Southern California's The Broadway started out in this store in February 1896. Founded by Arthur Letts, it was located in the center city of Los Angeles, on Broadway Street...hence the name.

Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library

May Company California had several locations in the Los Angeles basin by the mid-20th century. In this snapshot we see the streamline moderne "May's Wilshire," which opened -as the chain's first branch- in September 1939.

Photo from Library of Congress

A second May Company branch was built along Los Angeles' Crenshaw Boulevard. Before it could be completed, May Co's retail adversary -The Broadway- broke ground on a store, which was built directly across the boulevard. "The Broadway Crenshaw" opened for business in November 1947.

Drawing from Broadway-Hale Stores, Incorporated 

Los Angeles' Bullock's retail empire came into being in March 1907. A store was opened by Canada's John Gillespie Bullock and Arthur Letts (Mr. Letts also owned The Broadway store). After Letts passed away, Bullock, and business partner Percy Glenn Winnet, established full ownership of Bullock's. A luxury division, known as Bullock's Wilshire, opened the store depicted above in 1929. 

Drawing from Library of Congress