This photograph captures a quintessential stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills in 1972, just before the district evolved into the polished luxury retail environment seen today. The scene reflects a period when Beverly Hills commerce was defined not by global fashion houses, but by elegant independent boutiques, specialty shops, and prestigious service-based businesses tied closely to Hollywood’s social economy.
Along the street-facing row, three names stand out. On the left is Bentley’s English Chop House, a long-established dining spot known for hearty traditional dishes and a clientele made up of talent agents, high-end shoppers, and entertainment executives. It was the kind of restaurant where deals were made quietly and regulars were known by name.
Next door is the boutique Sweater Queen which represented a retail era defined by specialized fashion stores rather than broad luxury branding. Shops like this offered curated wardrobes and personal service at a pace suited to their clientele — discreet, relationship-based, and rooted in repeat customers.
Next door is the sleek white façade of Aida Grey, one of the most storied beauty salons and cosmetic houses in Beverly Hills. Aida Grey catered to Hollywood’s most visible faces — actresses, studio wives, international visitors, and socialites — long before high-end skincare and spa culture became mainstream. Appointments here carried social weight.
To the very right we can see the Beverly Hills Brown Derby which was a popular restaurant chain. The Beverly Hills restaurant was situated at 9537 Wilshire Boulevard, across from the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The site is now occupied by a building that includes a derby-shaped dome in homage to the original establishment.Â
Rising above the storefronts in the background is the tall glass tower of the United California Bank — at the time, one of California’s most significant financial institutions. Its sleek modern architecture reflects the corporate boom of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Beverly Hills increasingly became a center not only of retail and culture, but of finance, entertainment law, and investment firms connected to the movie and television industry.
The street life completes the picture: wide sidewalks, diagonal sunlight, palm trees framing the roadway, and a steady flow of American cars — convertibles, sedans, and station wagons — typical of Southern California roads in the early ’70s. Pedestrians cross casually, without the crowds or heavy tourism that would arrive in later decades.
Today, this same stretch has been redeveloped with high-profile luxury brands, architectural redesigns, and a more international identity — but the bones of the street, the palms, and the iconic Beverly Hills rhythm remain recognizable.
