Our History
City of Commerce, Interstate 5 Circa 1990s
Adolph Burgess Schleicher forms Samson Tire and Rubber Company 1910
1920
1917
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Charles Lindbergh lands at Vail Field while on nationwide tour following completion of his transatlantic flight in May 1910
1920
1930
September 20, 1927
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Schleicher announces construction of his new factory; the $8 million Samson Tire company will be the largest tire manufacturing facility on the west coast 1910
1920
1930
1929
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Founder’s daughters Gretchen (left) and Nancy Ellen (right), and Adolph Schleicher directly behind Nancy Ellen.
Ground is broken for Samson Tire company 1910
1920
1930
January 24, 1929
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Modeled after the 7th century BC Assyrian palace of King Sargon II, the crenulated wall is designed to feature heraldic griffins and bas-reliefs of Babylonian princes 1910
1920
1930
1929
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
The plant site was 23 acres, the same size as King Sargon’s palace 1910
1920
1930
1929
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Stock market crash 1910
1920
1930
October 24, 1929 Black Thursday
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Samson Tire company opens to little fanfare in the wake of the stock market crash 1910
1920
1930
May 1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Looking Southbound, at Samson Tire, from Telegraph Road 1910
1920
1930
May 1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
The plant had the capacity to produce 6,000 tires and 10,000 tubes daily 1910
1920
1930
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Schleicher did not weather the Depression. In less than 6 months he negotiates to sell the plant to U.S. Tire and Rubber Company. The sale is completed in January 1931. 1910
1920
1930
January 31,1931
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Filming for the movie Ben Hur 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1959
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
U.S. Rubber becomes U.S. Royal Tires 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
The name changes to Uniroyal Tires 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1970
1960
1967
1980
1990
2000
2010
The Uniroyal plant closes. The ensuing years are filled with ownership changes and debate over the future of this iconic landmark, unofficially the second-most recognized building in Los Angeles. 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
March 3, 1978
1990
2000
2010
DAON Southwest Co. purchases the property 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
June 1979
1990
2000
2010
DAON receives City approval to demolish the structures with exception of the administration building, faรงade and 7 acres of manufacturing area 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
August 20, 1980
1990
2000
2010
• California State Historical Resources Commission approves the site nomination to the national Register of Historic Places • Commerce City Council designates the site and
buildings an official City Landmark
The Citadel becomes an Historic Landmark 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
1982
2000
2010
City of Commerce purchases the property for $14 million in an effort to prevent demolition of the remaining Landmark wall and faรงade 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
October 1983
1990
2000
2010
City of Commerce announces plans to redevelop the site 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
January 9, 1986
2000
2010
Trammell Crow Co. is awarded exclusive right to negotiate with City 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
March 1987
2000
2010
A)
Renovated historic Administration Building B) Specialty retail center C) Food Court D-G) Office Buildings H) 201-room Wyndham Garden hotel & conference center I) Future Office Building
Trammell Crow signs long-term ground lease with City of Commerce Redevelopment Agency
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
November 1989
2000
2010
Gretchen Schleicher Davis (right); Mr. Trammell Crow Jr. (left); Kevin Staley, Trammell Crow president (holding pick and shovel)
61 years after Samson Tires, ground was broken for the Citadel. In attendance was Gretchen Schleicher who held the original silver pick used at the 1929 groundbreaking. 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
January 25, 1990
2000
2010
More than 19,000 guests attend Grand Opening 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
November 23, 1990
2000
2010
Craig Realty Group takes over the management of Citadel Outlets and Office Park and enters into an agreement with the City Redevelopment Agency to purchase the property
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
January 1, 2002
2010
Craig Realty Group purchases the property and begins extensive renovations and expansion plans 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
July 24, 2003
2010
Renovation of Citadel Drive provides improved traffic flow and increased visibility 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
November 2003
2010
Grand opening of Starbucks, addition of expanded parking and luxury restrooms 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
April 2004
Billboard advertising prior to Craig Realty Group
Banner advertising, attached to the wall, prior to Craig Realty Group
Four 2-sided, state-of-the-art LED signs unveiled 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
May 19, 2005
Grand opening of Phase II expansion, nearly doubling the number of stores 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
November 12, 2005
After
Before
New Storefront Signage Paint New Awnings Redesign structural elements to improve storefront visibility Renovation of Citadel Tower
Phase I renovation 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2006
Before
After
New Storefront Signage Paint New Awnings Redesign structural elements to improve storefront visibility Renovation of Citadel Tower
Phase I renovation 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2006
Before
After
New Storefront Signage Paint New Awnings Redesign structural elements to improve storefront visibility Renovation of Citadel Tower
Phase I renovation 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2006
After
Before
New Storefront Signage Paint New Awnings Redesign structural elements to improve storefront visibility ď ś Renovation of Citadel Tower
Phase I renovation 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2006
Before
After
Historic Wall Renovation dedication ceremony 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
June 20, 2007
Grand opening of Phase III expansion, increasing number of stores to 115 1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
November 20, 2010
Citadel Outlets 2012