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Salt Lake City Signs

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Temple City Motel
Salt Lake City, UT		 Siesta Motel
Salt Lake City, UT		 Century 6 Theatre
Salt Lake City, UT		 Capitol Motel [gone]
Salt Lake City, UT

The Temple City Motel was built in the 1930s or 1940s. The sign "Motel" and arrow part of the sign are believed to be from the late 1940s or early 1950s. The top panels which depict Salt Lake City's Mormon Temple are believed to be from the early 1950s. This photo is from 2014. The sign was restored in 2016. The panels were not repainted so as to preserve the sign's patina. They were touched up in places. The internal wiring and components were replaced. The neon was recreated to match the original tubing. For more, see this website. [map]

The Siesta Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. The neon has been covered with plastic to protect it from vandals and/or weather. [map]

The Century 6 Theatre was built in 1969 and this sign appears to be from then. The theatre closed in 1998 when a larger Century Theatre was built nearby. The building was demolished but this sign still remains as of this 2014 photo. [map]

The Capitol Motel sign depicted Salt Lake City's Capitol Building. Just after this photo was taken in 2006, the sign fell to the ground and was destroyed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Der Ratskeller Pizza Shoppe
Salt Lake City, UT		 Coachman's Dinner & Pancake House
Salt Lake City, UT
This Der Ratskeller Pizza Shoppe was built in 1973 and this sign must be from then. The building is gone now but this sign remains. There were at least five locations in Salt Lake City and five others in Idaho. I believe this is the only sign left. Unfortunately, one of the face panels is missing now. The sign is installed next to the American Rust Company. The pizza restaurant was located nearby. For more, see this website. [map]

The Coachman's Dinner & Pancake House sign was built in 1961. The light inside the lamp flickers at night. In 2021, it was announced that the restaurant was closing and that the property would be redeveloped. So far, in 2022, the building and sign are still there. [map]

Standard
Builders Supply
Salt Lake City, UT		 R&M Seat Covers
& Upholstery
Salt Lake City, UT		 Diamond Lil's [gone]
Salt Lake City, UT		 Stark Automotive
Salt Lake City, UT
Standard Builders Supply was established in 1948. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The business is gone now but this sign remains. For more, see this website. [map]

The sign at R&M Seat Covers & Upholstery originally spun in two directions like this one in Budd Lake, NJ. These signs were probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. There are only a handful of them left around the country. I don't know what the original business here was. [map]

Diamond Lil's steakhouse opened in 1969. This sign must have been from then. The place closed in 2014. In 2021, the building caught fire and burned to the ground just days before it was to be demolished. The building and sign are gone now. For more, see this website.

Stark Automotive opened in 1956 and this sign was built then. The building is now owned by the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA). In 2016, the company had the sign's neon restored by the Rainbow Neon Sign Co. The project was completed in coordination with the Saving the Historic Signs of Sugar House Committee of the Sugar House Community Council. Matching funds came from the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency. [map]

Smith-Crown Co.
Salt Lake City, UT		 Rainbow Neon Sign Co.
Salt Lake City, UT		 Astro Burgers
Salt Lake City, UT
The Smith-Crown Co. vacuum store opened in 1947 at a different location. The store moved to its current location sometime between 2011 and 2014. The original sign from the 1950s was stored on the roof. With city permission, a smaller replica sign was created by the Rainbow Neon Sign Co. and installed in 2018. I believe the original sign is at Rainbow Neon. [map]

This neon Christmas Tree is located on top of the pole sign at the Rainbow Neon Sign Co. I don't know when it was built. I assume that it is lit for the holidays. [map]

This neon star is installed on top of the pole sign at Astro Burgers. The company was founded in 1982. I believe this location opened in 1986 and the sign is from then. [map]

Fendall's Ice Cream
Salt Lake City, UT
2014: 2022:
Fendall's Ice Cream was founded in Salt Lake City in 1910. The company opened an ice cream parlor at this location in 1957. This sign is probably from then. It closed in 1997 and a pizza parlor moved into the main space. Ice cream was still sold by the pints around the back of the building and in supermarkets until at least 2008. There were other Fendall's signs on the building which were removed. A location in Ogden opened in 2012 but that was short-lived. Fendall's ice cream is no longer being produced now. Around 2021, the sign was adapted for Big Daddy's Pizza. In 2024, this location closed and the sign was removed. It is being stored in a lot nearby. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

West Side Drug Store
Salt Lake City, UT
2014: 2022:
The West Side Drug Store building was demolished in 2021. Before that happened, part of the sign was saved, restored with flashing bulbs, and installed nearby at the Red Iguana 2 restaurant in 2020. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Ego's (now Mark of the Beastro Vegan Diner)
Salt Lake City, UT
2006: 2014: 2022:
This sign was originally built for The Annex. It had text reading "Dancing" and "Beer" on the horizontal pieces. In recent years, the sign has been adapted for several restaurants. The building now houses Mark of the Beastro Vegan Diner and the sign has been adapted once again. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Summit Group
Salt Lake City, UT		 City Creek Inn [gone]
Salt Lake City, UT
The Summit Group sign originally advertised for the United Electric Supply. The sign was probably built in the 1950s. The neon text on the sign alternated between "United Electric Supply" and "House of Service." The neon was removed by 2006. In 2007, the sign was repurposed for the Summit Group. Around 2024, the sign was adapted again for the Odyssey House. The neon was replaced with LED tubing. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The City Creek Inn was built in 1947 as Snyder's Covered Wagon Motor Lodge. There was a different sign there then. It later became the Covered Wagon Motel. This sign was built then, probably in the 1950s. By 2003, the name was changed to the City Creek Inn. The text was adapted and the sign was restored. In 2010, the motel was demolished and the sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

Nu-Crisp Popcorn
Salt Lake City, UT		 Spiking Tourist Lodge
Salt Lake City, UT
2008: 2014: 2006: 2014:
Nu-Crisp Popcorn was established in 1932. The store moved to this location in 1946. It was next to the Marlo Theatre which did not sell refreshments. Patrons would often buy popcorn at this store and take it with them to the movies. This sign was built in the early 1970s. The bulbs flashed on and off to simulate popping popcorn. The store has been closed and vacant since around 1994. In 2016, there was talk of relighting or restoring the sign. However, in 2019, nothing had happened. For more, see this website. [map]

The Spiking Tourist Lodge opened around 1946. This sign is probably from then. The sign features a railroad spike. The neon was removed around 2010 and the sign was repainted. For more, see this website. [map]

Mrs. Backer's Pastry Shop
Salt Lake City, UT
Mrs. Backer's Pastry Shop opened in 1941. These signs are probably from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Dream Inn
Salt Lake City, UT		 McKay Diamonds
Salt Lake City, UT
The Dream Inn sign appears to be from the 1950s. It was built by YESCO. In 2019, plans were submitted to demolish the motel and replace it with a far larger Best Western GLO Hotel. [map]

McKay Diamonds opened here in 1949. This canopy sign supposedly dates from then. However, it looks like a modern replacement to me. In 2021, the store moved to a new location. The canopy sign will remain. The neon tubing in the second photo has been removed. For more, see this website. [map]

Art Floral
Salt Lake City, UT
Art Floral opened in 1951. This sign may be from then. [map]

Glen's Key
Salt Lake City, UT		 Classic Cleaners
Salt Lake City, UT
Glen's Key was established in 1923. This fiberglass sign was built in 1968 by the owner's son. [map]

Classic Cleaners was established in 1929. This sign may be from then. It features a ripple tin panels which were commonly used at that time. The side of the sign still bears a YESCO tag. The bottom piece of neon was not lit when these photos were taken in 2014. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Salt Lake Costume Co.
Salt Lake City, UT
2014: 2022:
The Salt Lake Costume Co. was established in 1889. The store moved to this building in 1958. This sign might be from then. It was built by the Rainbow Neon Sign Co. The store closed in 2005 but the sign remained. In 2018, the sign was removed for restoration. In 2019, it was reinstalled at the same location. [map]

Rio Grande Hotel
Salt Lake City, UT
The Rio Grande Hotel was built in 1911 as the Park Hotel. In the late 1940s, it was renamed the Rio Grande Hotel. This sign must be from then. The hotel is now used for low-income housing. Around 2011, the neon was covered with plastic to protect it from vandals and weather. For more, see this website. [map]

Grove Market
Salt Lake City, UT		 Peter Pan Apartments
Salt Lake City, UT
The Grove Market opened in 1947 and this sign was installed then. In 2020, during restoration by Brimley Neon, the original, rusty panels were found inside the later 1964 panels. They were replicated and new neon installed. [map]

The Peter Pan Apartments were built in 1927. This sign might be from then or slightly later. [map]

Italian
Village Restaurant
Salt Lake City, UT		 Dee's Family Restaurant
Salt Lake City, UT
The Italian Village Restaurant opened in 1968 and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

The first Dee's Family Restaurant opened in Salt Lake City in 1932. By the 1970s, there were more than 50 Dee's Drive-ins and Restaurants in the Salt Lake City area. The drive-ins closed in the 1980s. There are about three restaurants left in the Salt Lake City area. This is the only one with a revolving sign and a Dee Burger Clown rooftop weathervane. The weathervane was probably built in the 1960s or 1970s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

More Salt Lake City:
Bonwood Bowl
Bratten's Seafood [vintage; gone]
Ding Ho Cafe [vintage; gone]
England Plumbing Supply
First Security Bank [gone]
Gas [vintage; gone]
Granite Furniture
Hires Drive-in [map]
Intermountain [gone]
Kleen Kars Auto Sales (later Mahfood Motors): 1, 2 [gone]
Kuong Jou Cafe [gone]
Master Muffler
Park 'N Jet
Rio Grande Depot [now Ogden, UT]
Ritz Classic Lanes
Scenic Motel: 1, 2 [gone]
Sine's Se Rancho Motel [vintage; gone]
Snelgrove Ice Cream
Sue-Rich Lanes
Union Pacific Railroad
University Pharmacy
Walker Center

UT (page 1) UT (page 2) Utah (page 3) Ogden

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