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Two buildings of the long-closed Rio Pecos Ranch Truck Terminal along old Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were leveled to their foundations earlier this month, according to a recent print edition of The Communicator newspaper in Santa Rosa.
The Rio Pecos sign and historic garage will remain standing and eventually will be refurbished, according to the newspaper.
Workers demolished the restaurant and terminal on the east side of the property. (Those are the attached white buildings in the background of the above photo.)
According to The Communicator:
The truck terminal dated back to the heyday of Route 66 in the early 1960s. It was one of seven truck stops and five cafes originally built and operated by Bessie (Rogers) Boren and husband Ira Lionel Boren of the Fort Sumner-based Rio Pecos Oil Company. They’d later construct the KOA Kampground across Route 66 from the Rio Pecos Ranch Truck Terminal, and it still operates today as the Santa Rosa Campground.
Johnny Martinez of today’s Comet II Restaurant recalled the Pancake Ranch Café being established at the truck terminal site in 1963.
“Mrs. Bessie Boren from Fort Sumner owned and operated it, then we took it over,” he said, referring to a partnership including Martinez, the late Archie Zinck and Patricia Halpin Martinez. “We had it from 1963 to 1969,” Martinez said. “We were doing a hell of a business at that truck stop.”
Several online sources stated the Rio Pecos Ranch Truck Terminal’s origin dates to about 1955. According to RoadsideArchitecture.com:
The truck’s driver had an animated waving hand at one time. In 2003, the city of Santa Rosa expressed interest in relocating this sign and replacing the white plastic portion with a “Welcome to Santa Rosa” message board. However, the owner of the sign wanted too much money and the project fell through.
The business declined from other truck-stop competition and the coming of Interstate 40, It closed by the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Since then, it had become a growing eyesore to the city because it drew vandals and homeless squatters. It’s one of several abandoned Route 66 properties — including the Surf n Sand Motel — the city has urged its owners to clean up or make way for the bulldozers.
The newspaper reported the owners, brothers Adam and Aaron Gallegos, bought the property in the early 1980s and even installed a new roof on the main terminal building. But the elements — especially a severe hailstorm a few years ago — won out.
At least the main garage and sign still are standing. The Communicator reported:
The historic garage is considered more structurally sound and will remain standing, along with a metal storage shed, the gas pumps and the landmark sign. The second-wave of the project is to restore those so the site can be put back into business, perhaps in a year’s time, Gallegos said.
scans from the archives. nikon n90s + fuji velvia RVP 50. the ruins of the abandoned sundowner motel on the west shore of the salton sea. the motel burned in 1998 and was bulldozed several years later.
Joe's Tavern In Chelsea has not been open in over 20 years but we love that this #vintage #neonsign has survived. It is surprising because this part of western Chelsea near the High Line has become very gentrified and many old buildings like this one have met the wrecking ball to become expensive glass condos. Not only do we hope this #neon survives but we also hope that this old brick tenement building with its peeling paint lives on. #signgeeks #ipulledoverforthis #signcollective #tv_retrotype #jj_texture #ig_signage #jj_texttypographical #gas_food_lodging #everything_signage #signofgrime #trb_ipoft_signs #80sixd
George's Coney Island in Worcester, MA has been serving hot dogs since 1918. It started out as a small lunch counter and was renovated by George and Catherine Tsagarelis in 1938 in an art #artdeco style complete with wooden booths, tile floor and long lunch counter. They specialize in #hotdogs with their famous secret #chili sauce, yellow mustard and chopped onions. #signgeeks #neongeeks #coneyisland #vintage
Piccadilly Barber Shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn had a great #vintage #sign complete with #script lettering as well as some missing letters. It not only functioned as a great #barber shop but also as an ad hoc community center where you could hang out and get the latest neighborhood gossip. Sadly it is no longer in business. #storefront #disappearingfaceofnewyork #tv_retrotype #type #typevstime #typography #font #fontastic #jj_texttypographical #foundtype #signgeeks
When 19-year-old Aretha Franklin first played at the Apollo Theater in 1962, she had yet to become the Queen 👑of Soul but her many later concerts at this venue definitely helped establish her as a musical icon. Photo of the Apollo Theater and text on its history appear in our book “New York Nights”.
R.I.P. Aretha Franklin.
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#arethafranklin #neon #arethafranklinrespect #arethafranklintribute #neonsign #signgeeks #seeyourcity #signcollective #signsunited #everything_signage #ig_signage
Please join us for the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI) illustrated lecture, Mom & Pop Storefronts and the Art of Vernacular Design: NYC's Lower East Side and Chinatown tomorrow Wednesday, May 18, 2016 6:30-8:30 pm at the Neighborhood Preservation Center 232 E 11th Street, btn. 2nd and 3rd Avenues
Small mom-and-pop businesses are the very soul of the Lower East Side and Chinatown. In the jostle of NYC's commercial “battlefield”, these establishments often compete with louder, brasher, and more exuberant storefront and storefront signage design, much of it a vernacular art. The event features speakers Thomas Rinaldi, author of New York Neon, and James and Karla Murray, authors of Store Front II: A History Preserved, New York Nights, and Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York. Their beautifully illustrated lectures will explore the history and aesthetics of mom-and-pop signage and storefronts in these most iconic neighborhoods. Signed copies of the authors’ books will be available for purchase.
General Admission: $12 LESPI members: $10 Tickets can be purchased here from nycharities.org The lectures will be followed by an informal reception. Light refreshments will be served. Contact info@LESPI-nyc.org or 347-827-1846 with any questions.
We will be talking about Sammy's Roumanian Restaurant on Chrystie Street and many other great #momandpop #stores of the #lowereastside! #storefront #signgeeks #signcollective ##jj_texttypographical #tv_typography #tv_retrotype #type #typography #fontlove #fontastic #gas_food_lodging #ipulledoverthis #
To celebrate #shopsmall today, we are highlighting one of our favorite small independent businesses in our neighborhood of the #eastvillage Trash and Vaudeville on East 7th Street. Trash & Vaudeville was founded by Ray Goodman in 1975 and was forced to leave its long-time home on St. Mark's Place after 40 years but luckily was able to relocate just a short walk away to its new home on East 7th Street. It has been a popular place for musicians to get #punkrock clothing and accessories for decades. We hope everyone supports their local #momandpop shops today! #signgeeks #neon #neonsign #signcollective #typography #rockandroll #lodownny
Stadium Wine & Liquor in the Bronx which had been in business for almost 80 years closed in 2012 after a steep rent increase combined with decreased business after the new Yankee Stadium opened for business in 2009. The owner, Manuel Mercedes told us that the storefront, signage and interior of the store were are original. He also showed us the first liquor license for the business which dated back to right after Prohibition ended in 1933. When Manuel purchased the business in 1996 from the original owner his rent was only $6,700 a month but by 2012, it had increased to $11,100 per month. The neighborhood was seen as revitalized due to the new Yankee Stadium opening, but business had declined because there were now more options for eating and drinking inside the stadium. #signgeeks #vintagesign #liquor #wine #thebronx
"Go-go dancers?" That's what my husband said as we drove up Orange Blossom Trail. It looks like the signs used to have bulbs and/or neon; I'm guessing this "go go" club has been in business for quite some time.
Orlando, FL
Kessler's Fine Wine & Liquors in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan has been in business for over 40 years. We love its #vintage LIQUORS #neonsign which glows beautifully at night. #storefront #tv_retrotype #jj_texttypographical #signgeeks #neon #signcollective #everything_signage #fontastic #typevstime #font #liquor #wine #DiscoverFlatiron