What happened to this project?

This property, at the corner of Hawthorne Blvd. and Rolling Hills Rd., used to be home to a liquor store, a dance studio and a gas station.  It was all torn down a few years ago to make way for a senior assisted living center.  I had been watching its progress each day as I passed it going to and from work.  Suddenly, there was no one working there at all.  Months have passed, so I started getting curious.  I found this on the Daily Breeze web site:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_13514454?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com

Apparently, the company had financial problems so stopped work on the project.  Now we've got an eyesore. 

I called the number on the sign.  The recording stated that I had reached Sunrise Senior Living in McLean, Virginia.  I could have stayed on the line or pressed 0 for the operator, but the Daily Breeze post told me what I needed to know anyway. 

Goodbye, Jack-in-the-Box

This was a Jack-in-the-Box, until recently, located at the corner of PCH and Hawthorne in south Torrance.  A few months ago there was a sign in the window saying they were closed for construction, but I never saw anyone working on the place.  Next thing I know, the sign was gone and the logo was off the roof.  I assume it's for sale, but I have yet to see a For Sale sign.

Two of my friends worked there in the early 70's.  Their hourly rate was the minimum wage at the time, $1.65.  I, on the other hand, was working at Hughes Market and making a whopping $2.02 per hour.  I thought I had it made.  However, they got to take damaged food home.  For example, my friend Kathleen would "accidentally" poke a hole in the apple turnover and then have to eat it.  I never got to take any damaged food home from Hughes.

The other interesting thing about this Jack-in-the-Box is that there used to be a Shell Station next to it, but it's been gone for many years.  I noted that only women seemed to work there.  This was during the time when gas station attendants pumped your gas, so I saw the female employees servicing the cars whenever I drove by.   After the Shell Station closed, the building was torn down and the lot remained vacant, as it is today.   The car wash next to it is closed also.  This corner is now blighted.  Sad, because it's across the street from some thriving businesses.

This is a picture of me as a baby with my Uncle Richard.  He is the only surviving sibling in my mother's family. 

First post

This is my first blog post.  I am just experimenting for the moment.  I hope to have more interesting material in the near future.