In the early 1940's, Charles Freidin was working for a lighting company when Minnie, a new customer came to make a purchase.  Charles fell in love and they were married after which Minnie provided the encouragement for Charles to open their own company.

It was then, nearly seventy years ago that Minnie and Charles spent their days working side by side to establish the Charles Company, which was incorporated in 1945.

During war time the business was located in downtown Los Angeles on Spring Street on the 2nd floor of a building where it was sometimes difficult to encourage vendors and customers to carry products up and down the stairs.  Problems needed to be overcome, so resourceful Minnie would trade stockings to get the merchandise moving.

Charles was the innovator who enjoyed creating new product designs and selling like crazy while Minnie would study the construction of old lamp shades to hone her own shade making skills.  By hand, she made shades during the day and did the companies books at night.  The Charles Company was indeed a labor of love for these two people and in 1946 the business was relocated to 1349 S. Main Street in Los Angeles.

Some twenty years later in 1967 Charles and Minnie realized their dream of not only owning their own business, but to own a building to house the business.  It was then that Charles and Minnie purchased 2700 S. Maple Avenue in Los Angles where the company remained until 2007.  It was during this time, in 1980 Charles passed the baton to his son-in law, Joe Stein who became President of the Charles Company.  However, Minnie and Charles both continued to be involved in the business on a daily basis until shortly after their 70th wedding anniversary.