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San Francisco Signs (page 4)

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View Alcatraz
San Francisco, CA
Harbor King
San Francisco, CA
This replica of the View Alcatraz sign was installed around 2013. It is a replica of the earlier sign which was probably from the 1950s and had a lot of rust. The sign is owned by the Red and White Fleet. [map]

The Harbor King sign was installed in 1950 over the ticket booth for the Red & White Fleet. The company was established in 1892 and offers Bay cruises. The sign revolved originally and may have had neon. It was repainted sometime after 2012. This photo is from 2014. In 2022, the sign was missing. I don't know if that's permanent. [map]

Alioto's
San Francisco, CA
Alioto's started out as a fresh fish stall at Fisherman's Wharf in 1925. The restaurant opened in 1938 and expanded in 1950. In 1957, a second story was added to the building. That same year, the building was destroyed by a fire. It was completely rebuilt. I don't know if this fish sign was saved or if it was rebuilt at that time. The restaurant closed in 2022. It is not known what will happen with the signs at this point. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Fisherman's Grotto
San Francisco, CA

2014:

2020:
Fisherman's Grotto opened in 1935 as the first sit-down restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf. These signs were built by the mid-1950s. In 2017, the signs were repainted. The fisherman now wears a red raincoat. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Nite Cap
San Francisco, CA
Tony's Cable Car Restaurant
San Francisco, CA
The Nite Cap bar sign is probably from the 1950s. It was originally Savoni's Nite Cap and later Lambo's Nite Cap. During the sign's restoration in the 1980s, the "Lambo's" text on the top panel was replaced with the moon and star. After being closed for a number of years, the bar reopened in 2014. The sign's neon has been restored. [map]

Tony's Cable Car Restaurant opened in 1972. This place was probably known as the Cable Car Restaurant or the Cable Car Drive-in before that. This sign appears to be from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Ha-Ra
San Francisco, CA
Hotel Jefferson
San Francisco, CA
The Ha-Ra was named after Hank and Ralph who opened the bar in 1956. This sign may be from then. The building previously housed the Sarong Club which opened in 1943. [map]

The Hotel Jefferson opened in 1906. These signs are probably from the 1930s or so. The sign's neon was restored in 2020. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

West Hotel
San Francisco, CA
Pacific Bay Inn
San Francisco, CA
Goodin Realty
San Francisco, CA
Lombard
Plaza Motel
San Francisco, CA
Mayes
Oyster House
San Francisco, CA
The West Hotel is now used as affordable housing. The sign is probably from the 1950s. It was repainted around 2016. This photo is from 2020. [map]

The Pacific Bay Inn was built in 1907 as the Hotel Proctor. Two years later, it became the Miles Hotel. In 1923, it was renamed the Sequoia Hotel. In 1984, the name was changed to the Pacific Bay Inn. The sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. The bottom panels were evidently changed with the hotel's name was changed. The letters on the blade part of the sign may have been changed as well. [map]

The Goodin Realty sign displays "Goodin" on one side and "Realty" on the other. I suspect the sign revolved at one time. The business is long gone but this sign remains. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lombard Plaza Motel opened in 1950. This sign appears to be from then. In 2016, the neon letters were replaced with backlit plastic letters. In 2023, the plastic letters were removed and the neon tubing was restored. For more, see this website. [map]

Mayes Oyster House was established in 1867 as George Mayes Oyster Saloon & Chophouse. The restaurant was destroyed in the earthquake and fire in 2006. It then moved from California St. to its current Polk St. location. This sign has been there since at least 1953. The bottom of the sign originally read: "Oyster House; Since 1867." For a short time, Mayes closed and another restaurant, the Axum Cafe, occupied the space. The Axum Cafe built metal frames over the Mayes sign and added their own panels. After Axum closed, Miles O'Reilly's Holy Grail opened in the space. When Mayes reopened, the newer sign panels were removed but the frames surrounding the original Mayes sign were left behind. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Hotel Hartland
San Francisco, CA
Hotel Carlton
San Francisco, CA
Yale Hotel
San Francisco, CA
Elk Hotel
San Francisco, CA
The Hotel Hartland was built in 1913 as the Hotel Gartland. This sign is probably from the 1920s. The hotel was renamed sometime after 1954. Before the sign was restored between 2011 and 2013, the faded brown paint still revealed the letter "G" behind the "H". The sign must have had a tin border around the edges of the panels originally. This photo is from 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

The Hotel Carlton opened in 1927. This sign was installed by the late 1940s. It was originally painted red. For more, see this website. [map]

The Yale Hotel was built in 1911. This sign is probably pre-1950s. The sign was restored around 2012. It was previously black and white. This photo is from 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

The Elk Hotel was built in 1911 as the Hotel Revere. I believe it was renamed the Elk Hotel around 1923. This sign is probably from then. The sign was painted brown in 1995. The letter "O" was hanging by a thread in 2011 and gone by 2012. This photo is from 2014. [map]

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