History of Beach Grocery Co. Inc.
Written by Jan Zufall
Max Arthur Beach was the man behind the vision of Beach’s Markets. He began at the age of twelve to support his widowed mother and two sisters. Max as a bookkeeper who in the mid 1930’s went into partnership with Izzsy Sol. Izzsy had two markets in his chain. This chain grew until 1930 when it was sold and Max acquired two stores of his own. He now owned the Acme Market in the San Fernando Valley and Beach’s Market on Glendale Blvd., in the Atwater District of Los Angeles. He still owned the Market in Atwater at the time of his death in 1988.
During the 1950 and 1960’s Max also had drugstore and hardware businesses. Max continued to expand his chain of stores by purchasing small markets and other real estate around the city. His purchases were to generate income for future expansion of his markets. His dream came true with the retail centers he build in the mid 1960’s. In Downey his retail center includes a Beach’s Market, (which houses an independent bakery), a restaurant (Bakers Square), and a cleaner. In Rosemead he built a big new supermarket to replace the small neighborhood store. He also built a drugstore (now CVS Drugs) opposite the market, and a Jack in the Box. He also owns several rental properties all around this market. In the next decade he concentrated on his two retail centers, owning and operating the two Beach markets. A privately owned corporation was formed in the 1970’s.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s Jerry, Max’s Son, took over buying almost everything for the markets, and gradually overseeing all operations. The Market in Lynwood was leased out and the Market in the Atwater area was condemned due to earthquake standards. The Atwater Market was leveled but the property was still used by the Corporation to produce income through the next decade. In the 1990’s we saw the Lynwood store burned down due to the Los Angeles riots and the property sold. The purchases of two residential houses in Utah were added to the Corporations real estate holdings.
Today Jerry Beach is the owner; Ron Beach is doing the buying, managing the Downey Market and overseeing both retail centers. The Beach Corporations has expanded it’s trucking operation by hauling groceries for other small markets around town.
Click here to download Beach's Market picture (pdf file)
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Friends of Atwater Village (FAV) sincerely thanks Beach Grocery Company Inc. for sharing their history with Atwater Village. Beach's Market served Atwater Village for over 40 years at its former location at Glendale Blvd / Glenhurst Avenue.