E Street, Downtown San Bernardino 1972
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Between 4th Street and 5th Street.
This photograph captures a lively stretch of E Street in downtown San Bernardino in 1972, during a period when the city was still a major shopping, entertainment, and transportation hub for the Inland Empire. At the time, E Street served as one of the primary commercial corridors—lined with department stores, specialty retail shops, shoe stores, and theaters catering to both locals and visitors.
On the right, the marquee of the Ritz Theater advertises its current feature: “SUMMER OF ‘42,” the coming-of-age film released in 1971 and known for receiving Academy Award nominations. Movie houses like the Ritz—once part of a thriving cluster downtown—were important cultural gathering points before the rise of suburban multiplexes.
Across the street, several recognizable storefronts help place the scene firmly in its era.
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National Stores, a budget-friendly regional department chain, anchors the block with bold mid-century signage and a wide storefront.
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Hardy’s Shoes and Berland’s Shoes reflect an era when downtowns still depended on independently owned specialty retailers rather than national malls or corporate chains.
In the distance, the sign for the California Hotel rises above the street—a reminder of the downtown’s earlier heyday, when rail passengers and business travelers filled its rooms. Though its fortunes fluctuated over time, the hotel remained a recognizable landmark well into the late 20th century.
The street scene itself captures the tone of a typical Southern California downtown in transition: wide sidewalks shaded by young palm trees, parking meters lining the curb, and a steady flow of large American sedans and family cars. Some vehicles appear parked halfway onto the curb, a common practice in commercial districts before stricter parking enforcement reshaped streetscapes.
By the late 1970s and 1980s, shifting shopping patterns, freeway development, and suburban malls drew economic activity away from downtown San Bernardino, leading to significant changes in this corridor. Many of the businesses seen here disappeared, buildings were repurposed or demolished, and the character of E Street evolved dramatically.
This image preserves the block at a moment when downtown San Bernardino was still very much alive—local, walkable, and central to the daily rhythms of the community.
