If you haven’t been to the Brentwood Country Mart, you are missing out on one of the Westside’s most famous shopping and food centers. In addition to great food and shopping, you may also run into a celebrity or two. Thriving on the Westside for the last 69 years, this area icon is not to be missed.

What You’ll Find

With 30,000 square feet of space, this shopping center located on 26^th Street in Brentwood, is a perfect destination whether you want to window shop, have a holiday list a mile long, or simply want to enjoy some good food. This barn-like structure houses 22 stores and six eateries.

In addition to traditional shopping and eating, the Mart offers:

• Free parking
• Outdoor dining
• Fire pit
• Pony rides
• A petting zoo

History of the Brentwood Country Mart

Opening in 1948, the Brentwood Country Mart was designed by architect Rowland Crawford. His goal, which was achieved, was to rival the Los Angeles Farmer’s Market. With its shops and stalls arranged around a central courtyard, Crawford’s design gave the feel of an old English marketplace.

Here, shoppers were able to get everything they needed in one place. Whether what they needed was something simple or something exotic, The Brentwood Country Mart was sure to have it. By the end of its first year, The Mart had successfully become a glamorous place to shop with food, entertainment, as well as the designation of a “favorite haunt of Hollywood stars.”

Many local community groups used The Mart’s courtyard and auditorium for events such as classes, meetings, fundraisers, and parties. The central courtyard also became the informal headquarters to a number of local informal groups as well. The Mart had become the local gathering place for the entire area, and by 1953, local papers were referring to The Mart as a community center.

The Brentwood Country Mart was home to some famous “regulars” including Joan Crawford, Shirley Temple Black, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor and more. Stars from the Brentwood community often participated in events at The Mart, as well as simply shopped there.

Today, the Brentwood Country Mart is being renovated by the JS Rosenfield & Co, well-known for their preservation of unique buildings and spaces throughout the Los Angeles area.

The Mart Today

In the ensuing years, The Brentwood Country Mart has continued to flourish. In addition to some old favorites like the barber shop, the post office, and a shoe repair, The Mart houses some wonderful shops sure to please any crowd. They include:

• Broken English
• Calypso St. Barth
• Christian Louboutin
• Diesel, A Bookstore
• Edelweiss Chocolates
• Goop
• Hudson Grace
• Intermix
• James Perse
• James Perse Yosemite
• Jenni Kayne
• Kendall Conrad
• Malia Mills
• Pippa Small Jewellery
• Poppy Store
• Roberta Roller Rabbit
• NK
• Sugar Paper
• Selima et Benjamin Optique
• Sid Mashburn
• Toy Crazy
• Trading Post
• Turpan

Dining includes:

• Barney’s Burgers
• Caffe Luxxe
• Farmshop
• Frida Taqueria
• Sweet Rose Ice Cream
• Reddi Chick

Brentwood Country Mart, though filled to the brim with wonderful stores, feels much more cozy and quaint than their mega-mall counterparts. It’s an easy, fun place to shop, and an easy drive from anywhere on the Westside.

Categorised in: Blog, Westside Living, Westside Spotlight