T's Club Four (Closed)
San Jose, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Just off Bascom Avenue in San Jose, the marquee for T's Club Four lights up the night. Its angled shape and rows of round cutouts give it a little Space Age flair. Get close enough to look at the frame as well as the lettering; there’s more going on here than a simple sign above a door.

The place was called Club Four before becoming T’s Club Four in the mid-2000s. Earlier on, it was a spot for music, dancing, and a game of pool. Under the new name, the entertainment inside changed, but the marquee kept drawing attention from the street. A nighttime photo catches it doing exactly the job it was made to do.

Those little holes in the metal are a favorite detail. They give the sign a lighter look and make its outline a bit more interesting against the dark sky. It’s easy to focus on the glowing letters first, then notice the rest of the design while lining up another shot.

UPDATE: T’s Club Four has since closed. The sign’s present whereabouts are unclear, so this glowing view belongs to an earlier chapter of the Bascom Avenue bar scene. 09-26

Glass Gecko (Gone)
San Jose, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A bright green gecko once caught the eye along West San Carlos Street in San Jose. It was the best part of the sign for the Glass Gecko, a neighborhood watering hole whose name came with its own glowing mascot. That little lizard could make a passing driver look twice.

The address had already been a bar under the name Bella’s Club before the Glass Gecko moved in. Inside were the usual reasons to linger, including a pool table and a jukebox. Outside, the neon gecko handled the introductions.

UPDATE: The Glass Gecko has closed, but the building is still a bar, now called Bears Cocktail Lounge. The green gecko sign is gone, so this photo catches a short chapter in the corner’s long bar history. 09-26

Baggy’s By the Lake
Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

A few blocks from Lake Merritt, the neon sign for Baggy’s By the Lake glows over a little Oakland bar. The name sounds like a lakeside getaway, but inside is a cozy neighborhood tavern.

The place dates back to the 1930s. Local lore says it was once Hank’s Tavern and took the Baggy’s name after a bookmaker nicknamed Baggy gained a share of the business. Whatever the full story, the sign has been a familiar sight along East 18th Street for years.

UPDATE: Baggy’s remains open, and its vintage neon still lights up the storefront after dark. 09-26

Golden Hours (Gone)
Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

A tall neon sign once called out Golden Hours along Oakland’s International Boulevard. The name sounds like an invitation to stay awhile, especially with the lettering glowing after dark. This was the lounge side of a neighborhood stop that also had a restaurant and, later, a liquor store.

The street was still called East 14th when the Golden Hours name first became familiar to the neighborhood. The lounge eventually closed, but the liquor store kept the name in use for years. That made the old sign a reminder of more than one chapter at the same corner.

UPDATE: The lounge is gone. 09-26

Trad'R Sam
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Along Geary Boulevard in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond, a big arrow sign points the way to Trad’r Sam. The marquee looks like it could belong to any old neighborhood bar. From the sidewalk, there is little to suggest what is waiting inside. Walk through the door, though, and the bamboo, rattan booths, and tropical drinks settle the question: yes, this is a tiki joint.

Trad’r Sam opened in 1937 as a tropical themed “bamboo bar,” long before the postwar tiki craze took hold. The seating areas carry island names, and the drink menu has plenty of rum and shared Scorpion Bowls. Over the years, the place has picked up the comfortable feel of a neighborhood dive while keeping much of its tropical character. That combination makes the sign outside a bit of a tease. It points you in the right direction without giving away the whole story.

UPDATE: Trad’r Sam temporarily closed in 2023, then reopened that November after work on the interior. Its large vintage sign still hangs over Geary Boulevard, although much of the neon has gone dark. A preservation effort aims to bring those glowing colors back. 09-26

The Keg (Gone)
Hopland, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Neon lettering once lit up The Keg along Highway 101 in Hopland. The old tavern also went by the wonderfully odd name “Keg Salooz,” which sounds like someone had already spent a little time at the bar before painting the sign. It made an easy photo stop on the way through town.

The Keg sat near the junction with Highway 175, right where passing traffic could get a good look. Later, after the bar closed, a roadside flea market set up in front of the old building. A stop here could mean browsing through odds and ends while taking another look at the tavern sign.

UPDATE: The Keg has been closed for years following a flood. Later photos showed the sign still on the building, though its present condition is unclear. 09-26

Pine Cove Tavern
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

A colorful neon sign hangs above 29th Street in Sacramento, marking Pine Cove Tavern for anyone looking for a drink. The sign has been around since the bar’s early days, and it’s worth a pause before heading inside. One small surprise: the tavern is upstairs, so follow the sign and then climb the stairs.

Pine Cove opened in 1953 and took its name from the cozy, cabin-like feel inside. These days, the upstairs room is known for karaoke. Get a photo of the marquee on the way in, then decide whether the evening calls for a turn at the microphone.

UPDATE: Pine Cove is still open, and its vintage sign remains out front. It’s one of those Sacramento neon stops where the sign still leads to a night out. 09-26