In 1929, architects Morgan Walls and Clements (Mayan Theater) built Commerce’s most recognizable landmark, the Assyrian-themed Samson Tire and Rubber Co. factory. Back then the City of Commerce didn’t exist and this was unincorporated Los Angeles County. Soon after the factory opened, the owner was forced to sell it to the company then known as Uniroyal. The plant was shut down in 1978.
The city bought the Samson site for $14 million in 1983. Seven years later, Trammell Crow Co. was brought in to oversee the $118 million redevelopment of the site into an outlet center, as well as the construction of a 201-room Wyndham Garden Hotel next door.
A bystander can see human-headed, winged bulls surrounding the entrance to the administration building. Steel reinforcing beams were added to make the building and wall earthquake safe.
Newly cast friezes depicting Assyrian warriors in horse-drawn chariots adorn the lobby of the tower, which served as the administration building for tire manufacturer Adolph Schleicher in 1930.
When the partnership defaulted on its ground lease with the city in 1998, Commerce officials took back the center and began marketing it to firms that would double its retail size and make it competitive with newer outlet malls in Southern California.
Craig Realty bought the Citadel Factory Stores from the City of Commerce for $50 million in July 2002, with the condition that his firm would double the size of the retail center of outlet shopping stores. Craig Realty owns factory outlet centers in Cabazon, just outside Palm Springs, and Carlsbad. The Citadel is located at 5675 Telegraph Rd, Commerce, CA 90040.
In 2003 Craig Realty remodeled some of the property. 30-foot-tall LED screens were installed just above the wall. Next to each of those screens is a large winged creature. The creature’s official name is a Lamassu, an ancient Assyrian protective deity with cloven feet and a human face. [this section thanks to LAist]
Craig Realty Group set up a new development plan with the addition of about 125,000 square feet in 2005 and 150,000 more square feet added in 2007, bringing the mall’s total store space to 410,000 square feet, more than double its original size.
More history can be found at this link.