email: roadarch@outlook.com

Hayward & San Leandro Signs

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Hayward Ranch [gone]
Hayward, CA
The Hayward Ranch opened in 1948. This sign is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. It features a three-dimensional steer head on one side and a plastic panel with a cocktail glass on the other. In 2019, it was announced that the restaurant would be closing. In 2020, the sign was sold and removed. For more, see this website.

Holiday Bowl [gone]
Hayward, CA		 Holiday House
Banquet Room [gone]
Hayward, CA		 Curly's Place
Hayward, CA
The Holiday Bowl opened in 1958. The Holiday House banquet room was added in 1965. The Holiday Bowl closed in 2005. In 2020, the Holiday Bowl sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. The building and the Holiday House sign were demolished. For more, see this website.

Curly's Place was established around 1958 and this sign appears to be from then. The neon is covered with protective plastic panels. The backlit plastic sign at the bottom might be from the 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

Hayward
Fishery [gone]
Hayward, CA		 Emil Villa's
Hayward, CA		 Emil Villa's
San Leandro, CA
>The Hayward Fishery opened in 1942 and this sign was installed then. It was designed by the business owner, Gus Aguiar, and built for $1,500. The sign was sequentially animated with the small fish descending into the mouth of the big fish at the bottom. Initially, the business was a grocery store, fish market, and bait shop. It didn't become a restaurant until the late 1970s. By the late 1960s, the sign was only partially lit. The sign was turned off around 1970 after it caught fire. In 1980, the owners decided to remodel the restaurant and have the sign restored. As is the case with most cities, vintage signs cannot be removed and reinstalled. The Hayward sign was repaired and repainted in place for $3,500. The sign's animation was not permitted by the city. The restaurant closed in 2005. It reopened that same year as Art's Crab Shack. Art's added their own sign and had the Fishery sign restored. It featured yellow, pink, green, and white neon. Art's closed just a few years later. The building has remained vacant since then. In 2019, the sign was removed. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

The Emil Villa's restaurant chain was established in Oakland, CA in 1928. At one time, there were eight Bay Area locations. In 1998, the company went bankrupt and the locations became independently operated. The Hayward location opened in the 1940s. It is now known as Emil Villa's California Barbecue. In 2016, the neon was removed and the plastic panels were installed. [map]

The neon on the San Leandro sign has been replaced with LED tubing. I believe that took place just before this photo was taken in 2014. That location is now called Emil Villa's Hickory Pit. [map]

Shasta Beverages
Hayward, CA
2008: 2020:
Shasta Beverages was founded in 1889 as the Mt. Shasta Mineral Springs Company. The company's production and headquarters are based in Hayward. This sign looks like it might have been installed in the 1950s or 1960s. By 2018, the sign's neon had been replaced with LED tubing and the "Beverages" neon was replaced with backlit plastic. There was also a giant soda can sign here. For more, see this website. [map]

More Hayward:
Bras & Mattos Monument Co.
Caspers Famous Hot Dogs
Mister Donut

Schelly's Bar
San Leandro, CA		 Cal West Motors
San Leandro, CA
Schelly's Bar is now known as Ryan's Pub but this sign remains. The sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Cal West Motors has only been in San Leandro since 1981. This sign must have been built then or adapted from another business. [map]

Trailer Haven
San Leandro, CA
Trailer Haven is an RV park campground. The business was established in 1937 but I believe this sign is modern. [map]

Tip Top Tavern
San Leandro, CA		 Parker House Lounge
San Leandro, CA		 Pagano's [gone]
San Leandro, CA
The Tip Top Tavern sign appears to be from the 1960s. This photo is from 2014. By 2016, the sign was painted black. By 2019, the sign was painted blue and brown. The bulbs and neon were gone. [map]

The Parker House Lounge is closed but this cocktail glass sign remains. The bar was operating by 1957. This sign may be from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

The Pagano's sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. Around 2022, the neon was stripped from the sign and it was repainted for another business. For more, see this website.

Ernie's Sea Food [gone]
San Leandro, CA

2008:
2014:
Ernie's Sea Food opened in 1953 and this sign appeared to be from then. There was more neon on the side of the building. That was replaced by backlit plastic letters around 2010. The backlit plastic sign on the building shown on the lower right above is probably from the 1960s. Ernie's closed around 2020 and the signs were removed. For more, see this website.

Sure Fit Seat Cover Center
San Leandro, CA
This Sure Fit Seat Cover Center sign was built in the 1950s. It originally had neon. There was originally a revolving pole sign at this location as well. That sign was gone by 2011. Another location in Tacoma, WA still has both signs. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

More San Leandro:
Eden Center
Fifth Wheel Food
Jerry's Beefburgers
Manor Shopping Center
Palma Plaza
Paradise Trailer Court
Pee Wee's Pizza
Pelton Plaza
Sam's Super Burgers

Alameda Bakersfield Fresno Long Beach Los Angeles Oakland
Sacramento San Diego Area San Francisco San Jose Stockton Museum of
Neon Art		 Valley Relics Museum Other
California

Main Signs Page