The Helms Bakery Building is an Art Deco Moderne structure originally constructed in 1930–31 to house what became the Helms Bakery. It served as a high-volume industrial bakery—producing bread, pastries, cookies, and more—which was operated by family for nearly four decades and recognized as the “Official Bread” of the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The single-story building once fronted an eleven-acre factory complex where products were baked, packaged, and loaded for delivery via a fleet of nearly 1,000 iconic yellow “Helms Coaches.” After bakery operations ceased in 1969, the property was acquired in 1972 by Walter N. Marks, Inc. It was repurposed for mixed commercial use: furniture and home-furnishings showrooms, design studios, retail outlets, restaurants, and arts-related businesses. The development restored key architectural features—including the rooftop neon sign and pedestrian-oriented landscapes—while preserving the building’s historic character. Today, the building is a recognized landmark, featuring its distinctive zig-zag Moderne façade and retaining its original factory floor plan within a cohesive design-center district.
