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If you’ve lived in West LA for a while, you know the building. It’s that low-slung, 1950s-era retail spot on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Huron Avenue. For seven decades, the giant "GUNS" sign was a Culver City landmark—whether you loved it or hated it. Honestly, for many locals, it was just part of the furniture. But if you’ve driven by recently, you’ve probably noticed things look a lot different. The weapons are gone. The sign is gone. Even the color of the building has shifted.
Basically, the era of Martin B Retting Culver City CA has come to a definitive end.
Why a 70-Year-Old Business Just Vanished
People often think these old-school shops close because they’re failing. That wasn’t the case here. Martin B. Retting, Inc. was a powerhouse in the firearms world. They didn’t just sell Glocks and hunting rifles; they were world-renowned experts in antique weaponry and rare collectibles. We’re talking about a shop that once bought items directly from the Vickers Museum in the UK.
So, what happened?
It was a perfect storm of retirement and local politics. Dan Retting, the long-time owner, decided it was finally time to hang it up in late 2023. This created a massive legal loophole that the city had been eyeing for years.
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You see, a 2005 Culver City ordinance actually bans gun stores from operating within 1,000 feet of schools. Retting was only about 800 feet from La Ballona Elementary School. Because the shop opened in 1953, it was "grandfathered in." But once the business was put up for sale, that protection was on shaky ground. If a new owner bought the shop to keep it as a gun store, the city feared they would lose their chance to enforce the 1,000-foot rule.
The $6.5 Million Buyout
In September 2023, Culver City Council made a move that turned heads across the state. They voted unanimously to buy the property themselves for $6.5 million.
It was a steep price. Some residents called it a "peace tax," while others argued it was a waste of public funds. But for the "Culver 878" group—a collection of parents named after the 878 feet between the shop and the school—it was a massive victory. They didn't want a new retailer moving in and continuing the cycle.
By January 2024, the building was officially vacant.
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What’s There Now?
If you drive by today, in early 2026, you won't see any rifles. The city didn't just let the building sit there and rot while they figured out the long-term plan. They brought in Artist Laureate Katy Krantz to flip the script.
The transformation was pretty literal. Using the same font styles as the original signage, the city repainted the exterior. Where it used to say "GUNS," it now says "CARE." Where it said "WE BUY GUNS," it says "WE ARE ONE." It’s a bit on the nose, sure, but it served as a temporary "mural project" to signal that the space was transitioning into something community-focused.
The Future: 11029 Washington Boulevard
The city isn't just keeping it as a mural. As of late 2025, the Planning Commission has been moving fast on redevelopment.
They’ve settled on a recommendation for an eight-story project. It’s looking like it will be a 67-unit affordable housing complex managed by the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WeHo CHC). It’s not just apartments, though. The ground floor is slated for:
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- Retail space (likely a café or small shop).
- A community art center.
- Public open space.
Groundbreaking is currently scheduled for Spring 2027. It’s a wild shift for a corner that spent 70 years as one of the most famous gun shops in the Western United States.
The Legacy of a Collector’s Paradise
While the physical store is gone, its impact on the collecting world is still cited in forums like Milsurps and the McCracken Research Library. Martin B Retting Culver City CA wasn't your average "ammo and bait" shop. They were the guys people called when they found a Civil War saber in their grandfather's attic or a rare Pedersen rifle.
They had a reputation for being gruff but incredibly knowledgeable. If you walked in there as a novice, you might get a short answer. If you walked in as a serious student of history, you could spend hours talking shop. That kind of institutional knowledge doesn't just relocate; it mostly just evaporates when the doors lock for the last time.
How This Affects You Today
If you were a former customer of Martin B Retting Culver City CA, you’ve likely already migrated to shops in Burbank or Orange County. For residents, the "safety" debate continues to be a talking point in local elections, especially given the $6.5 million price tag during a period when the city has discussed a "fiscal emergency" and sales tax measures.
Whether you see it as a loss of a historic business or a win for school-zone safety, the corner of Washington and Huron is never going back to what it was.
Next Steps for Locals and Former Patrons:
- Public Records: If you are curious about the specific redevelopment timelines, you can track the "11029 Washington Boulevard" project through the Culver City Planning Commission’s portal.
- Appraisals: Since Retting is no longer an option for vintage appraisals, many former clients now utilize the Rock Island Auction Company or Little John’s Antique Arms for high-value historical pieces.
- Community Input: The city still holds occasional "town hall" style meetings regarding the final aesthetics of the housing project; attending these is the best way to ensure the new building fits the neighborhood vibe.