Hayward Fishery (Closed)
Hayward, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

At the corner of Foothill Boulevard and C Street, the sign for Hayward Fishery gave passing drivers a little fish story in neon. Small fish appeared to swim down toward the open mouth of a much larger one. That's quite a way to advertise dinner.

The Fishery began in 1942 as a fish market, grocery, and bait shop before becoming a restaurant. It was known for seafood, including crab sandwiches, while its animated sign kept watch over the corner. Even after the lights went dark, the fish were hard to miss.

The restaurant later changed hands and briefly operated as Art's Crab Shak. The old Hayward Fishery sign remained for a time, giving the building a reminder of its earlier life.

UPDATE: The restaurant has closed, and the fish sign was removed in 2019. It was reportedly purchased for preservation by a private collector, though its current location isn't public. The fish no longer swim above the Hayward corner, but this photo catches them still in place. 09-26

Fair Oaks Deli
Fair Oaks, CA
Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb

A little sign hangs outside Fair Oaks Coffee House & Deli in Old Town Fair Oaks. It doesn't need to reach across the road to get your attention. Come close enough for a look, and coffee or a sandwich might suddenly sound like a good idea.

The deli sits near Village Park, a handy stop for people wandering through town or coming up from the American River Parkway. Grab something for the patio and you may have company: Fair Oaks' roaming chickens are known to make their own rounds through the village.

UPDATE: The coffee house and deli is still open, and its small sign remains outside. It's a good reminder to slow down in Fair Oaks. Some of the signs worth seeing are right beside the sidewalk. 09-26

Old Clam House
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

The sign for The Old Clam House on Bayshore Boulevard has a name that invites a second look. Old? It means it. The restaurant traces its beginnings to 1861, long before the cars now passing its front door.

Back then, the place stood near the water and served people working along the shoreline. San Francisco grew and the waterfront changed, leaving the restaurant farther from the bay than its early customers would have known. Seafood stayed on the menu, and the familiar sign kept announcing the Clam House to passing traffic.

The restaurant closed in 2020, and for a while its future was uncertain. New owners reopened it in 2022, keeping the old name and much of what people remembered about the place.

UPDATE: The Old Clam House is open again, and its sign remains above the entrance. After all the changes around it, there's still a place on Bayshore Boulevard to stop for seafood beneath that name. 09-26