J. M. Hale

J. M. Hale, originally from New York City, worked with his brothers in Northern California and came to Los Angeles in 1883, opening his first store in October of that year.

In the 1920s, sources state the San Francisco-based Hale Bros. company owned 30% of Los Angeles-based J. M. Hale Co.,[2] while in the 1890s the Los Angeles stores were advertised as "branches" of the San Francisco company.

Additional stores were opened in Ocean Park, Santa Monica, and elsewhere in Greater Los Angeles.

In 1907 Hale had built "a handsome home in the Wadsworth & Hollister Tract costing $7,434".

The house is still standing at 149 Wadsworth St. in Ocean Park, Santa Monica, a very-late Queen Anne architecture/Shingle-style Victorian.

J. M. Hale Co.'s new store at 341–5 Broadway , 1908
Spring Street, looking north from Temple, 1890s. In the bottom left corner, barely visible is the sign for J. M. Hale Co. at 107-9 (pre-1890: 7-9) Spring St. Hamburger's , the largest retail store in the West, dominates the photo.