Safeway (Gone)
Spokane, WA
Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist

Sometimes it's the prices that date an old photograph as much as the sign. This Safeway marquee in Spokane advertises Grade A turkeys for 35 cents a pound and cranberry sauce for a dollar. Sounds like enough to put together quite a Thanksgiving feast.

The familiar circular "S" logo was once a common sight outside Safeway stores across the West. Combined with the changeable letter reader board, it was the kind of sign that let passing motorists know exactly what bargains were waiting inside.

The sign may be gone today, but it's hard not to smile at those old grocery prices. They make this roadside photo just as much a snapshot of its era as the marquee itself.

UPDATE: The historic Safeway sign has been removed, and the former store has since been put to other uses. 07-26

Farley's Florist (Gone)
Tacoma, WA
Photo courtesy Jeffrey Cook

Long before every business had a lighted box sign out front, places like Farley's Florist let the building do the advertising. The large script lettering stretched across the front of the shop, giving it a look that was unmistakably mid-century. 11-07

The rooftop neon sign added even more character. Together they made the florist easy to spot while driving down Tacoma's 6th Avenue, and they gave the building a personality that newer storefronts often lack.

Farley's served the neighborhood for decades before the business changed hands. The flower shop is still there under a different name, but the classic lettering and neon have disappeared.

UPDATE: The original Farley's Florist facade and rooftop sign were removed during a remodeling, and the building now operates as William s Flower & Gift as of around 2020. 07-26

Sure Fit (Gone)
Tacoma, WA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

There was a time when businesses didn't settle for a plain plastic sign out front. The Sure Fit storefront on South Tacoma Way used individual letters mounted across the building, giving it a look that was every bit as distinctive as the pole sign standing beside it. 11-08

This stretch of Tacoma has long been known for automotive businesses, so a seat cover shop fit right in. The bold lettering and custom signs helped it stand out from the crowd and gave the building a personality all its own.

The store operated here for decades before the signs slowly began to disappear. The building facade was updated around 2014, the roadside pole sign was removed by 2017, and the business left this location by 2021.

UPDATE: Sure Fit closed its longtime Tacoma Way location by 2021, the historic signs have been removed, and the building now houses another business. 07-2