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# Staples plans ‘superstore’ for busy Wilshire intersection
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/staples-plans-superstore-for-busy-wilshire-intersection/
- Published: 2002-05-14T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:16:58.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Business, Venice, #archive-import

A popular office supply company is planning a “superstore” for an already congested Wilshire Boulevard intersection.

Staples Inc., announced Monday it has signed a lease for property currently occupied by a small tire store on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and 16th Street.

The company said in a prepared statement that it hopes to have a functioning store in place by early 2003 that will employ up to 30 people.

Staples already operates five stores in the area, including locations in West Los Angeles, Venice, Culver City and Westchester.

But opening a store in Santa Monica with as much space required for a Staples would likely require city approval.

City officials have recently blocked stores proposed by The Target Corporation in downtown Santa Monica and Trader Joe’s on Wilshire Boulevard because of the traffic they would generate.

4C6,“In general we can’t dictate what type of uses come in,” said Kelly Olsen, planning board chairman. “As long as it fits the zoning code, we can’t say we want this type of business or that kind.”

But Olsen added, “discretionary review from the planning commission — which would address neighborhood concerns over parking and traffic impacts — could be required.”

However, if the company makes little or no changes to the current location — now occupied by Just Tires — they may not need city approval, said principal city planner Amanda Schachter.

“If it’s an existing building, going from a retail use to another retail use would be allowed by right,” she said.

The same corner where the store is proposed already has a lot of traffic generated by Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and dozens of nearby doctors’ offices.

Staples Vice-Chairman Joseph Vassalluzzo said the company is counting on the high number of potential customers in the area.

“We are excited at the prospect of becoming the complete, one-stop shopping destination for the small business, small office and home office customers in the community,” he said.

Headquartered outside Boston, Staples is the largest operator of office superstores in the world.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051402.pdf?ref=smdp.com)