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San Francisco Signs (page 2)

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Casa Loma Hotel
San Francisco, CA		 Trad'r Sam
San Francisco, CA		 Columbus Cafe
San Francisco, CA		 Garden of Eden
San Francisco, CA
The Casa Loma Hotel sign is probably from the late 1920s or early 1930s. The hotel may have gone by a different name at that time which would explain the missing letters at the top of the panels. The building is from 1906. [map]

The Trad'r Sam bar was established in 1937. The original sign was larger and horizontal. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Columbus Cafe was established in 1936. This sign could be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

The Garden of Eden strip club opened in 1972. These signs must be from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Pop's Bar
San Francisco, CA
2014: 2023:
Pop's Bar opened around 1937 as Pop's Clubhouse. The bar moved to its current location around 1970. This sign was supposedly built then. However, at least the bottom panel appears to be 1940s or 1950s. The sign was restored in 2022. For more, see this website. [map]

St. Mary's Pub
San Francisco, CA		 Blue Plate
San Francisco, CA
St. Mary's Pub opened in 1948. This sign is probably from then. It has probably lost some detail over the years. The sign had just been repainted when this photo was taken in 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

The owner of the Blue Plate bought this vintage sign at a flea market and hung it in front of the restaurant. The Blue Plate opened in 1999. For more, see this website. [map]

Spot Lite Market
San Francisco, CA
The Spot Lite Market sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Lafayette Coffee Shop
San Francisco, CA		 Bi-Rite Market
San Francisco, CA
The Lafayette Coffee Shop opened in 1953 and this sign is most likely from then. In 2016, the restaurant moved to a new location but this sign remained where it was originally installed. The building's new owners had the sign restored just a few months after the move. The sign was removed in 2022 but it was reinstalled in 2023. For more, see this website. [map]

The Bi-Rite Market opened in 1940. This raceway sign with backlit stainless-steel letters is from 1949. The location from 2013 has a similar sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

YMCA
Steuart St.
San Francisco, CA		 YMCA
Sacramento St.
San Francisco, CA		 Wine Liquor
San Francisco, CA
The YMCA sign on Steuart St. appears to be either a replica of an older sign or a modern sign. [map]

The YMCA sign on Sacramento St. in Chinatown looks like a recently refurbished sign from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Wine Liquor sign hangs above an antiques shop. It is identical to this sign which was at the Last Spot Lounge in Richmond, CA. I don't know if the two stores were related or if the sign shop just made these signs for a variety of businesses. [map]

Britex Fabrics
San Francisco, CA		 Sherman Clay & Co. [gone]
San Francisco, CA
The Britex Fabrics store opened in 1952. This 30-foot-tall sign was installed then. In 2015, it was announced that the store was moving. In 2017, it was said that the "BRITEX" part of the sign might be moving to the new location. The vertical panel might stay in place and be adapted by another business. In 2020, a replica sign was installed at the new location. [map]

The Sherman Clay & Co. piano company was founded in San Francisco in 1870. In 2013, the company was bought out by Steinway & Sons. This sign was removed in 2015 and is presumed to have been destroyed. I believe the sign was built in 1935. It was originally located on Kearny St. The City believed that the sign was from the 1990s and was not historic. Perhaps, the sign was restored and moved to Market St. in the 1990s.

Van Ness Inn
San Francisco, CA		 500 Club
San Francisco, CA
The Van Ness Inn still displays a Superior Motel vacuum form plastic sign. I don't know what the name of this motel was originally. These signs were mass-produced but there are very few left. Superior was a motel referral chain from 1950 through the 1970s. I assume that motels had to pay a fee to be listed in their directories and these signs were probably supplied by the company as additional advertising. For more, see this website. [map]

The 500 Club sign was installed in 1953. [map]

Doc's Clock
San Francisco, CA

2014:
2019:
The Doc's Clock sign appears to be from the 1950s. It was repainted sometime after 2012. In 2017, the bar moved to a nearby location. After a struggle with the former location's building owner over the sign, it was finally moved to Doc's new location in 2018. The sign was altered to fit the narrower space. The arrows and cocktails now wrap to the sides of the signs. The sides of the sign and the clocks are gone. For more, see this website. [map]

Skyline Realty
San Francisco, CA		 Mack's Valet Cleaners
San Francisco, CA		 Little City Market
San Francisco, CA		 Stella Pastry & Cafe
San Francisco, CA
This Skyline Realty sign is an interesting mix of neon, plastic, and bulbs. I suspect that it's from the 1960s or later. [map]

The Mack's Valet Cleaners sign appears to be from the 1950s or earlier. It was previously named "Jack's Valet Cleaners." The letter "J" is still visible under the "M". Over the word "Tailor", neon tubing spells out "Pressing". [map]

The Little City Market was established in the early 1940s. This sign may be from then or slightly later. [map]

Stella Pastry & Cafe was established in 1942. This sign is probably from then. For more, see this website. [map]

San Francisco
(page 1)		 San Francisco
(page 3)		 San Francisco
(page 4)		 San Francisco
(page 5)
Alameda Bakersfield Fresno Hayward &
San Leandro		 Long Beach Los Angeles
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Neon Art		 Valley Relics Museum Other
California

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