email: roadarch@outlook.com

California Signs (page 25)

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San Bruno:
Rolling Pin Donuts

Roady's Restaurant
San Dimas, CA
James Family Restaurant
San Fernando, CA
J&D Plumbing [gone]
San Gabriel, CA
Roady's Restaurant opened around 1944. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. It was restored in 2018. The text was changed from "Home Made Pies" to "Home Style Cooking." For more, see this website. [map]

The James Family Restaurant opened in 1953 and this sign appears to be from then. [map]

The J&D Plumbing sign was probably from the 1930s or earlier. There was probably another name on the top of the sign originally. The sign had been repainted when this photo was taken in 2012. It was previously brown. The "Sewers" lettering at the bottom of the sign were painted over. In 2020, the business closed and the sign was removed. For more, see this website.

Welcome sign
San Gabriel, CA
This San Gabriel Welcome sign is one of four identical signs. They were built in the late 1940s or 1950s. The signs have been restored a few times. [map]

More San Gabriel:
former Goody's Restaurant
Lucky Center
San Gabriel Lanes [gone]

Shakey's Pizza [gone]
San Gabriel, CA
Shakey's Pizza
El Monte, CA
Shakey's Pizza
Monterey Park, CA
forrmer Shakey's Pizza
Visalia, CA
forrmer Shakey's Pizza
Ventura, CA

Shakey's Pizza [gone]
Riverside, CA
Shakey's Pizza
Whittier, CA
August 2013: December 2013: 2012 and 2013: 2017:
These neon Shakey's Pizza Parlor signs are now rare. The design was based on the design of this original Sacramento, CA location, built in 1954, which is now displayed at the Golden 1 Center.

The photo of the San Gabriel sign was taken in 2008. By 2009, the neon sign had been replaced with a plastic version and the lantern on top was gone.

In 2017, the neon was removed from the El Monte and Monterey Park signs. They now have backlit plastic letters. Their lanterns are still there. I don't believe any other Shakey's signs with neon are still on public display. For more, see this website. [El Monte]; [Monterey Park]

The sign in Visalia was adapted for Howie & Son's Pizza Parlor in 2003. [map]

This former Shakey's sign in Ventura the oldest example of the original sign design on public display. The sign panels are narrower and there was no lantern on top. This location was built by 1961. After this location closed, it housed a Rusty's Pizza Parlor. The "Shakey's" at the top of the sign was changed to read "Rusty's" and the "& Ye Public House" was painted over. The building has housed a PizzaMan Dan's since 2012. [map]

The sign in Riverside was not sanded down before it was repainted and it was peeling shortly after that. It was repainted again by 2015. This was the only one that I know of with "Shakey's" written in neon on the side of the sign. In 2016, this location closed and the sign was removed. For more, see this website.

In 2016, the neon on the Whittier sign was replaced with backlit plastic. [map]

There was an adapted Shakey's sign in Downey, CA. That location returned to being a Shakey's and now has a plastic sign. [map]

There was an adapted sign in Modesto, CA but it is gone now.

former Shakey's Pizza
Fairfield, CA
This former Shakey's Pizza Parlor opened around 1968. It has housed a sushi restaurant since at least 2007. The only building left with this design that I know of is in Warner Robins, GA. [map].

Oasis Saloon
Sanger, CA
Five Corners Liquors
San Jacinto, CA
Village Plaza
San Lorenzo, CA
The Oasis Saloon sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Five Corners Liquors sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. It has been repainted different colors over the years. The neon was removed just before this photo was taken in 2017. [map]

The Village Plaza sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

San Leandro

Pepe Delgado's
San Luis Obispo, CA
Mee Heng Low Noodle House
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Pepe Delgado's sign features different text on its two panels. This sign might have revolved. The restaurant opened in 1971. I suspect that this sign might be older and could have advertised for another restaurant originally. [map]

The Mee Heng Low Noodle House has been here since the late 1800s. This sign appears to be from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Shanghai Low
Restaurant [gone]
San Luis Obispo, CA
Elks Lodge
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Shanghai Low Restaurant sign appears to be from the 1920s. This photo is from 2008. The building was demolished in 2012. This sign was saved and put in storage. There are plans to reinstall it once the new development is completed. The letters on the bottom of the sign were probably opal glass originally. The glass letters were probably removed and a plastic panel was inserted to protect the interior of the sign and make the sign more readable. The panels appear to be ripple tin which was a textured material commonly used for signs in the 1920s and 1930s.

This Elks Lodge moved to its current location in 1961. I assume that this sign was installed at the previous location in town. It may be from the 1940s or 1950s. In 2013, there was a plastic panel installed over the sign to protect the sign. That has since been removed. [map]

Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Madonna Inn opened in 1958. The animated sign was built in 1959. In the 1960s, the motel was expanded to include a dining room, gift shop, and 109 rooms each with a different theme decor. The sign was restored in 2001. The Coffee Shop bulb sign is installed inside the coffee shop. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

More San Luis Obispo:
Clubhouse at This Old House
Fremont Theatre
Homestead Motel
Sunset Drive-in
Wineman Hotel

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Museum of
Neon Art
Valley Relics Museum

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.