Sunset Temple (Gone)
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

“Odd Fellows” at a temple? The lettering at Sunset Temple gives passing travelers something to ponder along Kansas Street in North Park. This was a fraternal lodge rather than a religious temple, though the building certainly supplied an impressive setting for the name.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows made its home here in 1933, adapting a building that had previously served as a department store. The sign’s “F-L-T” letters stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth, adding a little explanation beneath the larger announcement.

The temple later hosted weddings, concerts, and private gatherings. Quite a change from department-store shopping, but the old building continued bringing people through its doors.

UPDATE: Historical reports describe Sunset Temple as boarded and unoccupied following its event-venue years. Its early-1950s neon sign is gone. 10-26

Wonder Weavers (Demolished)
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy Ken Lux

A small sign for Wonder Weavers points toward a trade that takes considerably more patience than replacing a missing button. The San Diego business specializes in reweaving and reknitting, giving damaged clothing a chance at another trip out of the closet.

Moth holes, burns, and tears can bring customers to a shop like this. The work involves matching and repairing the fabric itself, rather than simply covering the problem with a patch. A little wonder might seem an appropriate description when a favorite garment comes back repaired.

UPDATE: Wonder Weaver used to be on El Cajon Blvd. before being demolished. 10-26

Barcelona Apartments
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Over in Bankers Hill, the Barcelona Apartments carry their name on the side of a building with plenty of old San Diego character. Check out the lettering against the exterior. A useful announcement for visitors, and another reason for roadside sign hunters to look above street level.

Originally known as the Barcelona Apartment-Hotel, the building dates to the early 1920s. Its Spanish-inspired architecture gives the name a fitting backdrop, recalling a time when an apartment building could offer some of the appearance and atmosphere of a grand hotel.

UPDATE: The Barcelona continues operating as an apartment community on Juniper Street. Its historic designation and distinctive architecture preserve a prominent piece of Bankers Hill’s earlier residential scenery, with the familiar name still identifying the longtime property. 10-26

Typewriters
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

One word does the announcing on this projecting Typewriters sign. Simple, but efficient. Anyone looking for a machine, a repair, or perhaps a fresh ribbon could get the message before reaching the storefront.

UPDATE: The straightforward lettering makes this a fitting reminder of the typewriter trade. A whole category of office work once came with the sound of striking keys and a carriage return, and this sign needed just one word to point customers in the right direction. 10-26

Stern's Gym (Closed)
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Painted lettering gives Leo Stern's Gym another way to announce itself on Granada Avenue. Along with the vertical marquee, the wall advertisement marked a North Park business where the work happened upstairs. Plenty of room outside to get the name across.

The gym was founded by Leo Stern in 1946 and became a longtime part of San Diego’s weightlifting community. Its painted sign recalls the days when a broad stretch of masonry was useful advertising space, especially for a business above street level.

Check out the combination of paint and projecting signage. One reached toward approaching customers, while the other spread the message across the building. The gym had more than one way to make its presence known.

UPDATE: Stern’s announced its closure in May 2024, ending its long run at the Granada Avenue location. The wall lettering recalls the building’s years as a neighborhood training destination, when generations of customers headed upstairs to put in another workout. 10-26

Hook, Line & Sinker (Closed)
Point Loma, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

A fitting name welcomed anglers at Hook, Line & Sinker in Point Loma. This was a stop for bait, tackle, and custom rods, handy for customers preparing to head toward the nearby sportfishing docks.

The storefront sign got right to the business at hand. No need to wonder whether this was a place for fishing supplies. The name had already covered most of the basic equipment before anyone reached the door.

Shops like this were part of the shoreside routine, where a fishing trip could begin with supplies, repairs, and a little advice across the counter. Catching something later was still up to the customer.

UPDATE: The independent tackle shop on Scott Street has closed, ending its run as a Point Loma fishing-supply stop. Its longtime trade included custom rod work, reel repairs, and equipment for the boats heading offshore. The name remains a memorable one from the neighborhood’s dockside businesses. 10-26

Korner Market
Escondido, CA
Photo courtesy Ken Lux

Out in the parking lot, the old Korner Market sign gives Escondido travelers something to peek at before heading inside. Check out the lettering and metal sign face. This one has the neighborhood-market look down pretty well.

A few groceries may have been the reason to pull in, but the marquee offers a little something extra. The sort of sign that could become familiar over years of shopping trips, then suddenly catch the eye of somebody who has driven past it a hundred times.

UPDATE: Escondido’s preservation commission discussed the Korner Market sign in 2014, suggesting old high-school yearbooks might help trace its history. Apparently this parking-lot fixture had earned a little attention beyond announcing where to pick up the milk. 10-26

Beanie's Lobby
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy Ken Lux

Check out the old lettering for Beanie’s Lobby in San Diego. Now there’s a name that leaves a little to the imagination. A place to wait around? Somewhere to settle in? Beanie apparently knew, even if the sign isn’t telling the whole story. 06-07

The name has enough character to earn a second glance all by itself. Sometimes an old business sign offers a clear explanation of what’s inside. This one sounds more like an invitation to open the door and find out.

UPDATE: The Beanie’s Lobby lettering gets another look for its curious name and old storefront appeal. Whatever was waiting inside, the sign certainly gave passing travelers something to wonder about. 10-26