Another in a Line of Too Many Things that Aren't Here Anymore

I suppose I shouldn't complain.  After all, when The Grove was built in Los Angeles surrounding and encompassing the site of the Farmer's Market, there was a real danger that that lovely old tourist trap would be torn down. Somehow, probably in large part because of community dissatisfaction that another piece of history was being bulldozed, and though some of the old stores and structures were demolished, the main section of that 1934 Los Angeles gem was retained. You still have the too expensive fruit and vegetable section, the Patsy D'Amore Pizza stand, Mariconda Meats, and a few newer eateries, like Monsieur Marcel, which even French expats seem to like. The people traffic into and out of the Rick Caruso amusement park like shopping, eateries and movie theater and into this kitschy tented oasis and the success of the Grove probably has helped not a few of the small businesses in their stalls. One of the oldest of those businesses, Gill's, which sold ice cream and all the accoutrements, founded in that very place in 1937, is though no more. The local paper I was reading while in the market today said they were closing on February 2. But when I went to the other side of the market I found out that it already was shuttered, except for a school notebook chained to the stone counter asking for guests to sign and make a comment. I did.

It doesn't seem to have been a matter of income, rather a matter of the landlord of the market wanting something more upscale, with nicer signage and veneer. The landlord's side of the story is that the space needed more than cosmetic repair-- substantial infrastructure upgrades The family who had owned it for 80 years wanted to maintain the original charm, and apparently they didn't think there was a structural problem. If there was, it's not a huge space, so I think we don't know the whole story. But, as usual, it was a legal issue and one that didn't settle. Frankly, it's the time warp charm that's alway drew me to the Farmers' Market.  It's what has drawn the neighborhood cronies to sit there arguing about movies and books. Over the time since the Grove grew up around it, I had also noticed some more fancy stalls. They never seem to survive because they were out of place and time. You can get that anywhere. The Market publicity people have been putting out ads around the place showing the location back in the old day, with cute little saying about how good the old days were. And yet, they are getting rid of one of the most iconic of those places.

I will bet that the space will be one of endless turnover. Just around the corner an eatery opened for about six months and has been closed for about that same period of time. But the landlord will get his structural repairs from someone else. Let's see if those renters last.

After 80 years, Gill's goes the way of so many places of good times to become fond fading memory. The Market itself is still there. That's something, but I can't get too comfortable. Progress is inexorable. It also isn't often really progress.