Ralphs is mentioned as planning this store in the July 1961 issue of Chain Store Age (page 13)...
while the Vons is featured extensively on Page 87 of the September 1961 issue, due to its large health/beauty department.
more: http://dtcwrt.earlracing.com/stores/csa ... annuys.jpg
Early 1960s Ralphs and Vons units, Van Nuys, CA
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- TheStranger
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Early 1960s Ralphs and Vons units, Van Nuys, CA
Chris Sampang
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The Ralphs is probably the store at Sherman Way and Woodman. There's a 4/16/1961 article in the LA Times announcing its groundbreaking. An article from a year later expected it to open in June, 1962. According to that article, "Basic construction materials in the one-story building include brick, and tapered steel girders. Decorative steel columns will highlight the facade and an extensive use of glass and exotic mosaic paneling will accent the design." I find it fascinating what qualified as news back then... It's still a Ralphs though much more boring that it probably was when it opened.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2& ... ne=3159641
The Vons is on Van Nuys Blvd just south of Vanowen and is a Jons today. I recently help run a volunteer office in the same shopping center and researched the store's past so I know it was a Vons. And the palm trees are still there. In this shot you can see a truck in the loading dock ramp, which goes under part of the parking lot.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2& ... ne=3141148
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2& ... ne=3159641
The Vons is on Van Nuys Blvd just south of Vanowen and is a Jons today. I recently help run a volunteer office in the same shopping center and researched the store's past so I know it was a Vons. And the palm trees are still there. In this shot you can see a truck in the loading dock ramp, which goes under part of the parking lot.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2& ... ne=3141148
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Ralphs
From the caption to the photo: "the one story supermarket ..." Huh? How many two-story supermarkets are there? Do you think they wrote that because, as pictured in the photo, the building looks like it could be two stories?