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Shoe and Boot-Shaped Signs (page 2)

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George Marinakes Shoe Service
Richmond, IN
Neff's Shoes [gone]
Aurora, IN
Badger Shoe Repair [gone]
New Albany, IN
George Marinakes Shoe Service opened here in 1928. By 2015, the store was still there but the sign had been painted brown with no text. [map]

Neff's Shoes opened in 1885 and closed in 2015. The sign was installed in 1920. I don't know if it ever had neon. The sign was removed in 2018 and given to a family member.

Badger Shoe Repair had been here since 1940. This photo is from 2010. The sign and business were still there in 2014. But both were gone in 2015.

Dickson Shoe Shop
Orangeburg, SC
Deluxe Service [gone]
Portland, OR
DiPrima's Shoes & Boots [gone]
Calhoun, GA
The Dickson Shoe Shop is now operating as Pop's Shoe Repair. The sign is still there. [map]

This Deluxe Service sign hung in front of HD Loft Studios. I don't know where the sign was originally displayed. It appeared here sometime between 2011 and 2014. By 2017, it was gone.

The DiPrima's Shoes & Boots sign is believed to be from the late 1940s or early 1950s. It was originally installed at the first store in the chain in Rome, GA. The DiPrima family owned four shoe repair shops in Rome. The sign was later moved to this store in Calhoun, GA. In 2015, the sign pole was hit by a car and destroyed the sign. The owner was considering having a replica built. However, I don't believe that ever happened.

Groover's Shoe Shop
Rome, GA
2007: 2021:
Groover's Shoe Shop opened in 1940. It was later purchased by Romeo DiPrima. The DiPrima (see above) and Groover signs were most likely built by the same shop, probably at the same time. The Groover's sign was hanging by the road in 2007. By 2012, it was located next to the building. For more, see this website. [map]

City Shoe Shop
Palestine, TX
Oak Forest Shoe Shop [gone]
Houston, TX
The City Shoe Shop opened in 1943 and is still in business. Around 1958, the store moved to its current location. In the late 1950s, the owner purchased this sign from another shoe repair shop in Athens, Texas. The sign was rusted and inoperable at that time. The previous, unknown name was changed to read "City Shop" and the sign was hung over the store's entrance. In 2011, the sign was restored. It was repainted by Killion's Collision body shop. The wiring and electrical components were repaired by Henderson Electric. The sign is about five feet wide. [map]

The Oak Forest Shoe Shop sign appeared to be from the 1950s or earlier. The sign was removed around 2018.

Logan's Shoe Shop
Denton, TX
2011: 2020:
Logan's Shoe Shop has been here since the 1950s. Around 2019, the neon on the outside of the sign was removed and LED rope was added around the edges. The paint was also patched at that time. For more, see this website. [map]

Jack Smith Shoe Shop
Wichita, KS
The Jack Smith Shoe Shop was established in 1956. These signs appear to be much more modern than that. The previous pole sign had animated cowboy boots. It was replaced with this sign around 2021. For more, see this website. [map]

Houston Shoe Hospital
Kirby Dr.
Houston, TX

Houston Shoe Hospital
Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX
2011: 2018:

Houston Shoe Hospital
Shepherd Dr.
Houston, TX
The Houston Shoe Hospital was established in 1906. There are now nine locations in the Houston area. There are also other shops in Austin, San Antonio, Plano, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The giant shoe and text banner design was developed in the late 1940s and continues to be used for signs and advertising. For more, see this website.

The Kirby Dr. location shares the building with Pilgrim Cleaners. This rooftop sign is the oldest one, although it has been modified over the years. The 16-foot-wide sign was installed in the 1950s. It had neon until the sign was mangled by Hurricane Ike in 2008. Before repairing the grandfathered sign, each panel had to be tagged by the city and then returned to the roof after they were straightened. In 2021, the sign was briefly painted black and white. The change was so unpopular that it was repainted as the color version. There is also a modern sign in the window. For more, see this website. [map]

The Westheimer location moved in 2014 to a new location on the same street. The rooftop sign was replicated and installed on front of the building. For more, see this website. [map]

The sign at the Shepherd location is also modern. [map]

Shoe and Boot Signs
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