Off the Wall in Alhambra

A pair of early ’80s custom Vans’ Era sneakers from the archive. This pair shows a California license plate inspired design on the rubber sidewall, which was a custom design offered by the brand in the early ’80s (Courtesy of Vans Archive)

Are you ready to go off the wall, Alhambra?

By Joyce Amaro

On Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Alhambra Historical Society will host an event entitled “Off the Wall in Alhambra: The History of Alhambra’s Vans Store,” which will feature a presentation by Catherine Acosta, Vans’ Archivist and Brand Historian and Steve Van Doren, Vans’ Vice President of Promotions and Events and son of Vans co-founder Paul Van Doren. The presentation will take place at 7:00 pm at Alhambra’s Masonic Lodge, 9 West Woodward Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91801. The event will be free to the general public; light refreshments will be served; and parking is free. To register for the event, visit this link.

Vans, the globally-recognized sneaker and action sports brand, has been operating its Alhambra retail store at 420 South Garfield Avenue for almost 56 years. stated Catherine Acosta, Vans’ archivist, says:

The Alhambra store is Vans’ oldest and longest operating store in Southern California. No other Vans’ store has survived at its original location.

We know the Alhambra store has been in operation since 1968, but there is a possibility that it originally opened as early as 1966—the year that Vans was founded , 23 miles south of Alhambra in the city of Anaheim.

Since the early 1980s, Vans has owned the Alhambra store. Prior to that, Vans rented the building. The Alhambra Vans store is a relatively unassuming structure that could be historically noteworthy. With Vans creating its official archive in 2019 at its global headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA, more information is coming to light about the Alhambra store, its role and the overall history of Vans retail operations throughout Southern California in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chris Olson, President of the Alhambra Historical Society, says:

We are excited to present this program and give Alhambrans the opportunity to learn more about the significance Alhambra plays in Vans’ history.

We encourage everyone attending the presentation on January 26 to arrive sporting their Vans sneakers, hats and/or t-shirts. We’ll go ‘off the wall together’ and take a photo of everyone in their Vans attire.

If you’d like to learn more about the Alhambra Historical Society, its museum or future programming, visit www.alhambrahistoricalsociety.org, call (626) 300-8845, or email alhambrahistsoc@att.net. The Alhambra Historical Society Museum, located at 1550 West Alhambra Road, Alhambra, CA 91801, is free to visitors and is open between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of every month.

Off the Wall in Alhambra: The History of Alhambra’s Vans Store
Jan. 26, 2023
7:00 pm
Alhambra’s Masonic Lodge
9 West Woodward Avenue
Alhambra, CA 91801