If you’ve lived in West Los Angeles for any real length of time, you knew the building. It was basically impossible to miss. Sitting right on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Huron Avenue, the Martin Retting Culver City storefront was a landmark of a very specific, polarizing kind. For nearly seven decades, that massive mural of a rifle and the bold, unapologetic "GUNS" signage greeted anyone driving through the heart of the city.
But things look a lot different now. The rifles are gone. The signage has been scrubbed away. Even the "dirty eggshell" paint job has been replaced by vibrant community murals.
Honestly, the story of how Martin B. Retting Inc. went from a 1920s startup to a $6.5 million real estate buyout by the city itself is a wild ride. It’s a mix of old-school retail legacy, intense local activism, and the sheer power of California’s shifting political landscape. Whether you saw it as a historical institution or a public safety concern, its departure marked the end of an era for Culver City.
The 65-Year Grandfather Clause
Martin B. Retting wasn't just some new shop that popped up overnight. It had deep roots. The business actually started back in the late 1920s in upstate New York before relocating to its famous 11029 Washington Blvd spot in 1958. For decades, it was the go-to place for collectors. You could find anything there—from modern Glocks to Nazi daggers, antique samurai swords, and rare Mausers.
Then came 2005.
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Culver City passed an ordinance that banned gun stores from operating within 1,000 feet of schools or parks. Here was the catch: Martin Retting was located exactly 878 feet from La Ballona Elementary School. Under normal circumstances, they would have had to pack up. But because they were there first, they were "grandfathered" in. They were legally untouchable for eighteen years after that ban went into effect.
Parents weren't thrilled. For years, the local group Culver 878 (named after that specific distance from the school) lobbied for change. They argued that a high-profile gun shop had no business being a two-minute walk from a playground.
Why Martin Retting Culver City Closed for Good
In 2023, the dynamic shifted. The owners, including Dan Retting, decided it was finally time to retire. This created a massive legal loophole that terrified local activists: the "grandfathered" rights to sell guns at that specific location were potentially transferable to a new buyer.
If a new owner bought the shop, they could have kept selling firearms indefinitely.
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To prevent this, the Culver City Council did something pretty drastic. They decided to outbid everyone else. In September 2023, the city voted unanimously to purchase the property for $6.5 million. Was that above market value? Yeah, probably. But for the city leaders and the parents at La Ballona, it was the price of "peace of mind."
The DOJ Controversy
It wasn't just about the proximity to the school, though. A 2022 report from the California Department of Justice put Martin Retting on a list that no business wants to be on. According to the data, the shop was one of the state's top sources of firearms that ended up being recovered in crimes or illegally possessed.
This gave the city the political leverage it needed. While some residents, like Gary Zeiss, publicly criticized the $6.5 million spend as "bad governance hiding under a social issue," the momentum was too strong to stop. By January 2024, the shop was officially vacated.
What’s Happening at 11029 Washington Blvd Now?
The city didn't waste any time making the place look different. They brought in Artist Laureate Katy Krantz to lead a community mosaic project. Those trapezoidal frames on the side of the building that used to hold gun advertisements? They’re now filled with ceramic tiles and colorful murals.
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As of early 2026, the long-term plan is finally taking shape. After reviewing five different proposals, the Planning Commission has recommended an eight-story, 67-unit affordable housing project.
The developer, West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WeHo CHC), plans to include:
- Affordable residential units for low-income families.
- A community art center on the ground floor.
- Retail space to generate revenue for the city.
- A ground lease that will funnel roughly $2.3 million back into Culver City coffers over the first 15 years.
The Actionable Reality for Collectors and Locals
If you’re a former customer or someone looking for the "Retting experience," you’ve basically got two options in the current landscape:
- Seek Specialized Custom Shops: Private, appointment-only shops like Modern Warrior Gunsmithing still operate in the area. They keep a much lower profile—no giant murals, no "Guns" signs visible from space.
- Head to Burbank: Many former customers have migrated to shops in Burbank, though even there, zoning laws are tightening up to mirror what happened in Culver City.
For residents, the transformation of Martin Retting Culver City is a case study in municipal intervention. The city used taxpayer funds to literally buy out a legal but "undesirable" business. It’s a blueprint that other L.A. County cities are already looking at very closely.
If you want to stay involved in what happens with the site next, you can check the City of Culver City’s "Have Your Say" portal. They are still finalizing the exact mix of retail and community space for the ground floor of the new development. The era of the "legendary" gun shop is over; the era of high-density housing on Washington Blvd has officially begun.