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New Mexico Signs: Albuquerque (page 1)

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Aztec Motel [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 Premiere Motel [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
The Aztec Motel opened in 1932 as the Aztec Auto Court. The original sign was replaced with this one in 1961. It was restored in 2003. The motel was demolished in 2011. In 2015, plans were made for a new development on the lot and the sign was removed. It is now in storage as the City seeks a new place to install it. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Premiere Motel opened in 1941. The original sign is located down the side street. That sign was painted a solid brown. It is now painted over for a mini storage business. The Premiere pole sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2008, it was repainted in the original colors. It has been painted red for many years. The neon element at the top of the tall sign probably flashed in sequence originally. In 2022, the neon was removed from the sign and it was painted blue and pink. There are now backlit plastic letters on the circular letters and the rectangular sign below. [map]

Pioneer Motel
Albuquerque, NM
The Pioneer Motel was built as the Pioneer Luxury Court in 1949. These signs are from 1958. The arrows on both signs were later additions. These photos are from 2012 and 2017. In 2018, the neon and readerboards were removed. The sign was repainted blue and red and it now reads "Pioneer Apartments." The tall sign is gone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former Jimmie's Oriental Restaurant
Albuquerque, NM		 Desert Sands Motor Hotel
Albuquerque, NM
2006: 2012: 2012: 2019:
Jimmie's Oriental Restaurant is long gone but this sign remains. Just before these 2012 photos were taken, the text part of the sign was painted white and the neon was removed. By 2014, the entire sign had been painted white and was advertising for Metro PCS. The sign panel is now purple. [map]

The Desert Sands Motor Hotel was built in 1954. There was a different sign there originally. This sign is probably from the 1960s. The motel was demolished in 2016. This sign was still there in 2017. It was removed in 2018. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

Mark's Casa Chevrolet
Albuquerque, NM
2012: 2019:
The Mark's Casa Chevrolet used car dealership had a Chevrolet "OK" used car sign. These signs were mass-produced. However, this sign in Albuquerque did not have the tapered mid-section like all the others I have seen. This photo is from 2012. By 2014, the sign was gone. The dealership is still there. The sign is now in a private collection.

Royal Fork Buffet
Albuquerque, NM		 Nob Hill Shoe Repairers [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 KOB-TV
Albuquerque, NM
The Royal Fork Buffet sign is from 1960. The restaurant was once part of a chain. This location has been gone since at least the 1980s. The building has been converted into the Royal Fork Lofts. The sign has been left as-is. [map]

The Nob Hill Shoe Repairers sign was installed in 1948. This photo is from 2012. The sign was still there in 2014 but gone in 2015. It was sold to a private collector when the business moved across the street.

The KOB-TV studios moved to this location in the early 1950s. This sign is probably from then. [map]

Stadium Liquors
Albuquerque, NM
Broadway Square
Albuquerque, NM
Stadium Liquors opened in 1963 and this sign was built then by the Zeon Sign Company. It features a football and goal post. [map]

Stadium Liquors is located in the Broadway Square shopping center which has a neon sign as well. It was probably built in or around 1963. [map]

Ponderosa Mobile Home Haven
Albuquerque, NM
2012: 2019:
The Ponderosa Mobile Home Haven signs were probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The signs were removed in 2018. They are now part of a private collection.

Ski-Hi Liquors
Albuquerque, NM		 former Nob Hill Motel
Albuquerque, NM
The Ski-Hi Liquors sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Nob Hill Motel was built in 1937 as the Modern Auto Court. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The first photo above was taken in 2006. Around 2009, the motel was converted into retail and office space known as Nob Hill Court. At that time, the sign was repainted and adapted. The second and third photos above are from 2012. For more, see this website. [map]

Kurt's Camera Corral
Albuquerque, NM

2012:
2017: 2019:
Kurt's Camera Corral opened in 1950 and this sign is probably from then. In 2015, it was announced that the store was closing. The signs were removed in 2016. The projecting sign is now in a private collection.

Albuquerque
(page 2)		 Albuquerque
(page 3)		 Albuquerque
(page 4)		 Gallup
NM
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(page 2)		 NM
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(page 4)		 NM
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