Modern Pharmacy (Removed)
Bakersfield, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

At the corner of Bernard and North Baker streets in Bakersfield, check out the weathered sign for Crockett’s Modern Pharmacy. The peeling paint and faded lettering gave the old marquee plenty of character. It looked a little rough around the edges, but at least the name of this neighborhood drugstore was still hanging around when the photo was taken.

The pharmacy was operated by independent pharmacist Marion Crockett and became known around the neighborhood as Crockett’s Modern Pharmacy. It served the surrounding community until closing around June 1977. Even after the prescriptions stopped being filled and the doors closed, the old sign remained above the storefront for more than three decades.

UPDATE: Although the Modern Pharmacy lives on, the sign did not. The old marquee is now gone. 04-09

UPDATE: The Modern Pharmacy sign was removed by April 2009. After surviving for so many years beyond the closing of the pharmacy, this faded piece of Bakersfield neighborhood history finally disappeared from the corner. 04-09

Carpenter's Drug Store
San Luis Obispo, CA
Photo courtesy Daniel Sorrell

Renovation work along Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo uncovered this old wall advertisement for Carpenter’s Drug Store. The faded lettering had been hidden behind part of the building for years, quietly waiting for someone to peel back the layers. Sometimes a remodeling project reveals a little more history than expected. 04-09

Carpenter’s later operated a Rexall drugstore at the corner of Marsh and Broad streets, although the connection between that location and this Higuera Street ghost sign has not been confirmed. The lettering may have marked an earlier store location or simply advertised the business from a nearby wall.

UPDATE: The exact Higuera Street address and current visibility of the ghost sign remain unconfirmed. It may still be exposed, or later construction could have covered this unexpected glimpse into San Luis Obispo’s commercial past once again. 09-26

Los Banos Drugs (Closed)
Los Banos, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

At the corner of Sixth and J streets, check out the familiar Rexall lettering across Los Banos Drug Co. Inside was a vintage soda fountain and lunch counter where locals could grab breakfast, order a milkshake, and catch up with familiar faces. 09-06

UPDATE: Los Banos Drugs permanently closed on June 17, 2022, after years as a neighborhood pharmacy and gathering place. The building’s historic exterior was preserved, and its owner hoped the old lunch counter could remain part of whatever came next. 09-26