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San Francisco Signs (page 3)

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YMCA
Steuart St.
San Francisco, CA		 YMCA
Sacramento St.
San Francisco, CA		 Wine Liquor
San Francisco, CA
The YMCA sign on Steuart St. appears to be either a replica of an older sign or a modern sign. [map]

The YMCA sign on Sacramento St. in Chinatown looks like a recently refurbished sign from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Wine Liquor sign hangs above an antiques shop. It is identical to this sign which was at the Last Spot Lounge in Richmond, CA. I don't know if the two stores were related or if the sign shop just made these signs for a variety of businesses. [map]

Britex Fabrics
San Francisco, CA
Geary St. Post St.
The Britex Fabrics store opened in 1952 on Geary St. This 30-foot-tall sign was installed then. Around 2015, the store moved to a new location. The original space remains vacant for now but the sign may be adapted by the next tenant. [map]

In 2020, a replica sign with single-stroke neon tubing was installed at Britex's new location on Post St. [map]

Tenderloin/Hotel Cadillac
San Francisco, CA		 Sherman Clay & Co. [gone]
San Francisco, CA
The 25-foot-tall Tenderloin/Hotel Cadillac sign was built in 2023 by the Thomas Swan Sign Company and installed above the Tenderloin Museum. It is a recreation of the long-gone sign for the Hotel Cadillac. For more, see this website. [map]

The Sherman Clay & Co. piano company was founded in San Francisco in 1870. In 2013, the company was bought out by Steinway & Sons. This sign was removed in 2015 and is presumed to have been destroyed. I believe the sign was built in 1935. It was originally located on Kearny St. The City believed that the sign was from the 1990s and was not historic. Perhaps, the sign was restored and moved to Market St. in the 1990s.

Van Ness Inn
San Francisco, CA		 500 Club
San Francisco, CA
The Van Ness Inn still displays a Superior Motel vacuum form plastic sign. I don't know what the name of this motel was originally. These signs were mass-produced but there are very few left. Superior was a motel referral chain from 1950 through the 1970s. I assume that motels had to pay a fee to be listed in their directories and these signs were probably supplied by the company as additional advertising. For more, see this website. [map]

The 500 Club sign was installed in 1953. [map]

Doc's Clock
San Francisco, CA

2014:
2019:
The Doc's Clock sign appears to be from the 1950s. It was repainted sometime after 2012. In 2017, the bar moved to a nearby location. After a struggle with the former location's building owner over the sign, it was finally moved to Doc's new location in 2018. The sign was altered to fit the narrower space. The arrows and cocktails now wrap to the sides of the signs. The sides of the sign and the clocks are gone. For more, see this website. [map]

Skyline Realty
San Francisco, CA		 Mack's Valet Cleaners
San Francisco, CA		 Little City Market
San Francisco, CA		 Stella Pastry & Cafe
San Francisco, CA
This Skyline Realty sign is an interesting mix of neon, plastic, and bulbs. I suspect that it's from the 1960s or later. [map]

The Mack's Valet Cleaners sign appears to be from the 1950s or earlier. It was previously named "Jack's Valet Cleaners." The letter "J" is still visible under the "M". Over the word "Tailor", neon tubing spells out "Pressing". [map]

The Little City Market was established in the early 1940s. This sign may be from then or slightly later. [map]

Stella Pastry & Cafe was established in 1942. This sign is probably from then. For more, see this website. [map]

First Baptist Church
San Francisco, CA		 Parkview Market
San Francisco, CA		 Henry Schrumpf Flowers
San Francisco, CA
This First Baptist Church sign appears to be from either the 1950s or, more likely, earlier than that. For more, see this website. [map]

The Parkview Market sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Henry Schrumpf Flowers opened around 1941 and this sign appears to be from then. I believe the store closed in 1967 but the sign remains. It has ripple tin panels and originally had neon. [map]

Philosopher's Club
San Francisco, CA		 Ambassador Hotel
San Francisco, CA		 Sears Fine Food
San Francisco, CA		 Owl Tree
San Francisco, CA
The Philosopher's Club opened in 1960. This sign is either from then or it was reworked from a previous business. For more, see this website. [map]

The Ambassador Hotel was built as the Ferris Harriman Theater and Hotel in 1911. It was renamed the Hotel Ambassador in 1923 and the theatre was converted into a garage. This sign was installed sometime after 1930. There was previously a tall blade sign installed at this spot of the building. [map]

Sears Fine Food opened in 1938. The restaurant moved to this location in 1964. I believe this sign was moved from the previous location. It appears to be from the 1950s. The "Breakfast Lunch" panel was added sometime after 1965. The "Dinner" panel is modern. For more, see this website. [map]

The Owl Tree opened in 1977. The neon sign was built around 2010. Before that, there was a backlit plastic sign. [map]

San Francisco
(page 1)		 San Francisco
(page 2)		 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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