Fisherman's Grotto #9 (Closed)
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Matt Walsh

Look up at Fisherman's Grotto #9 on San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf and there's a little fisherman keeping watch from the big rooftop sign. This close-up gives him a moment away from the rest of the marquee. Down below, the Wharf can get pretty busy in summer, with visitors looking for a meal and a view of the bay.

The Grotto began in 1935 at fish stall number nine and grew into one of the Wharf's longtime restaurants. The fisherman became part of its identity, showing up on the sign and elsewhere around the place. He had a good perch for watching decades of crowds come and go.

UPDATE: The restaurant has remained closed since 2020. The rooftop sign appears to still be there, though it was no longer lit. For now, the little fisherman remains a familiar face above the Wharf, even with the dining room quiet below. 09-26

Lakeshore Fountain Restaurant (Gone)
Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

In this photo, the projecting marquee for Lakeshore Fountain Restaurant still hangs above the sidewalk in Oakland. It suited a neighborhood soda fountain: easy to spot on the way by and tempting enough to make an ice cream stop sound like a good idea. The sign gave the brick storefront a little extra presence along Lakeshore Avenue.

Lakeshore Fountain served lunches, fountain drinks, and ice cream for decades. It was the sort of place where a quick stop could turn into time spent at the counter. On a busy shopping street, a sign reaching out over the sidewalk helped make sure nobody walked past without noticing.

After the fountain closed, the marquee stayed with the building. China Lake Express took over the space and adapted the old sign frame for its own name. The lettering changed, but that familiar shape remained overhead, carrying a piece of the fountain's history into the next chapter.

UPDATE: The projecting marquee was removed during a 2012 remodel. A Chipotle now occupies the building, so this photo catches a bit of Lakeshore Avenue's soda fountain days that can no longer be spotted from the sidewalk. 09-26

The Fireside (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The parking lot marquee for The Fireside in Sacramento got right to the point: chicken and steak. It was an eye-catching invitation from the H Street restaurant, especially for anyone driving by around dinnertime. No need to study a menu from the car. The sign had already narrowed down the choices.

The Fireside was a neighborhood steakhouse and lounge, also remembered as the Fireside Tavern. Regulars came for meals from the grill, while that big sign kept calling out to passing traffic. It had the kind of straightforward roadside pitch that makes a person wonder whether there's room for dinner after all.

The building had been there before the restaurant, serving other businesses over the years. By the time it became the Fireside, the parking lot marquee was part of its identity. Chicken on one side, steak on the other, and a place to pull in just beyond it.

UPDATE: The Fireside has closed, and both the building and its marquee have been removed. A newer retail center occupies the site now. This photo catches the old dinner invitation before it disappeared from H Street. 09-26

Ernie's Seafood (Gone)
San Leandro, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Look up at Ernie's Seafood in San Leandro and there's a tugboat parked on the roof. The painted sign looks so well kept in this photo that you half expect the boat to sail off down East 14th Street. It was a cheerful way to advertise seafood, especially so far from the water.

Ernie's opened in 1953 and served fish and chips, chowder, and other seafood favorites for generations. The little tugboat stayed above the restaurant, keeping its place over the street while customers came and went below.

UPDATE: Ernie's closed in 2020, and the rooftop tugboat sign was removed. The building has since become a Mexican restaurant, but this photo preserves the days when a boat on the roof meant seafood was on the menu. 09-26