With its bright, sunny skies and palm-tree-lined streets, Downey (on the surface) is similar to many Southern California cities. It is in the heart of the Los Angeles metro, just 12 miles south of downtown LA. It is wedged between I-710 and I-5, with Pico Rivera to the east and South Gate to the west. It’s minutes from Long Beach and Seal Beach and close to mountain parks, including Hellman Wilderness Park. But before you do anything after moving to an apartment in Downey, first you have to go to McDonald’s.
Downey is home to the oldest remaining McDonald’s restaurant, the third one built back in 1953. This landmark, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still features the two original “Golden Arches” and “Speedee” – a 60-foot sign added in 1959. The first Taco Bell was also located in Downey. While it is no longer a Taco Bell, the building is still located on Firestone Boulevard.
During WWII, Downey was home to Vultee Aircraft, a major maker of military aircraft at the time. Vultee eventually became part of North American Aviation – and the place where the Apollo Space Program (and the Space Shuttle) began. While the plant was eventually demolished, today it is home to the Columbia Memorial Space Center as well as Kaiser Permanente Hospital, the Downey Landing shopping complex, and the Downey Promenade (located on the former Downey Studios site).
Downey Studios was demolished in 2012, but the movies made here live on: Iron Man and Iron Man 2, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Pineapple Express, Spider Man, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Space Cowboys, and many more. As you explore your new home of Downey, you might recognize some of the landmarks and buildings from these (and other) films.
There’s one place you’ll want to shop after choosing an apartment in Downey, and that’s the Downey Farmer’s Market. While the market is still fairly young (it wasn’t created until 2008), it has quickly become a community favorite. In addition to locally-grown fruits and veggies, the market features food booths and live music – be sure to check out the Downey Farmer’s Market Orchestra.
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