Our Story

West Whittier Paint began with a simple idea: keep serving the community, one gallon at a time. After World War II, Bob Downey was working at Whittier Paint, a local shop owned by his father-in-law, Ellis Emory. Together, they decided the west side of town needed its own paint store — so they opened a second location to do just that.

That store became West Whittier Paint, and depending on which family member you ask, it opened in either 1945 or 1948. That’s just part of the charm — stories passed down, a few details blurred, but the heart always intact.

Bob ran the store for decades, building it into a neighborhood landmark. After he passed away in 1981, the next generation took the reins and never looked back. Today, the Downey family’s dedication lives on — with Bill Downey, now in his 80s, still stopping by each week to check in and make sure West Whittier Paint remains as welcoming as ever.

Built for Whittier, Built to Last

Our original storefront was just a few blocks away, near Whittier and Norwalk Blvd. In the early ‘50s, the business moved into what used to be a Lucky Supermarket at 11408 Whittier Blvd, where it still stands today. Over the decades, we’ve evolved with the times—at one point, we sold wallpaper, ran a key shop, and dabbled in window coverings. Through it all, we never stopped growing. Bill made smart, quiet moves—buying up neighboring lots and expanding the store’s footprint to over 24,000 square feet.

What started as a neighborhood paint shop is now a trusted supplier for automotive, industrial, and residential coatings—serving DIYers, contractors, businesses, and custom car enthusiasts alike.

A Business with Heart

We won’t pretend to have a list of perfectly polished “core values” on a plaque. But if we had to name one guiding belief, it would be this: we’re only as strong as the community around us.

That’s why we’ve never just been “in” Whittier—we’ve been a part of it. You’ll find our story featured in the Whittier Museum, nestled among the city’s rich local history. Over the years, we’ve donated paint to schools, pitched in on community projects, and built a business model that values relationships just as much as results.

We’ve had customers walk through our doors for over 50 years—and in some cases, they come in just to say hello. With long-time staff who feel more like family than coworkers, and regulars who feel more like friends than customers, stepping into West Whittier Paint sometimes feels more like stepping into a local café than a paint store.

What Makes Us Different?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: it’s the people.

People like Mike, our automotive manager, who’s been with us for over 33 years. Or our outside sales reps who know every shortcut and supplier from Los Angeles to the Inland Empire. Or the customers who’ve watched our team grow up behind the counter.

We offer custom color matching, including aerosol spray cans for project convenience. We stock specialized brands like House of Kolor for the custom auto crowd, and our free next-day delivery has been a game-changer for contractors who rely on speed and quality.

And we still offer the kind of flexible, personal services that big box stores just can’t touch—like charge accounts for our trusted customers and on-demand mixers to get you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.

Looking Ahead

We’re not looking to take over the world—just to take care of Whittier.

Our current goal? Stabilize. Modernize. Grow smart. We’re doubling down on what we do best—automotive and industrial coatings—while investing in the things that help us do it better. That means upgrading our systems (goodbye, dot matrix printers!), launching a new e-commerce website (finally), improving compensation for our team, and starting a long-overdue refresh of our store.

We know we rested on our laurels for a while. Now, it’s time to grow again. It starts with our people, our products, and the city that’s supported us for nearly 80 years.

Because at West Whittier Paint, it’s never just been about paint. It’s been about legacy, community, and doing right by the people who keep showing up.