email: roadarch@outlook.com

Giant Containers (page 3)

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Pot of Gold
Las Vegas, NV
2014: 2017:
2022:
The Pot of Gold was built around 2002 as an ice cream stand. There was a spoon protruding from the top of the structure then. The ice cream stand had closed by 2007. By 2008, the structure was housing a coffee stand known as SexxPresso which featured scantily clad baristas. By 2011, the building was housing 9091, a Korean taco stand. The building housed the Gold & Beyond pawn shop when the first photo above was taken. The spoon was gone by then. By 2016, the building was housing Desi Burrito, an Indian fast food stand. The building housed the YUMLAB after that. In 2023, the building has been repainted lavender for a Happyfastdelicious. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Vick's VapoRub Jar
Philadelphia, PA
The Vick's VapoRub Jar water tower is now used as a cell phone tower. The factory building below was built in 1923. It now houses American Can & Recycling. The third photo above was taken in 2013 when the cell phone tower features were removed. [third photo thanks Joe Durrance] [map]

former Chili Bowl
Alhambra, CA
former Chili Bowl
Glendale, CA

former Chili Bowl [gone]
Huntington Park, CA

former Chili Bowl [gone]
Los Angeles, CA
2008:
2013:
These buildings were once part of a chain of 23 chili bowl shaped buildings built in the Los Angeles area. Arthur Whizin, the "Chili Bowl King", started the chain of restaurants in 1931. I believe only these four buildings remain. Supposedly, each of the buildings had a spoon handle protruding from the top. However, none of the vintage photos that I have seen confirm this. The interiors featured a 26-stool circular counter. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The former Chili Bowl in Alhambra is now occupied by Ho Kee BBQ & Noodle. [map]

The former Chili Bowl in Glendale last housed the Valley Dealer Exchange, a used car dealership. In 2021, the building was vacant. [map]

The former Chili Bowl in Huntington Park was built in 1931. It last housed the Guadalajara de Noche night club. The building had been vacant for many years. In 2022, the building was going to be "dismantled and put in storage" but it is believed it was actually demolished. The sign went to the Valley Relics Museum.

The former Chili Bowl in Los Angeles housed Mr. Cecil's California Ribs when the photo above was taken in 2008. The building last housed Shunji Japanese Cuisine. The original Chili Bowl sign on the roof was adapted for both businesses. Sunji closed around 2021 and the building was demolished in 2022. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Giant Longaberger Basket
Newark, OH
This Longaberger Basket was built in 1997 as the company's headquarters. It cost $30 million to build. The seven-story building is an exact replica of the company's medium-sized picnic basket. Synthetic plaster was used to create the curved basket weave exterior. The basket's handles are heated to prevent ice from forming and falling on the roof. In 2016, the company announced that it was moving out to consolidate its operations in Frazeysburg, OH. The building was still vacant in 2018. In 2019, plans were announced to turn the building into a luxury hotel. Those plans fell through and the building remains vacant. For more, see this website. [map]

Longaberger Homestead
Frazeysburg, OH
The Longaberger Homestead is 17 miles east of the company's Giant Basket headquarters shown above. This tourist attraction featured exhibits, basket-making instruction, restaurants, gift shops, a golf course, and a manufacturing tour. The 20-foot-tall Apple Basket is located here. This photo from 2001 shows the basket without the apples. The apples were installed by 2003. Even though the attraction is closed, the basket was repainted white in 2022. There is also another giant basket in the parking lot.

Giant Picnic Basket
Dresden, OH
Longaberger also made this Giant Picnic Basket which is located in downtown Dresden. It was modeled after the company's Market Basket. It is 48 feet long, 11 feet wide, 23 feet high. The basket was made from ten hardwood maple trees. By 2020, the basket appeared to be abandoned and the handles were gone. The handles were reinstalled in 2021. [map]

More Containers:
Presto Whip Cans (Dearborn, MI) [vintage; gone]
Basket of Flowers (Bennington, VT)
Oil Can (Rocanville, SK)

Other Containers
page 1
Other Containers
page 2
Giant Containers
Main Page

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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.