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The Tustin Area Historical Society

Last updated on October 16th, 2022 at 01:54 pm

Tustin Area Museum Collections

Downtown Main at D St., Tustin Bank, trolley, Tustin Hotel in far rear, c1890
First Tustin Bank showing horse-drawn trolley to Santa Ana and Orange.
Tustin Food Center
Tustin Food Center

Early Tustin Businesses 1870 - 1926

Columbus Tustin knew the success of his new city hinged on having a dynamic business community for this rural town.  He was instrumental in supporting “entrepreneurs” who took a chance on his city including people who started stores, hotels, banks, and the always-important (in a farm community) blacksmith shops.

One of our collection displays show images of the various businesses with brief captions giving you history about each.

Did you know?

  • Currently a new Coffee Shop uses a building at 434 El Camino Real in Old Town that was constructed in 1885 as the office for the first doctor in Tustin. The building became the Jabberwocky in the late 1950s, a teenage fashion store where all the fine young ladies in the area shopped.
  • Tustin's first majestic hotel was a three-story beauty location at 3rd and El Camino Real Streets built in 1888. Sadly it fell into disrepair when a recession hit the area in the 1890s and was razed in 1914.
  • The Tustin Hardware Store was established in 1912 and served Tustin until it closed in the late 1990s. An antique and consignment store, Mrs. B's, took over the spot until 2020 when it became Arvida Book Company, our beloved local book store.

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