Sunday, December 8, 2024

Long Beach Lost: The Buffums’ department store in Downtown

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My ongoing series, Long Beach Lost, was launched to examine buildings, spaces, and cultural happenings that have largely been erased, including the forgotten tales attached to existing places and things. This is not a preservationist series but rather a historical series that will help keep a record of our architectural, cultural, and spatial history.

Editor’s note: This series first appeared on Longbeachize in 2017 and 2018; some articles have been republished, updated, and/or altered.

Want to read previous Long Beach Lost articles? Click here for the full archive.


Once standing tall at the southwest corner of Broadway and Pine in Downtown, this particular Buffums’ store was one of its most important because it launched the empire of westward-bound brothers Charles and Edwin Buffum.

Originally the Schilling Bros. Mercantile Store at 100 W. Broadway (now home to the WeWork Building) the pair of Illinois siblings purchased it in 1904, transitioning it from a dry goods store. After that, Buffums’ boomed into an 87-year-long empire.

“In its heyday, Buffums’ was among the most expensive major department stores in the west,” said local resident John Taylor. “It was called the ‘Grand Dame’ of department stores, in that it catered to a mostly mature, conservative clientele. It wasn’t until its final years that it began to cater to younger customers.”

In just under two decades, a six-story addition to the south of the original building was built in 1925. The street level held everything from its jewelry to handbags to the launch of its men’s store. The second floor catered to children’s clothes while the third floor featured designer clothing and lingerie. The fourth floor was bed and bath, the fifth floor filled with its offices, and the sixth floor held the terrace to the Four Seasons Restaurant.

The department store building that was Buffums’ on Pine. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Long Beach.

In the 1970s, Australia-based investor David Jones Ltd. bought the Buffums’ empire and just a decade later, was searching to sell the struggling chain as hard times hit. By the time of the sale, Buffums’ had become part of Adelaide Steamship, an Australian conglomerate, which never found a buyer. In a last-ditch effort to modernize and keep up with more successful stores like Macy’s and JCPenney, Buffums’ installed new point-of-sale registers in all stores in 1990, only to enter liquidation following the 1990 Christmas shopping season, according to the Los Angeles Times.

By March of 1991, there were signs posted at all 16 Southern California locations: “All Sales Final. No Returns. No Exchanges.” At the time of the closing, there were losses of $4.2 million on sales estimated at $110 million in its last fiscal year.

The Buffums’ department store building on Pine Avenue, seen in the upper middle left, circa 1955. Courtesy of the Historical Society of Long Beach.

Buffums’ lineage didn’t stop at the store: Charles is the father of the late Dorothy Buffum Chandler, who helped establish her famous namesake, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Music Center that was home to the Academy Awards for years, in Downtown Los Angeles.

Brian Addison
Brian Addisonhttp://www.longbeachize.com
Brian Addison has been a writer, editor, and photographer for more than 15 years, covering everything from food and culture to transportation and housing. In 2015, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club and has since garnered 30 nominations and three additional wins. In 2019, he was awarded the Food/Culture Critic of the Year across any platform at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. He has since been nominated in that category every year, joining fellow food writers from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Eater, the Orange County Register, and more.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I loved eating at that restaurant with my mom and aunt. The best toasted PB&J on the children’s menu. Don’t forget the Shirley Temple to go with it. Such a wonderful memory. The views if the beach was phenomenal!

  2. I worked in personnel at the Long Beach Buffums in the late 60’s , was also a floater in various departments to fill in when an employee was ill. In early 70′ moved to the San Diego store in personnel. Many wonderful memories of a philosophy of true customer service.
    I remember a woman returning a dress that must have been 3-5 yrs old because it faded. It had telltale slat markings on the back. Upon inquiring, she said she sat on this park bench often each week to have lunch wearing that dress and the material faded. She was graciously given her money back, based on what she remembered the price to be and what we determined to be reasonable. She continued to be a loyal customer and did not try to further take advantage of Buffums good customer service.
    The San Diego store in Mission Valley was a delight to manage.

  3. Thank you for this article. I remember my grandmother taking me as little girl to eat there too. I remember a hamburger that had thousand island dressing. I thought it was so cool and felt so grown up that I was allowed to get it. I wanted to be just like my grandma when I grew up. Today is the 29th of November- her birthday. She is celebrating in heaven today. I miss her terribly and this was a happy memory to have today.

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