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New Mexico Signs: Albuquerque (page 3)

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Furr's [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 B. Ruppe Drugs
Albuquerque, NM		 El Don Motel
Albuquerque, NM
Furr's opened its first restaurant in Hobbs, NM in 1946. There are now more than 50 locations throughout the Southwest and Florida. This photo is from 2006. By 2008, this location had closed and the sign was gone. There are two other Albuquerque locations but I don't believe they have this style sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

B. Ruppe Drugs was established in 1883. The store moved to this location in 1965. This sign is probably from then. The store closed around 2011 but the sign remains. [map]

The El Don Motel opened in 1946. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It was restored in 2001. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Monterey Motel
Albuquerque, NM
2017: 2018: 2021:
The Monterey Motel was built in 1946 as the David Court. By 1954, it was known as the Monterey Court. There was a different sign there at that time. The current design is probably from the late 1950s. Postcard images show the panels were originally painted brown. There was a metal grid in the arched loop above the text panel. There was also a secondary neon panel attached to the loop and resting on the text panel that appears to have depicted a sleeping Mexican. By the mid-1960s, the sign's text was changed from Monterey Court to the Monterey Motel and the panels had been painted blue and red. The grid was still there and the frame for the secondary panel remained, but the image was gone. After the frame was removed, a classic bulb arrow was mounted on top of the upper loop. That was removed decades ago and a small "Sorry No Vacancy" neon panel that was previously installed beneath the sign was moved up and hung inside the loop.

In 2018, the sign was freshened up with new paint. Just a few months later, the sign was hit by a truck which damaged the outside lower corner. In 2019, big plans were announced for the property. The pitched roofs were removed to restore the rooms' original look and a pedestrian connection was built for access to the neighboring El Vado Motel's new retail development. In 2019, Zeon Signs built a new replica sign. The abstracted arrow at the sign's center was changed from yellow to the original red paint. The sign is lit with white, red, and green neon. For more, see this website. [map]

Master Cleaners [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 La Puerta Lodge
Albuquerque, NM
Master Cleaners opened in 1946. This neon "skeleton sign" in the window was animated. I don't know if it was vintage or modern. The store closed around 2018 and this sign is gone.

The La Puerta Lodge opened in 1949. This sign may be from then. [map]

El Camino Motor Hotel & Dining Room
Albuquerque, NM		 Mountain Lodge
Albuquerque, NM
El Camino Motor Hotel was previously known as the El Camino Lodge. It may have been built in the 1930s. There was a different sign there originally. In 1950, the Dining Room was built across the street from the motel. The similarity of the motel sign indicates that it was probably built at the same time. The motel's name change might have taken place then as well. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Mountain Lodge was built in the 1940s in Carnuel, NM. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The motel was destroyed by fire in 2014 and the sign was removed around 2019. In 2022, the motel owner donated the sign to the City of Albuquerque. The sign was restored and installed later that year at the West Central Route 66 Visitor Center. For more, see this website. [map]

Bow & Arrow Lodge
Albuquerque, NM		 Westward Ho Motel
Albuquerque, NM		 Chase
Hardware [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
The Bow & Arrow Lodge sign might be from the 1950s or 1960s. The original sign featured an Indian shooting an arrow. [map]

The Westward Ho Motel opened in 1948. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It was restored in 2002. However, only one side of the sign has neon now. [map]

Chase Hardware opened in 1954 and this giant hammer sign was probably from then. The sign had neon originally. This photo is from 2012. The store closed in 2015 and the sign was gone by 2016. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

Monroe's Mexican Food [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 former TraveLodge
Albuquerque, NM		 Vigil's Safe & Key [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
Monroe's Mexican Food opened in 1962 and this sign appears to be from then. In 2019, the restaurant moved to a new location and the sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

This TraveLodge was built in 1957. There was a smaller neon sign there originally. The current sign looked like this originally. The sign has been adapted for other motels over the years. It has been a Days Inn since at least 2016. [map]

The Vigil's Safe & Key sign might have been from the 1950s. By 2022, the business and sign were gone.

Grandview Motel
Albuquerque, NM		 Model Pharmacy [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
Grandview Motel was built in 1954. This sign may be from then or the 1960s. [map]

The Model Pharmacy has neon tubing on both sides of the building. The pharmacy opened in 1947 and moved across the street to its current location in 1985. The neon was probably installed then. The pharmacy closed in 2020. The building has been remodeled and the neon is gone.

Valencia Bar
& Lounge [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 El Modelo Mexican Foods
Albuquerque, NM
The Valencia Bar & Lounge is closed but this sign remained until 2018. It is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The sign is now in a private collection.

El Modelo Mexican Foods opened in 1929. The restaurant moved to its current location sometime soon after 1947. The pole sign is probably from then. It must have had neon originally. [map]

Harper's Furs
Albuquerque, NM
2017: 2019:
Harper's Furs opened here in 1929. The store closed in 2011 but this sign remained until 2018. It is now in a private collection. The sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website.

Garcia's Cafe
Albuquerque, NM
2012: 2017:
Garcia's Cafe opened in 1975. These signs appears to be older than that and were probably adapted from a previous business. By 2015, the pole sign had been repainted. For more, see this website. [map]

De Anza Motor Lodge
Albuquerque, NM
2017: 2021:
The De Anza Motor Lodge was built in 1939. The 35-foot-tall neon sign is believed to be from then. The motel closed in the 1990s. The City bought the property in 2003. The motel was demolished but the sign was spared. A new development for apartments, a retail store, a visitor center and a cafe were built on the site. The coffee shop on the corner was saved. In 2019, the sign was restored. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Cavalier Motel
Albuquerque, NM
2012: 2019:
The Cavalier Motel was long gone but this sign remained for many years. It was probably from the 1950s. In 2014, the sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Duran Central
Pharmacy
Albuquerque, NM		 Kmart [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
The Duran Central Pharmacy was established in 1942. This mid-century modern inspired sign was installed around 2017. [map]

This Kmart sign was probably from the mid-1960s. These photos are from 2012. I believe this is the last neon Kmart sign left. In 2018, the store closed and the sign was removed. There was a sign like this in Sacramento, CA until around 2008. The "K" panel was removed and the other neon panel was replaced with backlit plastic letters.

Taco Sal
Albuquerque, NM
Taco Sal opened in 1960. These signs are lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Albuquerque
(page 1)		 Albuquerque
(page 2)		 Albuquerque
(page 4)		 Gallup
NM
(page 1)		 NM
(page 2)		 NM
(page 3)		 NM
(page 4)		 NM
(page 5)		 NM
(page 6)

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