Stephen's Meat Products

Dinners
Willits, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

What’s waiting at the bottom of that arrow? This old Dinners sign in Willits offers a pretty good clue, with neon tubing tracing the letters and a downward-pointing marker directing attention toward a meal.

Along the Highway 101 route through town, a sign like this could catch travelers just as thoughts turned to finding somewhere to eat. The message didn’t need to be complicated. Dinner below, highway ahead, and perhaps a little time off the road.

UPDATE: The old view preserves the Dinners lettering and downward arrow along Willits’ historic highway corridor. 09-26

Mike's Shoes
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Gorb70

Need a little attention for those worn heels? Check out the old sign for Mike's Shoes in San Francisco. It's another small storefront worth a look while making the rounds through Noe Valley. 06-07

The sign gives customers a familiar name to find along 24th Street. No giant roadside arrow here, just a neighborhood shop announcing itself above the everyday activity on the sidewalk.

Mike's handles shoe repairs, from replacing heels to stitching leather that needs some help. A useful stop when a favorite pair isn't quite ready to be retired.

For anyone with a camera, the sign supplies a reason to pause before continuing down the block. The shoes can wait a minute.

UPDATE: Mike's Shoe Repair is still open, and the storefront sign remains. 09-26

Jesus Saves
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Look up at the Jesus Saves sign hanging from this Stockton building. The tall blade puts its two-word message out over the sidewalk, where it's easy to notice from either direction. 09-08

There isn't much mystery about the message, though the projecting marquee has the same roadside appeal as an old shop or theater sign. A different kind of invitation along South Sutter Street.

The building houses Jesus Saves Ministries, founded by Elijio Lico Sandoval and Irene Sandoval. Its work includes a bread ministry distributing food to people in the community.

Beyond the lettering is a place with a practical role in the neighborhood. Take a look at the sign before heading farther along the street.

UPDATE: Jesus Saves Ministries continues its community work, and the projecting sign remains. 09-26

DiMaggio's Bakery (Gone)
Martinez, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's a little bakery frontage with a much larger building looming behind it. DiMaggio's Fine Foods and Bakery in Martinez looks almost tucked out of the way in this view, though the name gives it a reason for a closer look. 09-08

The bakery served the town for decades, with ties to the Italian-American community around the Martinez waterfront. A neighborhood stop for something to eat before getting on with the day.

There's a little Hollywood lore here, too. Word around town is that Marilyn Monroe stopped by during her years with Joe DiMaggio, whose family had Martinez roots. A good story to ponder while looking over the old storefront. The space later became Victoria's Cafe, trading the bakery name for a cafe sign. Breakfast counters and booths gave customers another reason to settle in rather than hurry past.

UPDATE: Victoria's Cafe is also closed and gone. 09-26

Tack Room (Gone)
Pleasanton, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

Need a saddle, or just a pair of boots? Check out the marquee for Tack Room Western Wear & Saddlery in Pleasanton. The name over the entrance gives a pretty good idea of what waited inside. 10-09

This was a shop for equestrian equipment and western clothing, with leather saddles, boots, and other supplies among the reasons to stop. No horse required to find something to wear home.

The sign gave the storefront its own western identity before customers reached the door. A nice find while looking around town, even if the day's shopping plans didn't include tack.

UPDATE: The Tack Room has closed, and its marquee has been removed. 09-26

Twin Peaks Properties (Gone)
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

Take a look at the old Twin Peaks Properties sign in San Francisco. The porcelain-enamel finish gives this one a different appearance from the usual painted storefront board. 10-09

The double-sided sign advertised a local real estate business near Market and 15th streets. A useful corner to have the name hanging out where passing motorists and pedestrians could see it.

Buying property might require a longer visit, but photographing the sign was a simpler proposition. An ordinary office could still have something outside worth circling back to see.

UPDATE: Twin Peaks Properties has closed, and the old porcelain sign has been removed. 09-26

YMCA
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

Here's an old YMCA sign to look for while wandering through San Francisco's Chinatown. Mounted on brackets outside the building, the familiar letters give the community center a name that's easy to recognize. 11-09

The Chinatown YMCA began in 1911, serving the neighborhood long before this brick building went up around 1953. The sign fits that later era, with straightforward lettering doing the work above the sidewalk.

Inside, the center has offered activities for young people and a place for neighbors to exercise and gather. Outside, there's another old sign to add to the walk through Chinatown. Look up before getting distracted by the shops farther along Sacramento Street. This stop doesn't require a workout.

UPDATE Chinatown YMCA is still active, and its exterior sign remains. 09-26

Chuck's Sun Valley Dairy (Gone)
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

Here's a faded sign for Chuck's Sun Valley Dairy in San Francisco. The old grocery lettering looks like it has spent quite a few years facing the street, with the weather doing some editing of its own. 11-09

Chuck's served the outer Mission and Excelsior neighborhood as a local grocery and dairy stop. The sort of place to pick up milk and a few things without making a whole afternoon of shopping.

UPDATE: Chuck's has closed, and the old grocery signage is gone. 09-26