House of Wigs (Gone)
Oakland, CA Photo courtesy Kallisti
A little of the old downtown shopping scene turns up at House of Wigs in Oakland. Check out the vintage marquee, the sort of sign that brings to mind an afternoon wandering past specialty shops and department-store windows.
It’s easy to imagine the smell of popcorn and candy drifting from a nearby Woolworth’s, with another storefront to browse just a few doors down. The wig shop fits into that picture, offering a change of hairstyle alongside the other errands of a day downtown.
House of Wigs
Oakland, CA Photo courtesy Mercy Calman
The marquee is a reminder of how much character those smaller shops brought to the street. Each had its own name, its own window display, and sometimes a sign worth remembering long after the shopping was done.
UPDATE: Here's another photo of the House of Wigs as it goes through a going out of business sale. 07-07
UPDATE: House of Wigs is listed as closed. The old view preserves its marquee and a little of Oakland’s earlier downtown shopping atmosphere. 09-26
Camera Corner (Gone)
Oakland, CA Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Here’s a sign that could get a photographer’s attention before anything in the display window. The old Camera Corner in Oakland featured a vertical neon camera sign and Art Deco storefront lettering, giving the business a fitting introduction out front.
Founded in 1936 by Mike Roberts and his brother-in-law Clyde Woolridge, the shop also has a connection to postcard history. Roberts later became known for Mike Roberts Color Productions, whose colorful postcards carried roadside scenes and vacation destinations far beyond the places pictured.
UPDATE: Camera Corner has closed, and its projecting sign was removed. Restoration and a possible return have been discussed, although a reinstallation date has not been confirmed. 09-26
American Poultry Co.
Sacramento, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out the old neon at American Poultry Co. in Sacramento. The glass tubing appears intact in this view, making the sign worth a closer look even without the glow of a nighttime display.
The business operated for decades as a poultry market along Broadway, near the Tower Theatre. Its large, double-sided marquee gave the storefront a recognizable marker, advertising an everyday shopping stop with a bit more flair than ordinary lettering.
UPDATE: The business, later known as New American Poultry Co., has closed and its sign disappeared prior to 2014. 09-26
Carroll Travel Service (Closed)
Alameda, CA Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Planning a trip once meant a stop at places like Carroll Travel Service in Alameda. Its old sign recalls the days when a neighborhood travel bureau could help turn a vacation idea into tickets, reservations, and an itinerary to take along.
The business was a longtime presence on Park Street, appearing in local records from both 1954 and 1976. It belonged to an era when independent travel agencies shared the shopping district with clothing stores, cafes, and other small businesses.
UPDATE: Carroll Travel Service has closed. The old view recalls its years as part of Alameda’s neighborhood business scene. 09-26
Conklin Bros (Gone)
San Mateo, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Shopping for carpets and rugs? The vintage marquee at Conklin Bros. in San Mateo pointed the way, giving this specialty store a familiar roadside identity. Its script lettering belongs to an era when a home-improvement errand often meant visiting several local shops.
The company’s Northern California history dates back to 1880, with the San Mateo branch opening in 1947. That gave the store decades to become part of the local shopping routine, helping customers pick out what would go underfoot back home.
UPDATE: The San Mateo store has closed, and its vintage sign was removed following the closure and redevelopment of the property. 09-26
Western Mountaineering (Closed)
San Jose, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
An old sign found another job at Western Mountaineering in San Jose. The outdoor business reused an existing marquee, putting its own name onto a sign that still carried the shapes of an earlier roadside era. A different name out front, but a little of the old look stayed behind.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the company operated a combined factory and retail shop on South First Street. Known for its sleeping bags, Western Mountaineering gave customers a place to prepare for nights outdoors, whether the next trip meant a mountain campsite or somewhere farther down the trail.
Western Mountaineering
San Jose, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The repurposed marquee added some character to the storefront. Its shape came from a previous tenant, making it an interesting example of how a sign could keep working after the original business moved on. Change the lettering, keep the framework, and the next shop had a ready-made roadside marker.
That older outline was part of the attraction for anyone passing through with a camera. Even without knowing the name that originally occupied the sign, there was enough left of its earlier design to warrant a second look. Another bit of San Jose’s commercial scenery hiding in plain sight above an everyday business.
UPDATE: The old retail sign was taken down, and the former storefront operation has ended. Western Mountaineering continues manufacturing at a separate San Jose location. The marquee’s ultimate fate is unconfirmed, but these views preserve its years advertising a different kind of roadside adventure. 09-26
House of Wigs (Gone)
House of Wigs
Camera Corner (Gone)
American Poultry Co.
Carroll Travel Service (Closed)
Conklin Bros (Gone)
Western Mountaineering (Closed)
Western Mountaineering
