Superior Grocers/Shoppers Market | Los Angeles Conservancy
Photo by Cindy Olnick / L.A. Conservancy

Superior Grocers/Shoppers Market

This grocery market was completed in 1960 and typified grocery markets as a building type in the postwar era. Originally opened as a Shoppers Market, the grocery operated as a Lucky’s Market from 1965 to 1999, and later as an Albertson’s before its current use by Superior Grocers.

Designed by architect Ronald Cleveland of the firm Leach, Cleveland & Associates, the distinctive building featured modern architectural and Googie elements and a high degree of transparency along its main façade. 

The roof form was a dominant feature of the market, forming both the zig zag ceiling of the interior and projecting beyond the glass walls to form the lozenge-shaped roofline that functions as an entrance canopy. 

Strips of fluorescent lighting were arranged in rows on the underside of the angled ceiling and canopy.  When illuminated at night, the canopy and interior ceiling appeared to float above the glass walls along the entrance, giving the market a transparent quality.

Patterned concrete lent additional texture to the walls flanking the central glazed section of the market.  Spanning 42,000 square feet of space, the market is set back from the street by a large parking lot.

The store’s Googie features were demolished in April 2014 as operator Superior Grocers began a faux-Craftsman makeover. 

 

Este mercado de abarrotes se completó en 1960 y demuestra los mercados de alimentos de la época de la posguerra.  Nombrado originalmente el Mercado Compradores, el supermercado funcionó como un mercado de Lucky 1965-99, y más tarde como un mercado Albertson’s antes de su uso actual por la compañía Superior Grocers.

Diseñado por el arquitecto Ronald Cleveland de la firma Leach, Cleveland & Associates, el edificio cuenta con elementos arquitectónicos modernos y tipo Googie y un alto grado de transparencia a lo largo de su fachada principal.

La forma del techo es una característica dominante del mercado, formando el techo zig zag del interior y proyectándose más allá de las paredes de vidrio para formar la línea del techo en forma de rombo, que funciona como un toldo para la entrada.

Tiras de iluminación fluorescente están organizadas en filas en la parte inferior del techo en una forma angular abajo del toldo del interior. Cuando se ilumina por la noche, el toldo exterior y el techo interior parecen flotar por encima de las paredes de vidrio y lo largo de la entrada, dándole al mercado una calidad transparente y translúcida.

El concreto estampado le brinda textura adicional a las paredes que flanquean la sección central acristalada del mercado. Abarcando 42,000 metros cuadrados de espacio, el mercado está situado lejos de la calle por un amplio estacionamiento.

Photo by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy

Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist

The former Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist is an excellent example of postwar ecclesiastical architecture and reveals the prominence of the congregation within the Hollywood community.
Photo by Jessica Hodgdon/L.A. Conservancy.

Bob's Big Boy

This Toluca Lake landmark escaped the wrecking ball, thanks to the Conservancy's Modern Committee.