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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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Oakland Signs |
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Glenview Shoe Repair Oakland, CA |
French Cleaners Oakland, CA |
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Glenview Shoe Repair opened in the 1930s. This appears to be a recent replica sign. For more, see this website. [map]
The French Cleaners read "Bellevue Cleaners" until it was reworked and covered with plastic around 2005. It may have been built in the 1950s. The sign is now protected from vandals by a clear plastic covering. However, I don't believe it's lit at night anymore. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
G&G Hardware Oakland, CA |
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G&G Hardware opened in 1947 and closed in 2004. In 2012, the Pizzaiolo Restaurant moved into the building and had the sign restored by Neon Works. The Ruud Plumbing sign was removed at this time. For more, see this website. [map] |
The Alley Oakland, CA |
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The Alley opened in 1934, just as prohibition ended. The sign's ripple tin panels probably indicate that this sign is pre-1950s. It might have been installed in 1944 when the bar's interior was redone. The letters are lit with turquoise-green neon. The sign is about seven feet long. It was repainted around 2007. For more, see this website. [map] |
Island Market Oakland, CA |
Piedmont Piano Co. Oakland, CA |
Rhea's Salon of Beauty [gone] Oakland, CA |
7-Eleven Oakland, CA |
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The Island Market sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]
The Piedmont Piano Co. sign was adapted from the California Art Supply store. Before that, the sign advertised for the California Furniture Company store. I believe the building and sign were built in 1946 for the California Motor Car Company and that the sign was adapted for the furniture store. [map] Rhea's Salon of Beauty is long gone but this sign remained. It was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2014. The sign was removed around 2018. There are a handful of these 7-Eleven signs remaining in Northern California. They are probably from the 1960s or 1970s. [map] |
Smitty's Cocktails Oakland, CA |
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The Smitty's Cocktails projecting sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. The sign on the building may be newer. [map] |
Sage Motel Oakland, CA |
Rio Motel [gone] Oakland, CA |
George's Laundry & Dry Cleaners Oakland, CA |
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The Sage Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2019, the neon was removed and the letters are now backlit plastic. [map]
The Rio Motel sign was probably from the 1950s. The motel was demolished in 2011 and the sign is gone. For more, see this website. George's Laundry & Dry Cleaners opened in 1956. This sign may be from then. [map] |
Hotel Harrison Oakland, CA |
Sutter Hotel [gone] Oakland, CA |
Oakland Imported Cars Oakland, CA |
Hooper's Chocolates Oakland, CA |
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The Hotel Harrison was built around 1914. This sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. The neon was restored in 2019. [map]
The Sutter Hotel was built around 1927. This sign appears to be from then. Around 2022, the sign was adapted for the Found Residences. It's been painted black and has plastic letters. [map] These signs at Oakland Imported Cars are probably from the 1950s. I don't know what the original business name was. [map] Hooper's Chocolates was established in 1925 as Margaret Burnham Cottage Candies. In the 1950s, the name was changed to Hooper's Chocolates. The sign appears to be from then. The store closed around 2010 but the sign remains. This photo is from 2014. The building now houses a thrift store. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
Foothill Square Oakland, CA |
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2008: | 2014: |
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The Foothill Square shopping center was built in 1962. Sometime after 2012, the neon letters were removed and replaced with backlit plastic panels for the center's tenants. For more, see this website. [map] |
Talco's Oakland, CA |
Kay Chesterfield Upholstery [gone] Oakland, CA |
Fratellanza Club Oakland, CA |
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The Talco's bar sign features letters installed over louvered metal slats. The sign is probably pre-1950s. However, the letters may have been added later. [map]
Kay Chesterfield Upholstery was established in 1921. The sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. In 2022, the business moved and the sign is now in a private collection. For more, see this website. The Fratellanza Club was established in 1932. This sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. The sign has a ZEON badge next to the "C" in Club. For more, see this website. [map] |
Children's Hospital Oakland, CA |
Sunshine Biscuits Oakland, CA |
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The Children's Hospital sign is probably from the 1950s or slightly earlier. [map]
This Sunshine Biscuits sign is installed on the roof of the former Sunshine Biscuits factory. The factory was built in 1942. This sign is probably from then or the 1950s. The factory closed in 1995 when the company was purchased by Keebler. This sign remains although the building now houses other tenants. The missing panels with the chef's head have been missing for years. There was what appeared to be an even older sign in Kansas City, KS which was removed in 2009. For more, see this website. [map] |
Pacific Saw Works Oakland, CA |
Art's Crab Shak Oakland, CA |
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Pacific Saw Works is long gone but this sign remains. It was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. The faded paint reads "Lawn Mower" indicating that the shop probably repaired mowers and/or sharpened lades. [map]
Art's Crab Shak opened as Art's Steakhouse in 1963. This sign appears to be from then. I have not seen four rows of tubing like this on any other sign. In 1992, the restaurant became Art's Crab Shak and the lower panels were updated. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
Oaks Motel [gone] Oakland, CA |
Talk of the Town Oakland, CA |
Sun Hop Fat Supermarket #1 [gone] Oakland, CA |
Walden Pond Books Oakland, CA |
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This photo of the Oaks Motel sign is from 2008. Since then, the sign has been significantly altered with the neon panels replaced with plastic panels and backlit plastic letters. For more, see this website. [map]
The Talk of the Town sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map] This light bulb filled cocktail glass hung above the Sun Hop Fat Supermarket #1 until 2014. This sign must have been left behind by a bar. The sign was gone in 2015. Walden Pond Books opened in sometime after 1976. The Grand Lake Ace Hardware store was located here before that. It appears that this sign was adapted from that business. The neon was restored in 2021 by Peterson Neon. [map] |
Ideal Cleaners Oakland, CA |
Hansen Coffee Oakland, CA |
Touraine Hotel Oakland, CA |
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Ideal Cleaners opened in 1938. The vitrolite facade and sign are believed to have been installed then. For more, see this website. [map]
Hansen Coffee was established in 1894. The company continues to roast coffee in this building. This sign might be from the 1950s but I suspect it is more modern than that. It was restored sometime after 1985. The word "Good" was added to the sign and steam was painted on the building. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] The Touraine Hotel signs are replicas created by the Arrow Sign Company. The originals had raised letters and tin borders. They were replaced around 2011. These photos are from 2018. The signs' "TOURAINE" letters were backlit glass. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
Larm's Building Material Oakland, CA |
Gallardo Glass Co. Oakland, CA |
Gallagher's Liquors Oakland, CA |
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Larm's Building Material was established in 1927. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]
The Gallardo Glass Co. sign appears to be from the 1950s. [map] The Gallagher's Liquors sign is probably from the 1950s. [map] |
Acme Fire Extinguisher Co. Oakland, CA |
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The Acme Fire Extinguisher Co. projecting sign had neon originally. The rooftop sign is around the corner of the building. Both of these signs are probably from the 1950s. [map] |
Sherwin-Williams Paint Oakland, CA |
V&J's Body Shop Oakland, CA |
Tony Rossi & Sons Florists Oakland, CA |
Flowers Oakland, CA |
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This plastic Sherwin-Williams Paint sign is about 10 feet tall. [map]
V&J's Body Shop artist's palette sign was built by the owner's father. [map] Tony Rossi & Sons Florists was established in 1910. This building appears to be from the 1950s. I assume the sign is from then. The neon has been removed. [map] This Flowers sign hangs above Black Spring Coffee Company. This sign appears identical to the Tony Rossi sign and must have been another location. At one time, G. Rossi had flower shops in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno and Reno. Tony and "G" must have been related. [map] |
Claridge Hotel Oakland, CA |
Fruitvale Medical Building Oakland, CA |
Spitz Jewelers [gone] Oakland, CA |
Paramount Liquor [gone] Oakland, CA |
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The Claridge Hotel opened in 1933. This sign might be from then or slightly later. [map]
The Fruitvale Medical Building was built in 1927. This sign was installed later. It may be pre-1950s. For more, see this website. [map] Spitz Jewelers opened here in 1946. This sign might have been from then. In 1986, the store moved to Walnut Creek, CA but this sign was still there in 2014 when this photo was taken. The sign was removed in 2015. The Paramount Liquor sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. In 2019, the neon was removed and plastic backlit letters were added. [map] |
Glenn's Hot Dogs Oakland, CA |
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The Glenn's Hot Dogs sign has been here since at least 1961. Glenn's closed in 2016. In 2019, the sign was adapted for 4505 Bar-B-Que. The "Hot Dogs" panel was replaced with a new one reading "Bar-B-Que." The neon for "Glenn's" was changed to "4505." The "Parking" arrow now reads "Patio" in neon. In 2021, the sign was adapted again for Ghost Town Brewing. The spinning Hot Dogs panel now reads "GHOST" on one side and "TOWN" on the other. [map] |
J. Miller Flowers Oakland, CA |
Broadway Motel Oakland, CA |
2101 Club Oakland, CA |
George Kaye's Oakland, CA |
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The J. Miller Flowers sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]
The Broadway Motel sign was probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. The first photo is from 2015. In 2018, the neon letters were replaced with backlit plastic letters and the panels were painted turquoise. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The 2101 Club sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map] George Kaye's bar opened in 1934. This sign has ripple tin panels. It is probably from the 1940s or earlier. For more, see this website. [map] |
Albert Brown Mortuary [gone] Oakland, CA |
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The Albert Brown Mortuary was established in 1873. The sign on the left is probably from the 1950s. The sign on the right might be a modern replacement of a 1950s sign. In 2019, the rooftop sign's neon was removed and the panel was painted over. The other signs have been stripped of their neon and painted over as well. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map] |
More Oakland Signs:
Colonial Chapel Dave's Coffee Shop [gone; sign donated to MONA in Glendale, CA] Donut Corner Giant Burgers Grand Lake Theatre Greyhound station Havenscourt Colonial Church Hi-Hat Cleaners Jackson's Liquors Laurel Lounge Lineman's Club (now Vacaville, CA) Oakland Fox Theatre Original Kasper's Hot Dogs and Kasper's Hot Dogs Piedmont Cobblers Shoe Repair [gone] Sherwin-Williams Paint [vintage; gone] Steele's Discount Scuba [map] Walter Bennett Cameras [gone] |
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Museum of Neon Art |
Valley Relics Museum |
Other California |
Main Signs Page |
RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |