Designed in 1924, 939 S. Broadway was situated beside the iconic, United Artists Theatre, amidst the center of the film industry. Thousands of people crowded the streets for the groundbreaking ceremony, hoping to catch a glimpse of the silver screen’s most notorious celebrities. Completed in 1925, the building was home to the Western Costume Co., known as the “closet to the stars.” Studio bigwigs, from actors to directors, walked its halls browsing treasure troves of costumes, shoes, sets and props. Showcasing Renaissance Revival design, the building remains an homage to L.A. history and the architectural style of its time
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OUR HISTORY
RICH IN HISTORY
A Storied Past
The old Western Costume Building is located on the west side of roadway, 130 to 230 feet north of the West Olympic Boulevard intersection. The structure was built at the request of the Ninth and Broadway Company. The prominent Los Angeles architect, Kenneth MacDonald, Jr. was commissioned to design the building.
Construction was initiated on March 29, 1924 and completed by January 1925. The notable local construction firm of MacDonald & Kahn executed the construction. The structure has subsequently been identified as the 939 South Broadway Building, and is currently identified as the Anjac Fashion Building at this address.
significant for its integrity and quality
Designed by Renowned Architect Kenneth MacDonald Jr.
While the interiors have been modernized to accommodate Downtown L.A.’s flourishing luxury lifestyle, the exterior of 939 S. Broadway remains an authentic example of 1920s commercial architecture. Its consistency in scale, style and period with the neighboring buildings, including The Ace Hotel, establishes its place in Broadway history.
A two-story, Gothic-inspired, Art Deco entrance features arched windows and a one-story door framed by elaborate metal work. The rooftop, which was used as a parking lot accessed via the building’s drive-on elevator, is now a private pool deck with views stretching across Downtown Los Angeles. The building’s original windows and industrial details remain, adding historic character to the open, airy interior residential designs.
Authentically Downtown LA
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