Parts of LA have yelled and screamed about big box stores, which is why Wal-Mart really hasn't gained a big foothold in the city proper.  The closest one to my nabe is in the Crenshaw District.  It went into a standing shopping mall that had undergone some tough times.

The Costco plus some other stores (Albertson's and the like) went in on Washington Boulevard in Culver City on the site of an old defense plant, Douglas Aircraft.  Many concessions had to be made to the neighbors such as soundproofing, high walls, plus "traffic calming" bumps and lumps on the street.  The Royal Felines' vet is in the general vicinity and traffic is a beeyotch in general.  Don't know how many illegal turns and ducking through the alley escapes I've made so far.  :(
 

Oh no, Guv, life is just getting warmed up!  30's a great age.  Come to think of it, any age is a great one.  It's what you make of it.  Women my age are dangerous cuz we don't give a flying Phuket, Thailand about what so-called respectable people think about us anymore.   As a result, we have much more fun than we did when we were chronologically younger.

Remember, 30 is the new 10.

;)

Hetty