Bella's Club (Gone)
San Jose, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Along West San Carlos Street in San Jose, the neon for Bella's Club once gave the old bar a little sparkle. A martini glass sat among the lettering, with glowing bubbles rising above it. The glass and bubbles made a playful combination, the sort of sign that could catch a driver’s eye even along a street full of lights. It was a lively introduction to a neighborhood tavern.

Bella’s was a familiar stop in the Burbank District, with a jukebox, pool table, and darts inside. There was no need for a special occasion to go in for a drink or see who was around. Over the years, the same address took on new names. First came the Glass Gecko, whose green neon creature gave the building another distinctive look, and later the Bears Cocktail Lounge.

UPDATE: The Bears Cocktail Lounge operates at the former Bella’s address today. The bubbling martini sign is gone, as is the Glass Gecko sign that followed it. The bar still serves the neighborhood, though a passing driver will find a different name above the door. 09-26

Lariat Tavern
Belmont, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Cruising along El Camino Real in Belmont, the symmetrical neon marquee for the  Lariat Tavern is a good reason to slow down. “LARIAT” stretches across the top, with “TAVERN” tucked beneath it. The balanced shape and lettering give the sign a presence on a road full of businesses competing for a passing driver’s attention. It looks like it belongs right where it is.

The Lariat name dates back to 1951, though the address had served drinks before then. Inside, the place still has the easygoing feel of a neighborhood bar, with pool tables, shuffleboard, and a jukebox if the conversation needs a soundtrack. It is the kind of stop where a quick look at the sign could easily turn into a game and another round. No fancy occasion required.

UPDATE: The Lariat Tavern remains open, and its vintage neon sign is still on El Camino Real. A lot has changed along this busy Peninsula corridor, but the old marquee continues to mark the spot for a drink and a game in Belmont. 09-26

The Shanty (Gone)
Woodland, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Passing through downtown Woodland, the neon sign for The Shanty once added a little color to Main Street after dark. Its lettering marked a neighborhood tavern and gave the corner the sort of nighttime glow that makes an old roadside photo worth another look.

The Shanty occupied 800 Main Street before the space took on other names and uses. Picasso’s Pizza later moved into the building, while the tavern’s sign disappeared from the streetscape. Dave and Debra van Hulsteyn’s photograph catches it during the years when it was still lighting the way.

UPDATE: The Shanty has closed, and its neon sign is no longer at the building. 09-26

500 Club
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Kian Smith

At the corner of 17th and Guerrero in San Francisco, the glowing martini glass above the 500 Club is hard to overlook. Neon bubbles rise from the glass, making the drink look as though it might spill onto the sidewalk. It is a lively bit of advertising for a bar that has held onto its neighborhood character.

The 500 Club opened in 1953 and has been a Mission District watering hole ever since. Beneath the big sign, a smaller panel still announces “OPEN 6:00 AM,” a reminder of the days when an early drink was part of the routine here. Someone has since added “Not” above “Open.” Fair enough: the bar starts serving later these days, but the old hours remain part of the sign’s charm.

UPDATE: The 500 Club is still open, and the martini glass continues to glow over the corner. The six o’clock promise may have expired, but the neon is as good an invitation as ever to stop in after dark. 09-26

Sherry's (Closed)
Hayward, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Tucked off Mission Boulevard in Hayward, the weatherbeaten sign for Sherry’s Cocktail Lounge had plenty of character. Its sweeping lettering and old neon frame stood out beside the busy road, even as years of sun and rain wore down the finish. It looked like the sort of sign you might pass a dozen times before finally turning in to see what was behind it.

Sherry’s was a neighborhood spot for drinks, dancing, and a night out. Its location behind Emil Villa’s gave it a slightly tucked-away feel, despite being right along one of Hayward’s main streets. The lounge was still advertising a New Year’s Eve celebration in 2002, so it lasted well beyond the midcentury era suggested by its sign.

UPDATE: Sherry’s Cocktail Lounge has closed. The old sign remained at the property after the bar was gone, growing more weatherbeaten as the years passed. Its present whereabouts are unclear, but it made a memorable marker for this little corner of Mission Boulevard. 09-26

Bushers (Gone)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Heading along Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento, it would have been hard to miss the glowing sign for Bushers Club. A neon martini glass sat above the nightclub lettering, with little bubbles rising from the drink. The glass looked ready for a toast even before anyone made it through the door.

Bushers was a longtime stop on the old Highway 40 route. It was listed at this location by the early 1950s and kept the name into the 1990s. That gave the sign plenty of evenings to light up Auburn Boulevard and point the way toward a drink inside.

UPDATE: Bushers has closed, and its martini glass sign is gone. The building later became Railroad Cafe and now operates as J’s Railroad Cafe. There is still a place to stop for food and a drink at the old address, though the bubbly neon no longer greets passing drivers. 09-26