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Fresno Signs (page 1)

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Guarantee Savings Bank
Fresno, CA		 La Fiesta Nightclub
Fresno, CA		 Tecolote Cafe
Fresno, CA
The Guarantee Savings Bank sign is on installed on the roof of the Mattei Building which was built in 1921. Guarantee Savings Bank moved in as the ground floor tenant in 1961 and installed this giant weather beacon on the roof. The giant "G" had three different neon colors that changed according to the weather forecast. Green meant cooler, white meant no change, and red meant warmer. If the "G" was flashing, it meant rain. In 1994, the sign went dark when the building's owner found it too costly to operate. In 2003, power was restored to the sign and it was lit solid white. It has not been lit in years. In 2023, it was announced that the sign would be removed and recreated. It is expected to be installed in 2025. It will be lit with LED which will enable color-changing for special events and holidays. I don't know if it will revolve. For more weather beacon signs, see this website. [map]

The La Fiesta Nightclub opened in the 1940s. This sign may be from then or the 1950s. The neon has not operated for decades. When it did, the dancer had animated arms and a leg. Around 2008, the neon was removed from the text part of the sign. The sign is about seven feet wide. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Tecolote Cafe is closed but this sign remains. It was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Big Star Motel
Fresno, CA
2013: 2022:
The Big Star Motel was constructed in 1938 as an office complex and was remodeled as a motel in 1955. This sign is probably from then. Around 2020, the sign's neon was removed and it was repainted. For more, see this website. [map]

Happy Liquor Store
Fresno, CA		 Levitz Furniture
Fresno, CA
The Happy Liquor Store has been closed for years but this sign remains. [map]

This Levitz Furniture sign dates from around 1967. The furniture store chain folded in 2008 and I believe all of these signs have been removed. At this location, this sign on the building and the other pole sign were adapted by the Celebration Christian Church. [first photo thanks Daniel F.] [map]

Sparky
Electronics [gone]
Fresno, CA		 Leilani Restaurant [gone]
Fresno, CA		 Luau Restaurant
Fresno, CA
Sparky Electronics opened in 1963 and this sign appears to be from then. In 2006, the store moved and this sign was removed. As of 2013, the sign is still in storage. The owner hopes to restore the sign and reinstall it someday. For more, see this website. [2006 photo thanks Daniel F.]

The Leilani Restaurant opened in the late 1950s and closed in 2005. The neon once extended down the trunk of the palm tree. The first photo above was taken in 2006, just before the Dynasty restaurant moved in, painted the entire sign black, and added the new name in neon. When the Galaxy restaurant was here, the sign was repainted green. The second photo is from 2013. By 2014, the building had been demolished. By 2015, the sign was gone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [first photo thanks Daniel F.]

The Luau Restaurant opened in the late 1950s. The Luau was the sister restaurant to the Leilani. The first photo above is from 2008. In 2013, the Luau closed and the restaurant became the Fresno New China. The sign was significantly altered at that point. The second photo is from 2013. [map]

Tokyo Garden
Fresno, CA
The Tokyo Garden opened in the late 1950s. These signs appear to be from then. [map]

Gables Motel
Fresno, CA
The Gables Motel opened in 1952. It replaced the original sign with these most likely in the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

U Save Liquor [gone]
Clovis Ave.
Fresno, CA		 U Save Liquor
Jensen Ave.
Fresno, CA		 U Save Liquor [gone]
Tulare Ave.
Fresno, CA
Belmont U Save Liquor
Fresno, CA
2014: 2015:
These U Save Liquor stores were part of a chain with about 50 locations in northern California. There are similar signs at other locations in Merced, CA, Pacifica, CA, Redwood City, CA, San Jose, CA, and Vacaville, CA.

The photo of the Clovis Ave. sign is from 2013. By 2015, the sign was gone.

The Jensen Ave. location is now called Cavalier Liquor. The sign is still there. [map]

The neon on the Tulare Ave. location sign was removed around 2020 and replaced with backlit plastic letters. [map]

Around 2015, the Belmont location's sign was altered. The neon was removed and the sign was painted. Backlit plastic letters were added. For more, see this website. [map]

Ayres Motel
Fresno, CA
The Ayres Motel signs are probably from the 1950s. These photos are from 2013. By 2015, the sign on the left was still there but the sign on the right was gone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Master
Radiator Works [gone]
Fresno, CA		 Central Valley Trailer Repair
Fresno, CA		 Lamp Post [gone]
Fresno, CA
Master Radiator Works was established in 1928. I don't know how old this radiator-shaped sign was. It may have been pre-1950s. The business and sign were gone by 2018.

This Central Valley Trailer Repair sign appears to have had neon originally. The Great Dane Trailer logo must have been a later addition. In 2020, the trucks were all gone but the sign was still there. [map]

The Lamp Post was originally Ted's Lamp Post but that name on the sign was painted over. In 2010, the sign's neon was removed. The photo above is from 2013. The bar had been closed since 2012. The sign was still there in 2016 but gone by 2017. For more, see this website.

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