View allAll Photos Tagged Signgeeks
Kissimmee, FL
The Kissimmee Main Street Welcome Station is a restored gas station in downtown historic Kissimmee, and each year they feature a different piece of artwork to display outside in front of the centre. I was thrilled when it was this Andy Warhol statue -- I am a huge Warhol fan.
Here's some info about the Welcome Station:
"The Key's Service Station on the corner of Broadway and Drury Avenues has been restored with grants awarded by the state and County along with in-kind services from the City of Kissimmee, Gateway High School and Hanson Walter & Associates. The building was remodeled with furnishings including a 1926 gas pump replica. The Key's Welcome Center is home to Kissimmee Main Street, selling arts and crafts from local artists, as well as providing information about historic Kissimmee."
JJ's Package Shop
Route/US 41
Calhoun, GA
I haven't seen many of these old Busch beer privilege signs.
Queensbury, New York
Situated in the beautiful Lake George area, this New York dairy on US 9 was sadly closed for the season when we were there. According to their web site, 2019 was their 72nd year! And about that rooster? You can read about it here:
This was probably one of the best things I stumbled upon in 2017. Heading up US 41, we spotted this and quickly turned the car around to go back to shoot it. There's no more motel and the neon-and-bulb sign is in total disrepair and covered in foliage (particularly on the opposite side), making it somewhat hidden, if you're not looking for signs.....which we always are.
Cordele, GA
It's a bit hard to see, but there's a (broken) neon arrow, just to the left of the letters.
On US 92; Tampa, FL
It's a sad day for lovers of vintage -- signs, buildings, etc. Covina Bowl closed today. I'm thankful I got some shots back in 2014 (I have close up shots of the sign but chose to post this photo to honour the entire location) but now I really wish I'd revisited it last year when we were out. Sigh.
Covina, California
Los Angeles, CA
I have a feeling this is a now-defunct chapter of the OES (Order of the Eastern Star). I checked out the Grand Chapter of California OES web site and there is no mention of this "Queen Elizabeth" chapter at all.
It's an old neon sign, on an old building, in what appeared to be an older area of LA. The "temple" part of the sign is encased in very thick protective plexiglass.
Jennerstown, PA
Came across this beauty as we were driving along the Lincoln Highway, east of Pittsburgh.
Apparently, this restaurant has been closed since late 2015....it's been a family restaurant since 1957 and the name was changed in the 60s to the family name, so I'm guessing the sign went up then. I'm happy to see the sign still up, but can't help but wonder how long that will last.
Found this online: www.tribdem.com/news/jennerstown-restaurant-closing-after...
UPDATE: This is gone now.
"Lynn, Lynn, the city of sin, you'll never come out the way you went in, what looks like gold is really tin, the girls say 'no' but they'll give in, Lynn, Lynn, the city of sin."
Catchy.
Part of the Greater Boston area, Lynn had its rough spots for sure -- what place doesn't? But I enjoyed exploring it. If only the weatherman had cooperated and given me blue skies. Ah well, you can't have everything.
Lynn, MA
the sparsely occupied remains of the peachtree mall, left derelict after a flood in 1986.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4. kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
US 80
Statesboro, GA
Boyd's Pit Bar-B-Q opened in 1969 and hung on for about 50 years. Spotting it was a fixture for roadtrippers heading north or south on US 80. The building still stands but a google check says that it's "permanent closed" and a street-view peek shows that it's now called Vera's Kitchen.
From their web site:
"Bertini’s Restaurant has been serving patrons for over 70 years. Opened in 1943 by Charles Bertini and his wife Esther, the business has become a family tradition.
Now, three generations later, Charles and Esther’s grandson John has taken over ownership and has happily joined this longstanding family business."
Salem, Mass
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Hamilton, Ontario
Not a bulb was left in this old arrow, but imagine how this sign must have looked back in the day, when it was completely lit. At night I bet it was spectacular.
(Update: This was photographed at the corner of Barton and James...google streetview shows the arrow unfortunately disappeared sometime in 2018.)
Was therapeutic to get out and do some walking around with the camera to break up the pandemic monotony. Just can't get over how quiet everything is.
I've applied a preset here to get kind of a Kodacolor/nostalgic vibe, but I think it's one of my recent favorites either way. Would love to know what you think.
July 2020
Along South Broadway
Englewood, Colorado
North Hollywood, CA
I have been fortunate to shoot the amazing, iconic, huge Circus Liquor neon clown many times -- but the store has other signage too! This is one of their other oh-so-cool signs.
It is with sadness that I learned this iconic LA neon sign was taken down yesterday. It has been "rescued" by Valley Relics Museum, that's the good news, they are going to try to restore it -- but it is truly awful that it will no longer be the local landmark that it had been for decades. Sigh. (I first shot this sign back in 2014 and when we were in LA this spring, I wasn't going to re-shoot it, but something compelled me to change my mind. I am so glad I got the chance to see it one last time.)
Santa Fe Springs, CA
Montreal, Quebec
I'm always on the lookout for ghost signs...discovering this one in downtown Montreal, in both English and French, was a great find.
San Bernardino, CA
I was happy when I was able to shoot this; it was a bucket list sign that I'd been itching to see in person. It's an incredibly tall sign and is so striking. Definitely worth the drive out to San Bernardino!
My sign geek buddy Nikki Kreuzer wrote the following for Offbeat L.A.:
"The abandoned Queen’s restaurant building is located at 601 Mountain View Ave in San Bernardino, CA. Realty records show the building was constructed in 1970, but the sign is much older. It was likely moved here from the first location of the restaurant, opened in 1954, by Precy and Sophie Sellas at 1734 E. Highland Ave, also in San Bernardino. An October 1971 article in the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper wrote that the couple’s first restaurant, Jim’s Broiler, had been in operation about 30 years, since about 1941, and that this current building had only been open for two months. Queen’s was family owned and specialized in grinder sandwiches with extra crunchy rolls and a “secret” sauce. The article also said they served steaks, prime rib, lobster and Sophie's Greek barbecue sandwiches, “The Sophie Sandwich.” Sophie and Precy were also founding members of Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in San Bernardino. Precy had been the very first photographer for the San Bernardino Sun newspaper and also was a sheriff’s department identification expert who pioneered filmed crime re-enactments. He had joined the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department in 1937 and took his camera everywhere he went, documenting everything. For the next 30 years, he used his photography skills to help fight crime. Precy passed away in 1994 and Sophie died in 2008. Her obituary listed her as a restauranteur for 67 years."
Hollywood, CA
The Professional Drum Shop, with its simple neon "drums" sign, has been on Hollywood's Vine Street since 1959.
From their web site:
"The Professional Drum Shop was founded in 1959 by Bob Yeager with Chuck Molinari in an effort to provide the professional drummer with a place to get needed equipment repairs and shopping convenience.
Yeager had been repairing fellow drummers equipment on the road for years. With their encouragement and financial support, he decided the time was right to get off the road and open the Shop!
Drawing on his years of playing experience with more than 200 different bands, and from his experiences working in various music stores, Yeager enlisted the aid of friend Chuck Molinari. Chuck had invaluable insight into the music business and later went on to found Spectrasound Percussion Products.
Looking to display and sell new music equipment, Yeager traveled to Chicago and met with Frank Gault, then the owner for Frank’s Drum Shop. Frank opened doors for Bob and helped the shop immensely in regard to dealing with manufacturers.
Throughout the years, the Shop has been promoted on the road by many of Yeager’s friends. Names like Art Blakey, Louis Bellson, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Shelly Manne, Elvin Jones, Gene Krupa, Jake Hanna, Max Roach and countless others."