Story Contibuted by Lunada Bay Residents Bruce and Maureen Megowan, authors of the book, “Historic Tales of Palos Verdes and the South Bay”. For more info go to: palosverdeshistory.com
The original master plan for the Palos Verdes Project, which now includes the City of Palos Verdes Estates, envisioned three major business centers in Malaga Cove, Valmonte, and Lunada Bay, with minor business centers in Margate, Miraleste, and Montemalaga. Malaga Cove Plaza was the first of those constructed. The Original Conceptual Design of Malaga Cove Plaza was done by Webber, Stanton and Spaulding, architects, who designed the first two buildings constructed in the mid 1920’s. Many residents assume that the Plaza was built all at one time, however it was actually built over a period of 38 years! Construction of the first commercial building in Malaga Cove began in 1924 and was completed in Sept. 1925. The building, commonly referred to as “The Gardner Building” was named after its owner W.W. Gardner. It was also named “Casa Primera”; by the Homes Association in keeping with the Spanish theme of naming of streets, plazas, etc. The Gardner building was the site of the first classrooms in the community on the upper floor and had a grocery market, post office, library, interior design shop and Bruce Drug Store on the first floor. The second building constructed, completed in 1929, was built at the east end of the Plaza, and was known first as the Alpha Syndicate Building and later as Casa del Portal. This building included the archway constructed over Via Chico. The next building constructed on the Plaza was built next to the archway in 1950. The General Store was then built at the far corner of the Plaza in 1952 by Walter Davis and continues today as the Malaga Cove Market. The other 3 buildings between these two were constructed between 1957 and 1962, with the one built next to the market, known as the Barnett building, originally constructed as a medical office building by Dr. McFarlane. The building next to the Gardner Building, currently the location of the Malaga Cove office of ReMax, was not constructed until 1961.
