and used Volkswagen parts, has been around more than three decades.  Its building would be nondescript if it weren't for the blue VW sticking out of the wall:

The V Dub has served as a stage for mannequins and props to provide cultural commentary on current events like OctoMom and the loss of the king of Pop - Michael Jackson.  Spotted this past summer was a bit of Lohan-ism:

A Look at Some San Gabriel Valley Businesses

Some noticeable changes to a couple of long-time businesses prompted me to document their existence in case they close up and their signs are taken down.  Their longevity in the area deserves recognition.  They represent the ways we used to shop in an earlier time when shopkeepers were independent.

Rosemead Pharmacy

Rosemead Pharmacy faces a Rite-Aid store directly across the street on Valley Boulevard.
(Click on images to zoom in)

Bob Peterson owned Bob's Rosemead Pharmacy at an earlier location one block east at the corner of Rosemead and Valley, at 9001 Valley Boulevard, where the Citibank is currently located.  As early as 1953, Rosemead Pharmacy advertised in the paper, along with dozens and dozens of independent pharmacies.

Only animal figurines living in this drug store.

Above is an ad from the year 1957 for an Alhambra pharmacy.

Jenkins Products, Inc.

Jenkin's Carpets, at 1841 So. San Gabriel Boulevard was a store that was easy to overlook.

Until recently this San Gabriel store, long having been at this location, was still open for business.

This store was easy to bypass.  There were plenty of store windows, but the store exterior lacked appeal.  I shopped here in the early 1980s for beige mini-blinds.  In those years neither Home Depot nor 3-Day Blinds existed.  Maybe the store is just getting a face-lift.


Bob's Wondries Motors in Alhambra

A familiar car dealer from a 1957 ad.
(Click on image to zoom in)

From Studebakers to Toyotas, this business has survived.