The Franciscan Shop

Gladding, McBean purchased the Tropico Pottery at 2901 Los Feliz in Los Angeles in 1923. The sales yard was opened in 1923 selling wholesale and retail terra cotta garden ware manufactured in Gladding, McBean’s Lincoln Plant. The former Tropico Pottery plant was named the Glendale Plant since Gladding, McBean already had a Los Angeles Plant.

The Glendale Plant began producing Franciscan Pottery dinnerware and art ware in 1934. The entire Franciscan Pottery line went on sale in the Glendale Pottery Yard on May 1st, 1935. Mostly first quality ware was sold with some seconds at reduced prices.

On March 15, 1956 a new building was built on the Glendale Plant site with frontage along Los Feliz Boulevard. The new building became the Franciscan Shop which opened to the courtyard which had been the Glendale Pottery Yard.

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The Franciscan Shop was remodeled many times over the years. Along with first and second quality earthenware and fine china, the Franciscan Shop also sold Blenko Glass and other tabletop products which coordinated with Franciscan Ware.

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The Franciscan Shop closed when the Franciscan Ceramics plant was closed in 1984.