Los Angeles

Grand Central Market and Million Dollar Theater Could Soon Become Historical Monuments

The LA City Council will have the final say.

The Grand Central Market and the Million Dollar Theater in downtown Los Angeles were recommended Thursday for inclusion on the city's list of historic-cultural monuments by the Cultural Heritage Commission.

The Grand Central Market, a popular spot for downtown workers, tourists and local visitors, has more than 35 food vendors and is located in a mixed-use commercial building that spans the block between Broadway and Hill Street between Third and Fourth streets.

Constructed in 1898 as the Homer Laughlin Building, the ground floor and basement have housed the market since its opening in 1917, according to a report from the Department of City Planning. A three-story addition was built in 1905 on the rear of the property.

The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is individually listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, but has not been named as a monument by the city.

"When this came forward, I was kind of surprised that the Grand Central Market wasn't already a monument, but so be it," Commission President Richard Barron said in February.

The commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the application for the Grand Central Market that was filed by the building's owner, Langdon Street Capital, which bought the space in 2017 along with the Million Dollar Theater.

The Million Dollar Theater building, located next door to the Grand Central Market, is a 12-story mixed-use commercial building located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Third Street, constructed in 1918 as a movie theater and office space.

The Scene

Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.

Snack, with style, on the Rose Bowl field and support a great cause

LA says goodbye to the iconic Conga Room

The theater, which was one of the earliest and largest movie palaces when it opened, was initially owned and operated by showman and entrepreneur Sid Grauman, who also created the Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The theater has fallen out of regular use in recent decades, but opened for performances and special events in 2008 after a year-long refurbishment, and now serves as an event and filming location, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy.

The theater's application was also filed by Langdon Street Capital, and the property is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources both individually and as a contributor to the Broadway Theatre and Commercial District.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
Contact Us