Stephen's Meat Products

Ringup Rivett Flooring (Closed)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

What does a telephone have to do with flooring? Take a look at this sign for Ringup Rivett Flooring in Sacramento. That big telephone might have you expecting a phone booth nearby rather than a shop full of flooring.

“Ring Up Rivett” was the company's longtime slogan, so the telephone had a job to do. Give the shop a call, pick out a floor, and hopefully remember the name the next time the carpet needed replacing. Pretty handy advertising for anyone passing along Broadway.

The sign is thought to date from the 1940s or 1950s, with porcelain and neon giving the telephone a little extra roadside appeal. It certainly beats a plain board announcing flooring for sale. About the only thing missing is someone on the other end of the line.

The business itself went back to 1884, long before this sign came along. By the time the telephone appeared out front, Rivett had already spent decades helping Sacramento customers find something to put underfoot.

UPDATE: Rivett closed in 2006, but the telephone sign remains. 09-26

Paradise Trailer Court
San Leandro, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Need directions to paradise? This old triangular arrow at Paradise Trailer Court looks ready to help. The marquee points the way in, with a clock sitting on top to keep track of how much of the day has slipped by.

It's a nice combination for a roadside sign. Find a place to stay and check the time without having to look in two directions. Whether the clock was keeping up is another question.

Along East 14th Street, this trailer court sign offered something a little different from the usual rectangular nameboard. The arrow and clock alone make it worth slowing down for a photo.

UPDATE: Paradise Trailer Court is still operating along East 14th Street. 09-26

Lim's Market (Gone)
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's an old market sign that looks like it hasn't worked since the Truman Administration. The lettering at Lim's Market still gets the point across, even if the neon has long since given up.

This Sacramento neighborhood market was around by 1948, selling meats, groceries, wine, and beer. A little of everything for the trip home.

UPDATE: The old market sign has been removed. 09-26

A&A
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Chris Erias

The sign for A&A has been a landmark since it was installed around 1946. It uses fluorescent tubes in the cabinet portion, incandescent lights run up the base, and a mix of neon and incandescent illuminate the A&A. It stands around 35-40'. It looks wonderful at night - when the lights are working. This sign may be endangered at this point. Many thanks to Chris Erias for info.

When all the lights were working, the sign must have been quite a sight. Even during the day, it looks like finding the shop wouldn't have been much of a problem.

The business started in 1946 when World War II veteran Marvin “Buzz” Oates opened A&A Key Shop. From keys and lock repairs, the shop branched into television services and eventually appliances. That big sign has been drawing attention since around 1946–1947, through quite a few changes in what was sold below.

UPDATE: A&A is still selling appliances along Folsom Boulevard, and the tall sign remains. 09-2

Trailer Haven
San Leandro, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's a roadside sign with a trailer built right into the shape. The rounded marquee at Trailer Haven gives passing motorists a pretty good idea of what they'll find beyond the entrance.

Then again, take another look and it almost resembles an elephant. Maybe it's the outline, or maybe it's what happens after a long day of looking at roadside signs. Either way, this one is hard to confuse with an ordinary signboard.

The park opened in 1937, back when streamlined travel trailers were finding their way onto American roads. A trailer-shaped sign seems right at home here, waiting for the next set of wheels to pull in.

UPDATE: Trailer Haven is still open, and the trailer-shaped sign remains out front. 09-26

Van's Shoes
Watsonville, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

Need a little more mileage out of those shoes? Here's the old sign for Van's Shoes in Watsonville, giving a routine trip through town a reason for a quick stop with the camera. Shoes might be the reason to head inside, but the sign deserves a look first.

This is an independent family shoe shop, where worn soles and tired leather can get some attention. The kind of place to visit when a favorite pair still has a few walks left in it. A little repair work might keep them going for another trip.

Boot resoling and leather polishing are part of the work here, the sort of hands-on service that used to be easier to find around town. If a day of wandering the sidewalks has taken its toll, this could be a useful stop.

There doesn't have to be a theater marquee or a giant motel arrow around every corner. Sometimes an old shoe store sign is enough to make the drive interesting. This one fits the bill.

UPDATE: Van's is still repairing shoes, with the old sign remaining at the shop. 09-26

Paso Robles Electric (Closed)
Paso Robles, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

Check out the old sign for Paso Robles Electric. It looks like it could still put on a little show after dark, which seems only fitting for an electrical business.

Even in daylight, the sign gives the shop something worth a second look. A quick stop for a photo, and suddenly an ordinary business along the road becomes part of the day's finds.

Paso Robles Electric operated for 78 years, giving the name plenty of time to become familiar around town. That's a lot of electrical work, and hopefully an occasional chance to tend to the sign out front.

UPDATE: Paso Robles Electric has closed, but the sign remains. 09-26