View allAll Photos Tagged SignGeeks,
Boston, MA
Opened in 1930, and still family owned and operated (the original family, I mean), serving generations of Bostonians. We didn't have time to stop and eat at this Italian cafe but I sure wish we had been able to -- it looked like my kind of place. Traditional Italian pastries? Yes please.
a late night freight train rumbles by the turn-off to the source of everlasting life and convenient RV hookups. seen somewhere along the eastern shore of the california's salton sea.
nikon D7000 + nikkor 10-24mm. 2min exposure under full moon, 10x 2 minute exposures stacked for star trails.
The Original Peppers
Route 66
Arcadia, CA
The Original Peppers, a neighbourhood mexican restaurant that opened in the 1960s on Route 66, has permanently closed. Looking online, the closure looks recent and while some reviewers lamented the change of ownership a few years ago, the restaurant seems to have had many loyal customers.
We never ate there, so I can't comment personally on the food, but man -- that pepper-shaped sign! Speared on a fork too! It's a beauty. I hope it doesn't get destroyed.
Route/US 1
Baileyville, Maine
Boy, did I have a time trying to figure out both the actual name of this motel, and where we were when I photographed it!
At the time, I took a picture of the front sign so I would know the motel's name. Good enough, right? Nope! Even though I have a photograph of the sign indicating this was "Bass's Motel", I could find nothing on the internet about it. Nada. I ended up pinpointing where a previous photo was taken, then brought up google streetview and went along US 1 until I FINALLY found this motel, which gave me the name of the town. One problem solved. Clicking on a date in google streetview several years ago, a view popped up with a motel sign that read "Boidi Motel". Aha! I googled that, and up popped some (old) information. That doesn't help me know what the motel is called right now of course, but I know it was Boidi and then became Bass's. Maybe not for very long lol
North Providence, RI
After being in business for almost 100 years, Rhode Island's Christiansen's Dairy closed for good in 2019. I'm so thankful I was able to photograph it the year before it closed.
The building was built in 1920, on nearly a half-acre of land. Right up until their closure in 2019, they continued the old-fashioned service of home delivery, bringing milk and other dairy products right to the front doors of their loyal customers.
And they did those deliveries in old-fashioned trucks, too. From the Valley Breeze web site: "The Christiansen family brand that started when deliveries were made by horse and wagon today uses old-school Divco-style trucks that deliver milk and a variety of other products, such as its famous eggnog and chocolate milk, to doorsteps. Those trucks were already attracting a lot of attention from potential buyers, according to social media posts this week."
And yes, I have a photograph of those trucks to share too. Stay tuned.
Melbourne, FL
I do like grungy and rusty signs, and this one sure fits that category. The broken neon martini glass is particularly charming to me.
The bar has been closed for several years, but the sign still hangs on.
On Colorado Blvd (Route 66)
Pasadena, CA
Each letter is in its own neon arrow. Love it! Sadly, though, the surplus store (C&H Surplus, thanks to the info from Mark Wyatt, below in the comments) is long gone, but at least the sign, which dates back to the 1950s, remains.
the abandoned motor-vu drive-in theater - opened 1952, closed 2014. mamiya 6MF 75mm f/3.5 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Sanford, NC
We came across this wonderful historic building as we explored the downtown streets of Sanford. If you look close, you'll see it's full of coca-cola bottles. There are the three above the three smaller windows, but if you look up just below the roof, you'll see the long row of smaller bottles.
Here's some information I found at the Downtown Sanford web site:
"The adjacent structure (this building) has a blond brick façade and molded terra cotta surrounds framing the windows and doors. Above the second floor windows are terra cotta panels with stepped sides, three containing Coca-Cola bottles in relief and the larger fourth one containing the Coca-Cola logo. The cornice features molded terra cotta with sawtooth openings framing tiny Coco-Cola bottles. These terra cotta geometric designs are beige, brown, green, and yellow, reflecting the building trends of the 1920s."
Cincinnati, OH
Spotted when entering Terry's Turf Club, I loved this neon airplane. The little stars are cool too.
For more info on Terry's Turf Club:
www.roadarch.com/signs/ohcin.html
(scroll down the page to find the entry)
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Hamilton, Ontario
These wonderful historic ghost signs were revealed when the building that once was in the empty lot was torn down -- but sadly, they're history now in a whole different way. This building was demolished sometime in 2018 for, you guessed it, condos.
Beverly, MA
I was delighted to find this marvellous old sign, which dates back to the 1950s, in the Boston suburb of Beverly.
US 30 (the Lincoln Highway)
Bedford, PA
Novelty architecture is always fun to find, and this gem along the Lincoln Highway is one of the neatest I've seen.
Found online: "The Coffee Pot in Bedford, Pennsylvania is an example of novelty architecture. The lunch stand was built in the shape of a coffee pot by David Koontz in 1927. It was threatened with demolition in the 1990s, but in 2004 was moved across the street and restored. It currently serves as a gift shop."
Everett, PA
Located on US 30, the Lincoln Highway, this old motel is still standing and operational -- at least, it was when we stopped for lunch. The sign is on the corner, perched over the sidewalk atop Marteen's Family Restaurant, where we had a terrific meal. The motel units are behind the restaurant.
It's a fabulous sign, with "motel" in neon down the side and that cool "sorry" attachment.
abandoned truck stop & diner along interstate 15 in california's mojave desert. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Route/US 41
Sarasota, FL
I wish I could have dined at this restaurant during its heyday. It opened back in the 1950s but has unfortunately been closed for several years now. I love the neon sign with the "O" turned into a note of music. So sad that it just sits there, empty, and nobody has wanted to revive it.
Columbus, OH
In 1954, Reuben Cohen, an ex-boxer, opened Rubino's Pizzeria in the Bexley neighbourhood of Columbus. A newspaper article, shared online at Rubino's web site, states that Cohen "switched his first name a little" to come up with the restaurant's name. They specialized (then and now) in thin crust pizza and spaghetti, which customers could "eat here in our beautiful, Spic and Span dining room -- Or to carry home".
Another restaurant where I shot and enjoyed the sign but didn't have the opportunity to enjoy a meal. Next time.
the ruins of the abandoned sundowner motel on the west shore of the salton sea, not long before the burned ruins were bulldozed to make way for a truck stop.
scans from the archives. nikon n90s + sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 + circular polarizer. film: fujichrome velvia RVP 50. lab: A&I color, hollywood, ca. scan: nikon coolscan 5000. exif tags: lenstagger.
i was saddened to see on the news that the summit inn, a landmark route 66 diner in california's cajon pass, burned august 17, 2016 in the "blue cut" wildfire.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
On US 1,
Stockton Springs, Maine
The front of the sign looks like it's had a paint job, but the sides sure don't!
Hendersonville, NC
I love the neon mortar and pestle, although it's a shame it's been enclosed in plexiglass -- but I'm guessing that's for preservation purposes.
There's a fascinating history behind this location. Here's just a snippet from Mike's On Main website, the current occupant of the premises:
"The building was built in 1900. It was built and operated as a pharmacy by Dr. William Hicks Justus until 1957 when it was sold to Dr. Albert Beck and his brother Bill Beck. Justus Pharmacy installed and operated the first soda fountain in Hendersonville, and it still operates as the only soda fountain in Hendersonville."
To read more, check out www.mikesonmain.com/about
Rochester, New York
Since 1956!
From their web site:
"It's the classic American success story. In 1956 two brothers make the decision to strike out on their own, opening the first Schaller's restaurant on Edgemere Drive near the lake.
Their premise of great food, friendly service and reasonable pricing would be the cornerstone of their success. They were right."
Los Angeles, CA
If this large, bright signage doesn't attract the attention of hungry passers-by, I don't know what would!
Lynn, MA
This fabulous old sign is part of an installation of neon signs in Lynn, a suburb of Boston. In 2018, Lynn started to light up its streets with a collection of vintage neon signs. The project was supposed to run for three years -- when last I checked google streetview, the signs were still up. I sure hope they stay up permanently.
Here's an article about the project:
vintage neon along old route 66 in the california desert. 2 second exposure, nikon D7000 + nikkor 10-24mm.
Route/US 19
somewhere south of Meadville, PA
I was charmed by the offset printing on this old barn. I've seen lots of "mail pouch" barns in Pennsylvania, but this was the first printed like this one.
vintage polaroid SX-70 camera electronically modified to shoot 600 series film, impossible project B&W generation 2.0 beta test film. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Richmond, VA
Friedman's was closed by its owner back in 2016, after being in business since the 1930s. After checking online, I learned the earliest business licence John Goodman, the owner, could find when he researched the history of the business dated back to 1933, when Ben and Max Friedman opened the pawn shop. Almost a decade later the business was sold into the Goodman family.
there's no eats or gas to be had at this abandoned mojave desert truck stop. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Bradford, PA
In my Pennsylvania album, you'll find a close-up of the old, rusty Hotel Holley sign. This shot gives you a great view of the entire street scene.
I found some interesting information online about the history of this old hotel (built at the turn of the century). The following text (complete with typos lol), which I found at the Smethport History web site, is from the "Historical Bradford Illustrated 1901":
"This superb hotel, recently completed, is the finest in western New York and Pennsylvania. It is strictly fire proof in every sense of the word, the only wood used in the entire building being the doors, door casings and windows.
The hotel Holley occupies a ground space of 100x130 feet and has 90 rooms, 50 of which have baths connnected. The plumbing is all exposed and nickel plated, the closets and lavatories being wainscoted with Italian marble. The furnishings throughout the house are of the very best. Biglow axminster and body brussell carpets being used entirely. The bedsteads are the latest procurable, being of brass and having a covered box spring with hair mattresses.
Special mention is made of the kiktchen which, besides having all the modern appliances necessary for cooking cappetizing food, is entirely covered with white tile. There is a finely appointed billard hall, reading room, barber shop and bar.
The Hotel Holley was built by E. N. Unrub, but it has been under the personal supervision of Mr. F. P. Holley, who has watched every part completed adn his whole thought has been to construct a building that would make a comfortable, safe and luxurious home for his guests and to say that he has succeeded nobly hardly covers it. Mr. Holley was born at Monticello, N.Y., coming to Bradford in 1885 and has resided here ever since.
He was proprietor of the late Riddell house for fifteen years, his patronage increasing to such an extent that larger quarters were necessary so the Riddell was torn down and the present hotel Holley was erected on the same site. Mr. Holley is very popular and the universal wish is that his successful career will continue."