Brown's Garage

805 S Shamrock Ave., Monrovia, CA
Phone:

East < GO > West

Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Brown set up a business here in late 1921 or early 1922. A building permit for a home and fruit stand was issued in 1921. Over the years there were at least two significant additions to the business while the Brown's were operating here. The first was a service station in 1926 and the second was the large garage in the center section of the current building, that was added in 1929. When the new station and garage building opened the filling station had a neon sign on the roof with 24 inch high letters.

The original business apparently transitioned from a fruit stand to include automotive products within a couple of years because by 1924 they were selling tires, two years before the gas station was added. They were also selling fireworks in the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1942 gas canopy and island was demolished. The Brown's business seems to have ended by 1937.

From 1937 to 1940 the Shamrock Dairy occupied the building. It's not clear if they owned the building or rented. In 1940 the apparently moved to a new location.

In 1941 Tige's Do-Nuts moved into the building. That may not have lasted long because in 1942 the building was up for sale and a dog food manufacturer apparently operated in the building for a short time. 1943 Day and Night Manufacturing was given a permit to construct a small testing room here. Day and Night manufactured furnaces etc. They may have manufactured military products during WWII.

In 2008 the building was significantly rehabbed and became an architectural office. That firm worked to get historical status for the building. It had earlier been upgraded to modern earthquake standards in 1993.

The large garage that was added in 1929 had these large garage doors, the addition ended just past the walk-in door on the left in this photo. That's also where the 1945 addition starts. This section of the building has a Lamella style roof, which may be one of the earliest examples still standing in the USA.

The large 1945 addition occupies the south end of the building. This addition was built while Day and Night operated here from the early 1940s to at least the mid-1960s.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

NOTE: In 1933 Brown's Garage ran a couple of fun ads called "Autopinions by Mac an' Nick", basically a couple of gentlemen talking. There may have been more, but these two are the only examples I've found.

Novemeber:

Autopinions by Mac an' Nick
It's no secret!
Tell your neighbor about Brown's Garage. Let him in on a good thing. It's no secret he'll appreciate your kindness, say Mac an' Nick

Browns garage"
805 South Shamrock
Phone 1007

October:

"Autopinions by Mac an' Nick
If one or two of the cylinders on the bus are missing, don't call the police. Just get in touch with Brown's Garage. They will locate everything, say Mac an Nick

Brown's Garage
805 South Shamrock
Phone 1007."

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Photo(s): 2019