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Building History

Los Angeles architect John M. Cooper produced a design for the Grether and Grether Building in late 1923 or very early 1924. The Grether and Grether Building was proposed at a time when the US was emerging from a period of shortages and recession following World War I. It was illustrated in the Los Angeles Times article, "Development Projects Launched During Seven-Day Period Indicate Local Building Progress," 01/27/1924. p. D1. A smaller article, "For Jobbing Firm," described the building: ""A six-story and basement building of reinforced concrete construction will rise at 728-736 South Los Angeles street for Grether & Grether, Inc., at a cost of approximately $250,000....The site of the proposed structure is 95 feet wide by 147 feet deep. Specifications for the building are being prepared by Architect John M. Cooper. The firms is now located at 752 South Los Angeles and is well known in the jobbing trade here. The new move comes as a result of constantly increasing business and will give the firm approximately 93,000 square feet of floor space, as compared with a total floor space in their present quarters of 30,000 square feet."

The article continued: "Modern conveniences to be incorporated in the building will include a pneumatic tube system, electric passenger, freight and package elevators, and rest-rooms for women and men employees with lockers and shower baths. The firm imports and distributes merchandise from ten foreign countries." (See "For Jobibng Firm," Los Angeles Times, 01/27/1924, p. D1.)

PCAD id: 19590