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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
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.

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.

MG's Grand
Liquors [gone]
Albuquerque, NM		 Zia Motor Lodge
Albuquerque, NM		 Loma Verde Motel
Albuquerque, NM		 Silver Fox
Lounge [gone]
Albuquerque, NM
MG's Grand Liquors probably went by a different name originally. The store is still there but this sign is gone. The photo above is from 2006. Apparently, the sign was restored and moved to Socorro, NM by 2011 for a movie shoot. Shortly thereafter, the sign was blown down in a storm and significantly damaged. It is now in storage and there are no immediate plans to repair it.

The Zia Motor Lodge was built around 1938 as the Zia Lodge. By 1961, a smaller zia symbol sign was replaced with this one. The sign panel came from the Sentry Hiway House motel and was reworked for the Zia Lodge. The starburst at the top of the sign flashed at night. The motel was demolished in 2005 but this sign remains on the vacant lot. For more, see this website. [map]

The Loma Verde Motel was probably built around the 1930s. This sign is most likely from the 1950s. It probably had stars or other neon shapes on the poles between the top and the bottom of the sign. This photo is from 2012. By 2021, most of the neon had been removed and the sign had been painted over. For more, see this website. [map]

The Silver Fox Lounge closed in 2009 and the sign was removed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Creamland Dairies
Albuquerque, NM		 Western View Diner
& Steak House
Albuquerque, NM		 Luna Lodge
Albuquerque, NM		 Tewa Lodge
Albuquerque, NM
Creamland Dairies was established in 1937. The company moved to this location in 1948. This sign may be from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Western View Diner & Steak House opened in 1941. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Luna Lodge was built in 1949. This sign may be from the 1960s. In 2012, the property was redeveloped as apartments. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Tewa Lodge was built in 1946. This sign is probably from the 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

El Vado Motel
Albuquerque, NM
2012: 2017:
The El Vado Motel opened in 1937 as the El Vado Auto Court. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The motel closed in 2005 and was threatened with demolition. It is now owned by the City. In 2014, plans were announced to convert the motel into a boutique motel with shops and a food court. Remodeling is expected to start in 2016. Just after this photo was taken in 2012, it was announced that the sign would be restored with grant money. By 2016, the sign had been restored and was on display at the Albuquerque Museum. In 2017, the sign was reinstalled on the property. The motel buildings are still being worked on and will house a boutique motel and retail shops. For more, see this website. [map]

Dog House Drive-in
Albuquerque, NM
The Dog House Drive-in opened in the early 1950s. The stand moved two blocks down the road in 1969. The original sign was moved to the new building which was identical in size and floor plan. The neon dog's tail wags in three-part animation. He also gobbles an animated string of six hot dog links. The neon text on the sign is static. The sign is about twenty feet long. The neon is occasionally damaged by hail and swiftly repaired. There was also a similar pole sign at one time. I don't know if it was ever at this location or if it was only at the first one. For more, see this website. [map]

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