The Slauson Swap Meet: History of South LA’s Iconic Indoor Shopping Center | Los Angeles Swap Meets
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- Growing up in South LA, near the Slauson swap meet, I never really thought much about indoor swap meets. I thought they were everywhere.
It’s where you bought clothes, specifically Pro Club T-Shirts, or a new matching outfit from top-to-bottom.
But they’re not everywhere. Even more so, this phenomenon of convenient shopping in odd indoor settings hasn’t always been in LA, in fact, it began recently in the mid 80s.
The Slauson Swap Meet is an iconic shopping center in the Harvard Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, but very little is known about it. In this deep dive, we’re going to explore a brief overview of swap meet history in Los Angeles, and how the disinvestment of one set of groups led to the development of an economic powerhouse. Tune in this episode to learn what perfect storm created way for the LA Slauson Swap Meet, and several other retail establishments across South and Central LA.
0:00 The Slauson Swap Meet
0:23 Intro
1:09 1600 W Slauson
2:50 History of indoor swap meet in Los Angeles
4:11 The first Indoor swap meet
5:07 Resident account of the Slauson Swap Meet
6:24 LA Slauson Swap Meet History
9:09 92 Uprising Impact on the Slauson Swap Meet
9:55 Slauson Swap Meet Today
10:16 Outro
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It’s most definitely a South Central LA Trademark 💯
You can’t come to Los Angeles and not go to the Slauson Swapmeet
Thank you once again for a great history lesson. I grew up going to the Slauson swap meet, and I had no idea the history. It was also great to see your dad give his impressions and experience with the swap meet! I look forward to the upcoming videos, and what more I will learn from them! Keep it up, great job!
Thank you, Heather! I’m glad I could share this with you. There are so many secrets around the region. I really appreciate your support!
The deep research and effort put into your videos continues to impress.
That sequence of property records... outstanding!
Thanks @derek20la. It always a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when viewers like you appreciate it. Thanks for tuning in!
I love this channel. Please keep bringing us unique and interesting stories about the history of South Central LA. I so look forward to seeing new videos
Thanks so much redrose1721! I’m really glad I could share this with you. I’ve got so many more stories to share. Stay tuned!
I definitely will!!
This video was absolutely FANTASTIC! 💯
very insightful man, - i didnt know this history about swapmeets!
This is a great channel! Keep pushing forward!
Thanks, Frank! I really appreciate this. Looking forward to sharing more with you all!
Awesome vid. For sure learned some stuff 🔥
Definitely some cool history behind it. Really glad I was able to share this. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Thx
Great video! That's funny you found a swapmeet expert haha that's good information though there was a surge of indoors during those days and many didn't make it so Slauson still hanging in there is last of a dying breed although it's definitely emptier now. That's super cool your pops gave feedback too 🙌🏽
Thanks! Alec is super knowledgeable about indoor swap meets and has a few in-depth resources that I’ve still been peeking back at.
Definitely looking at more bits of history and adding in more lock perspective. This will be cool to look back at years down the line
Nice work as usual my brother...
Thanks, Gary! I had a blast learning about this
You & Kev Mac videos doing videos together on locations would be an amazing look into LA life
I still have memories of visiting the Slauson Boulevard Swap-meet with my dad during the summer of 1986. I’m so grateful that it’s still going strong❣️
Glad this could bring back memories. It’s definitely still a staple!
Wow! I had no idea. I’ve been there a handful of times and they just seem like a relic of the past. I had no idea there were so many vendors.
You’re right, it’s like an immediate throwback to the 2000s to me, but there’s a healthy flow of people coming in every Saturday, with no signs of slowing down.
I didn’t get to talk about it this episode, but Alec Stewart talked about how e-commerce has taken a toll on Swap Meets, particularly biting into the convenience factor.
The Slauson Swap Meet had pretty much stayed the same for a long time, so I’m curious about it next move to adapt to the changing commercial landscape
I'm working on my truck in my garage lol had to take a break to watch this. So much information I didn't know! Awesome video bro
Thanks so much, Hood Historian. Glad i could share this with you. Who knew the Slauson Swap Meet could be so fascinating!
@@SouthLARecap you're welcome , I have your high school Playlist on now
South LA Projects are a good topic. This history of them, famous people to come out of them, and major events. Jordan’s Downs, Nickerson Gardens and such.
Seriously, LA projects look like mid level apartments compared to projects in other parts of the country. Especially ones east of the mississippi.
One reason LA is seeing the swap meets close is due to real estate. Swap meets, especially those in Koreatown and Hollywood sit on extremally valuable land next to LA Metro Stations. Owners are using that to cash out and replace the swap meets with high rises. It's sad but considering our housing shortage, it's necessary.
This is really insightful. I never thought of it like this. It’s a sad reality
From Hawaii I visit the slauson swap meet once a year it’s a one stop shop friendly people and prices
Slauson and Normandie 🙏
I remember when they open 1989 I believe there was only a few shops available that were open my friend ran the airbrush shop the original airbrush shop that was inside for many of years
That’s actually pretty cool! How long was your friend there?
Depending on how long they were there, I may have had some work done by your friend lol
I remember meeting the brotha raw Picasso there he had a airbrush spot there too..he also did the wall piece of 2pac in the movie baby boy.
Young's jewelry space L-15
@@leelandglover7777 rish was the owner.
Great video. Ever consider making one about the South Central Farm?
Yes, I have! I've reached out a few months ago, but I haven't hear back. I think they're doing fantastic work for the community. Let me know if you have a contact!
South central was nothing but farms
2:41 in addition to being a blerd, I'm a musician. And I love the music change here --- excellent production and great story telling.
I have been there many times. Too many times to count!
In Detroit we call SwapMeets FleaMarkets
Thanks for sharing I'm new here in your channel
Glad you enjoy it. Let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to look into!
Hey, its the Mega Mall!
Anyone in south Los Angeles remember Gage swapmeet on Gage and Vermont?
I shop at this swap-meet never even knew the history of this place
It’s definitely a crazy history. Before this video, I never knew the idea of Indoor swap meets was a recent phenomenon
roger dahlhjelm started the farmers market on 3rd and Fairfax
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but The Slauson is closing down on April 1st for good.
P.S.
I saw this on Instagram.
If I’m wrong, feel free to correct me.
I saw an LA Times article about how it was not doing well, but I couldn’t read it behind the paywall.
If that is true, that is a real loss to the community and its history…
do you have any information on the no-longer existing swap-meet that was demolished for a school on 54th & Avalon? perhaps a name?
Hey! So, I dug around a little bit. I have an image, but I haven't found much else. This appears to be a Swap Meet inside of the Avalon Warehouse. This is a street view photo before it was demolished in 2008 or so...goo.gl/maps/BcSpyhGr6K2v3raL7
I found a bit more: The address also appeared to have been 5301 S Avalon Blvd. Multiple businesses operated on the lot, including a used car sales. There isn't much literature on the swap meet, but that Avalon Warehouse building formerly housed the Atlas Spring Manufacturing Company in the 50s. Hope that helps!
@@SouthLARecap wow! thank you so much! 53rd street used to directly connect to Avalon on the west side of the street but got re-rerouted through Towne after they destroyed the homes there, i had forgotten about that entire marketplace and hub that existed.
the homes behind the mailman were there just over 10 years ago, epic research sir!
www.google.com/maps/@33.9942937,-118.2673005,3a,75y,41.94h,82.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5NfpRS3Zqt0Snxo87jFsiQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664?entry=ttu
is it safe for an outta towner to go to the slauson swampmeet
Yes this is where all of my stolen tools were re-sold!!!,!
That my friend is an absolute understatement. This place is an absolute cesspool of counterfeit items and raunchy people.
Close i living my home
I was 1 of 2 security supervisors (SSgt) during the riots, a 7 member team tripled to 21. LAPD's Metro-SWAT arrived like 6hrs later on 04/29 and asked me that $33Mil question, are they going to give us an escort off the property or are we staying? The entire city was on fire, we said we staying. Honestly not as much out of loyalty but come tomorrow, next week or month where in the hell were we going to get another job?
We survived 8 shootouts in a 3 day period. And back then the establishment wasn't gated up. There were only a few poles & chains blocking the entrance and a east/west fence to separate the adjusted alley. The media downplayed things & said it was the swap meets close ties to the community that kept Slauson's existence? Really??
Excellent info!
Yes really. The people that live there shop there to keep it alive. The real $33mil question is how do immigrants open these large businesses in black areas, but the black people thats been there since the beginning have such a hard time?
If it hadn’t been for this video, I would’ve never known what it looks like inside. Growing up in the area,( not too far from this rat house); I would always cringe as I would drive by this place. This place is a cesspool of absolute ghetto.
I can almost bet hardly any of the vendors are black american owned today.
Its like a nice flea market right?