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San Francisco Signs (page 2)

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Empress Jewelry
San Francisco, CA		 Tai Li Co.
San Francisco, CA		 Republic Hotel
San Francisco, CA
The signs in this row and the next four rows of photos below are all located in Chinatown.

Empress Jewelry is long-gone but this sign remains. It was built by Wonderlite Neon, probably in the 1950s. In 2022, the text panel was covered with a vinyl sign for Ha Mini Mart. [map]

The sign at Tai Li Co. advertises for a long gone gift shop. This sign was also built by Wonderlite Neon and is probably from the 1950s. [map]

The Republic Hotel is gone but this sign remains. This sign appears to be from the 1950s. [map]

Art Clothing Co.
San Francisco, CA		 Buddha Lounge
San Francisco, CA
The Art Clothing Co. is still in business. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

The Buddha Lounge opened in 1951. This sign is probably from then. [map]

Li Po Cocktail Lounge
San Francisco, CA
2017: 2020:
The Li Po Cocktail Lounge opened in 1937, making it the oldest bar in Chinatown. The six-sided lantern sign and text panel had been installed by 1947. The text panel originally had a flashing L-shaped arrow that wrapped around the side and bottom of the sign. It is not known when it was replaced with the horizontal arrow now on top of the sign or if the more recent arrow ever flashed. The name Li Po is a reference to a Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty who wrote about the pleasure of drinking wine. This photo is from 2017. In 2018, the signs were restored by the Arrow Sign Company in Oakland. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Great Star Theatre
San Francisco, CA		 Eastern Bakery
San Francisco, CA		 Golden Star Radio
San Francisco, CA		 Sam Wo Restaurant
San Francisco, CA
The Great Star Theatre opened in 1925 as a Chinese opera house known as the Great China Theatre. This sign had been installed by the late 1940s. It was renamed the Great Star Theatre in the early 1960s. The theatre closed around 2000. It reopened in 2016 and the sign's neon was restored then by John Law. This photo is from 2017. [map]

The Eastern Bakery opened in 1924. The sign might be from the 1930s. The Coca-Cola button sign was added much later. Around 2016, the sign was repainted. The neon was removed removed and backlit plastic letters were added to the panels. In 2017, the neon was added back to the sign but the channels for the plastic panels remain on the panels. For more, see this website. [map]

Golden Star Radio aired the Chinese News Hour between 1939 and 1979. This sign was probably built in the 1950s. [map]

The Sam Wo Restaurant opened in 1908. This sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

Oriental House of Beauty
San Francisco, CA		 North Beach Hotel
San Francisco, CA
The Oriental House of Beauty sign is probably from the 1950s. It had very faded paint for decades but the patina still showed the brown circles behind the Chinese characters and some gold stripes on the corner and sides of the panels. The panels were repainted bright green in 2020. The neon remains broken. For more, see this website. [map]

The North Beach Hotel was built in 1906 as the St. Paul Hotel. It became the North Beach around 2008 and the signs were adapted then. The sign on the left might have been built in the 1940s or 1950s. The sign on the right might be from the 1930s. [map]

Armstrong Carpet and Linoleum Company
San Francisco, CA
The Armstrong Carpet and Linoleum Company was established in 1946. At some point, the store moved to this location. These signs appear to be from the late 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Casa Loma Hotel
San Francisco, CA		 Trad'r Sam
San Francisco, CA		 Columbus Cafe
San Francisco, CA		 Garden of Eden
San Francisco, CA
The Casa Loma Hotel sign is probably from the late 1920s or early 1930s. The hotel may have gone by a different name at that time which would explain the missing letters at the top of the panels. The building is from 1906. [map]

The Trad'r Sam bar was established in 1937. The original sign was larger and horizontal. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Columbus Cafe was established in 1936. This sign could be from then. This photo is from 2014. In 2024, the sign was repainted by Manny Fabregas and the neon restored by Jim Rizzo. For more, see this website. [map]

The Garden of Eden strip club opened in 1972. These signs must be from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Pop's Bar
San Francisco, CA
2014: 2023:
Pop's Bar opened around 1937 as Pop's Clubhouse. The bar moved to its current location around 1970. This sign was supposedly built then. However, at least the bottom panel appears to be 1940s or 1950s. The sign was restored in 2022. For more, see this website. [map]

St. Mary's Pub
San Francisco, CA		 Blue Plate
San Francisco, CA
St. Mary's Pub opened in 1948. This sign is probably from then. It has probably lost some detail over the years. The sign had just been repainted when this photo was taken in 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

The owner of the Blue Plate bought this vintage sign at a flea market and hung it in front of the restaurant. The Blue Plate opened in 1999. For more, see this website. [map]

Spot Lite Market
San Francisco, CA
The Spot Lite Market sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

San Francisco
(page 1)		 San Francisco
(page 3)		 San Francisco
(page 4)		 San Francisco
(page 5)		 San Francisco
(page 6)		 San Francisco
(page 7)
Alameda Bakersfield Fresno Hayward &
San Leandro		 Long Beach Los Angeles
Oakland Sacramento San Diego Area San Jose Stockton Museum of
Neon Art		 Valley Relics Museum Other
California

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