C. H. Baker

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C. H. Baker was a chain of shoe stores that operated in Greater Los Angeles [1] and elsewhere on the West Coast from 1904 through about 1991.

Contents

Charles Harris Baker (1969–1939)

The stores were founded by Charles Harris Baker [2] (b. Dec. 23, 1869, Martin County, Indiana, moved to Los Angeles in 1880 and Pasadena in 1889, died in an auto accident August 22, 1939, Pasadena, California) [3] In about 1898, Baker started as an employee in Hamilton's shoe store in Los Angeles at a salary of $12 per week. He began his shoe business around 1900, [4] initially or at some point as a partnership, Hamilton & Baker.

C. H. Baker stores

In 1904, the partnership with Hamilton was dissolved, and C. H. Baker took over the business, then located at 239 S. Spring St., [5] the central shopping district of Los Angeles at that time.

By 1928, C. H. Baker had 13 stores: 4 in central Los Angeles, one in Hollywood and Pasadena, 4 in San Francisco, and 3 in Portland, Oregon. Their stores were located in most major malls in Southern California until about 1991.

In 1939, Harris died in a car crash, and his son John Harris Baker managed the chain, which at that time had stores in 10 communities. [3]

Hollywood store

In 1923, C. H. Baker opened a store at 6664 Hollywood Boulevard, at that time the second-most-important shopping district in Los Angeles after Broadway and Seventh Streets in Downtown Los Angeles]]. That store had more demand for the latest fashions; its sales were about $100,000 the first year and $400,000 annually in 1928. [4]

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References

  1. "C H Baker". Los Angeles Herald. 6 September 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  2. "Charles Harris Baker (Obituary)". Los Angeles Times. 23 August 1939. p. 20. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Head of Shoe Company Dies (1/1)". The Los Angeles Times. 23 August 1939. p. 21. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 "C. H. Baker Anniversary Section: Celebrated Fifth Anniversary in Hollywood". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. 28 September 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  5. "Hamilton & Baker, 239 S. Spring St., dissolved partnership. C. H. Baker will continue the business". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 26 February 1904. p. 6. Retrieved 22 April 2024.