The oldest parts of the building were built around 1930 as part of North Hollywood‘s newly forming downtown shopping district.  Owl Drug Co., Phillip’s Bootery, and Monterey Frock Shop each occupied spaces for over a decade, with A&P and JC Penny having short stints as well.  The building was partially demolished 1948 and the footprint massively expanded as the area began to explode in popularity.  A large new department store was built for Lerner Shops, who opened in 1949 and would occupy the space for the next 24 years, closing in 1973.  The 14′ concrete ceilings and feature walls from this period can still be seen throughout the building.  As the area was in decline throughout the 70’s and 80’s, the combination of cheap rents and the large open space of the vacant former department store made for an attractive opportunity to repurpose the space.