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Long Beach Signs

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V.I.P. Records [gone]
Long Beach, CA		 Til 2 Club
Long Beach, CA
V.I.P. Records was a hip hop record store. This sign originally advertised for Whistler Liquors. V.I.P. Records opened in 1978 and adapted the sign. In the 1990s, the whistling white man was painted with brown skin. The record store closed in 2015. In 2017, the sign was declared a landmark and removed for restoration. It will be reinstalled but the location is still unknown.

The Til 2 Club was established in 1948. "Til 2" must refer to the fact that bars are required to close at 2am in California. [map]

Harbor Chevrolet
Long Beach, CA
Harbor Chevrolet has been here since 1923. There are two identical signs like the one shown in the bottom rows above. I suspect they were once part of a double-sided pole sign. The panels are now displayed on the side of the building. This sign was probably the oldest of the three. The other two pole signs might be from the 1950s. [map]

Teacher Supplies
of Long Beach
[gone]
Long Beach, CA		 Liquor Locker
Long Beach, CA		 Manuel's Glass
Long Beach, CA		 Unity Hotel
Long Beach, CA
This Teacher Supplies of Long Beach sign originally advertised for Brownie's Toys. There were once brownies on this sign. This photo is from 2008. By 2011, this business and sign were gone.

The Liquor Locker sign is probably from the 1950s. The neon is no longer lit and the bulbs have been removed. This store may have gone by a different name originally. [map]

The Manuel's Glass sign looks like it was built in the 1950s. [map]

The Unity Hotel was built in 1928. This sign appears to be from then. [map]

Benson Liquor Store
Long Beach, CA		 V Room
Long Beach, CA
The Benson Liquor Store sign was built around 2009 in a "retro" style. It was built by Dave's Signs in Ventura, CA. The sign before that looked like this. [map]

The V Room opened around 1940 as the Venetian Room. The name was changed to V Room in the late 1950s or early 1960s. This sign was built then. [map]

Reno Room
Long Beach, CA
The Reno Room opened in 1950. This sign appears older than that and may have been reworked from a previous business. For more, see this website. [map]

Bonanza Coffee Shop
Long Beach, CA
2014: 2019:
The Bonanza Coffee Shop opened in 1959. This sign might be from then. The building was repainted around 2016. [map]

Pike Bar & Fish Grill
Long Beach, CA		 3636 Club
Long Beach, CA
The Pike Bar & Fish Grill opened in 2002. This sign appears to be repurposed and probably had neon originally. Does anyone know what business was here originally? [map]

The 3636 Club sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Don's Motel
Long Beach, CA		 Broadway Glass
Long Beach, CA		 Wine Mess Liquor [gone]
Long Beach, CA
The Don's Motel sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. By 2022, the neon had been removed and the sign had plastic letters. For more, see this website. [map]

Broadway Glass opened in 1954 and this sign may be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

Wine Mess Liquor opened in 1939. This area of Long Beach was primarily military at that time. The term "wine mess" was used for drinking establishments. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The barrels might have been sequentially animated originally. By 2022, all the neon was removed and backlit plastic letters were installed. [map]

Dolly Varden Hotel
Long Beach, CA		 McCarty's Jewelry
Long Beach, CA
2013: 2014: 2013: 2015:
The Dolly Varden Hotel was built in 1929. This sign was built in 1935. The building was restored in 2013 as a "boutique hotel." The neon sign was designated as historic by the city in 1995. It was restored and relit in 2014. In 2023, it was announced that the building would be demolished for a new residential development. The sign will be put in storage and reinstalled on the roof which will be 4 stories taller. [map]

McCarty's Jewelry was established in 1932. The store moved to its current location in 1958. This sign is probably from then. The light bulbs twinkle at night. The sign was repainted in 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

More Long Beach:
Auto Electric and Speedometer [gone]
Best Auto Parts & Repair
Coppertone
C.W. Services
DC Jets
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Loma Liquor
Monica's Bakery [gone]

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Neon Art		 Valley Relics Museum Other
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