History of 810 South Spring St.

Originally built as the headquarters for the National City Bank of Los Angeles , The development of the National City Bank of Los Angeles follows the impressive story of its first president, Malcom Crowe. Considered one of the youngest and most successful bankers on the Pacific Coast at the time National City was formed in 1923, he had his start in the banking industry as a messenger boy in 1903.

Completed in 1924 by the prominent architecture firm of Walker and Eisen, whose body of work includes the Oviatt Building in downtown Los Angeles and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills , this 12-story building was designed in the Beaux Arts style, which had become a preferred style used by financial institutions. Banks looked to impart an image of financial stability, and architecture using classically-inspired elements and grand proportions reinforced that impression.

The bank's choice of this location for their building, fronting Spring Street, reflects the impressive growth of Los Angeles ' early twentieth century financial district. So many financial institutions built their headquarters along Spring Street that this stretch was nicknamed the "Wall Street of the West." The majority of these palaces of finance still line the street today and the portion between 4th and 7th Streets has been listed as a National Register Historic District.

Telephone : (213) 623 - 3777   or   (877) NCT-LOFT