Chris Doss
Where does the bizarro Assyrian theme come from? "The Rubber of Marduk!" (OK, so maybe that's Babylon.)
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You were on the right track, Chris. From a recent press release:
About Citadel Outlets
In 1918, Adolph Schleicher founded his Samson Tire and Rubber Company in a tiny wood-frame factory in Compton, California choosing "Samson" because it symbolized strength and endurance. Ten years later, Schleicher wanted to include a Samson and Delilah motif, thus modeling the plant after a 7th Century B.C. ancient Assyrian palace including a 1,350-foot-long (later expanded to 1,750) crenulated concrete wall decorated with heraldic lamassus and bas-reliefs of Babylonian princes carved into the stone between impressive pillars and towers. This Assyrian landmark had the distinct honor of serving as a backdrop in the Academy Award-Winning movie, Ben Hur. The Citadel Outlets, Los Angeles' first factory outlet center, opened in 1990 serving as a mixed-use project which includes a retail outlet center, a food court, five office buildings, and a 201-room Wyndham Hotel. Located conveniently 10 minutes east of downtown Los Angeles and 20 minutes north of central Orange County, the Citadel Outlets are also easily accessible from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, as well as all area airports. Currently home to 50 name brand outlet stores including Old Navy, Max Studio, BCBG Max Azria, Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor, Nine West, Pacific Sunwear, IZOD, Geoffrey Beene, London Fog, Reebok, K-B Toys, and Carter's, 35 additional stores will join the complex in Fall 2005 as part of a major renovation and expansion. For more information about the center and outlet stores please visit www.citadeloutlets.com.