Photos: The historic former May Co. department store on Broadway

One of the entrances to the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which once housed May Co.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The Broadway Trade Center, at right, in downtown Los Angeles. The old department store will be converted to a combination shopping mall, office building and hotel, and will have two swimming pools, rooftop gardens and restaurants.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Customers at opening day of May Co.’s new home appliance department, June 1946.   (R.O. Ritchie / Los Angeles Times)

The second floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which once housed May Co.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

One of the views offered from the 9th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

One of the views offered from the 9th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail from the 9th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

An old vault on the second floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which once housed May Co.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Buildings and the view on the seventh floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

One of the views offered from the 9th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

An old desk at the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail found in an abandoned structure on the 7th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Structures as seen from the 7th floor roof of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

The ground floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which is now unused.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail on the ground floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Hangers litter the floor of a room that once was used for garment manufacturing, inside the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Hangers and clothing litter the floor of a room that once was used for garment manufacturing, inside the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail from inside a room that once was used for low-end retail and garment manufacturing, inside the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail of a wall inside the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which once housed May Co.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A mural adorns the second floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles, which once housed May Co.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

An old piano sits in a room on the second floor of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

A detail of the outside of the Broadway Trade Center in downtown Los Angeles.  (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)