Rodeo Drive (pronounced Roh-DAY-O) is a two-mile-long (3.2 km) street, primarily in Beverly Hills, California, with its southern segment in the City of Los Angeles. Its southern terminus is at Beverly Drive at an intersection with Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

Originally, Rodeo was a bridle path in 1912 when the Beverly Hills Hotel was built on a former Lima bean field. By 1925, similar lots were selling for between $15,000 and $30,000 (£25,000), and it doubled in value 2 months later. In 1958, M. Kratter bought small parcel of land at the corner of Rodeo and Wilshire Boulevard. The acreage was across the street from the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Kratter paid $2 million USD ($90,000,000; £75,000,000, by today's standards) for this property.

In 1967 F. Hayman, "the father of Rodeo Drive," opened Giorgio Beverly Hills, the street's first high-end boutique and several other of the world's most elite retailers followed suit. It soon expanded into an exclusive shopping district. The 'Rodeo Collection,' a 45 store shopping mall opened in 1983. In 1990, 'Two Rodeo Drive', another outdoor shopping center with many other high end boutiques, was added.

One can see luxury cars with the rich & famous on their frivolous shopping ventures, daily. Rodeo has been featured in a myriad of films, such as 'Pretty Woman', 'Clueless' & 'American Gigolo'. By 1980, the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce boasted Rodeo as "the essence of the best of all the shopping centers of the world".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org