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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| New Mexico Signs (page 2) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Cottonwood Court Santa Fe, NM |
Santa Fe Lodge Santa Fe, NM |
El Camino Family Restaurant Socorro, NM |
Roadrunner Lodge Socorro, NM |
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The Cottonwood Court and the Santa Fe Lodge signs appear to be from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The El Camino Family Restaurant sign is lit at night. The plastic balls on the antenna-like projection at the middle of the sign were missing when the first photo was taken in 2008. By 2009, they were back. For more, see this website. [2010 photo thanks Daren Scot Wilson] The Roadrunner Lodge sign is partially lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| MG's Grand Liquors Albuquerque, NM |
Premiere Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Zia Motor Lodge Albuquerque, NM |
Loma Verde Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Silver Fox Lounge [gone] Albuquerque, NM |
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MG's Grand Liquors probably went by a different name originally.
The Premiere Motel was built in the 1940s. Its restored neon sign features a neat spinning element on top. For more, see this website. [second photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Zia Motor Lodge was demolished in 2005 and all that remains is this sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. I'd love to find a vintage image of the Loma Verde Motel to know how the sign was originally painted and if anything was on those guitar strings. The sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Silver Fox Lounge closed in 2009 and the sign was removed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Pioneer Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Royal Fork Buffet Albuquerque, NM |
Ponderosa Mobile Home Haven Albuquerque, NM |
Jimmie's Oriental Restaurant Albuquerque, NM |
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The main Pioneer Motel sign is lit at night. I don't know if the taller sign still works. For more, see this website
The Royal Fork Buffet sign is from 1960. The restaurant which was once part of a chain has been gone since at least the 1980s. The building has being converted into the Royal Fork Lofts. I believe the sign is still there and has been left as-is. The Ponderosa Mobile Home Haven sign is now obscured by trees. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Jimmie's Oriental Restaurant may have gone by another name originally. |
| Octopus Car Wash Albuquerque, NM |
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| This Octopus Car Wash is part of a WI-based chain. I believe this is their original location. For other location signs, see this page. For more, see this website. |
| Desert Sands Motor Hotel Albuquerque, NM |
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| The Desert Sands Motor Hotel sign probably sported neon in the past. It still features a yucca plant on the top. The office has 1950s-looking "handles". [2nd and 3rd photos thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Drive-in Liquor Store Albuquerque, NM |
Nob Hill Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Kurt's Camera Corral Albuquerque, NM |
Hiway House Motel Albuquerque, NM |
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The Drive-in Liquor Store might be affiliated with the Town House Lounge & Restaurant next door. They seem to share the same building which features a steer on the roof. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Nob Hill Motel was also built in the 1940s. This photo was taken in 2006. Around 2009, the motel been adapted as a strip mall known as Nob Hill Court. The sign has been repainted and adapted as well. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Kurt's Camera Corral opened in 1950. For more, see their website. The Hiway House Motel was part of a Southwest chain founded in 1956 in Phoenix, AZ. This seems to be the last location left. It features the original Colonial style architecture and sign from 1958. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Peoples Flowers Nob Hill Albuquerque, NM |
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| Peoples Flowers downtown Albuquerque, NM |
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| Peoples Flowers was founded in 1944 and now has eight locations. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Furr's Albuquerque, NM |
The Library Bar & Grill Albuquerque, NM |
El Don Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Monterey Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Mac's La Sierra Restaurant Albuquerque, NM |
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Furr's opened their first restaurant in Hobbs, NM in 1946. They now have over 50 locations throughout the Southwest and Florida. I have a feeling that this sign is not that old but it still deserves inclusion. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Library Bar & Grill opened in 2004 with this modern sign featuring oversized books. For more, see this website. The El Don Motel sign was recently restored. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The Monterey Motel stresses the fact that it is a "Non-Smoker's Motel". It was originally called the "Monterey Court" and the sign was adapted later. The "Non-Smoker's Motel" was added at that time or later. For more, see 1, 2, and 3. Mac's La Sierra Restaurant sign features a steakhouse steer on top. For more, see this website. |
| Pińon Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Garcia's Café Albuquerque, NM |
Bow & Arrow Lodge Albuquerque, NM |
Westward Ho Motel Albuquerque, NM |
Chase Hardware Albuquerque, NM |
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The Pińon Motel started out as the Pińon Lodge. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Garcia's Café sign features a "chasing" arrow and is lit at night. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Bow & Arrow Lodge sign appears to be from the 1950s. However, they may have had another one. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Westward Ho Motel opened in 1948. The sign, featuring a saguaro cactus, was restored in 2002. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. Chase Hardware opened in 1954 and features this giant hammer sign. |
| Dog House Drive-in Albuquerque, NM |
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| The Dog House Drive-in opened in the early 1950s. The stand moved two blocks down the road in 1969. The original sign was moved to the new building which was identical in size and floor plan. The neon dog's tail wags in three-part animation. He also gobbles an animated string of six hot dog links. The neon text on the sign is static. The sign is about twenty feet long. The neon is occasionally damaged by hail and swiftly repaired. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [second photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
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More Albuquerque Signs:
Avalon Restaurant/Rio Bravo/Colosseum Jack's Liquor Store [gone] various signs: 1, 2 |
| Arrowhead Lodge Gallup, NM |
Road Runner Motel Gallup, NM |
Blue Spruce Lodge Gallup, NM |
Lariat Lodge Gallup, NM |
California Supermarket [gone] Gallup, NM |
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The Arrowhead Lodge sign looks remarkably like the Bow & Arrow Lodge sign in Albuquerque shown above. This must have been an earlier sign.
The Road Runner Motel appears to be from the 1950s. For more, see this website. The Blue Spruce Lodge opened in 1949. For more, see this website. The Lariat Lodge is most likely from the 1950s. The California Supermarket was built in the 1950s. This photo was from 2006 taken just shortly before the sign was removed and destroyed. There is now a Lowe's Supermarket there now. The California Supermarket sign shared a design and color scheme with many of the signs in the next row of photos and makes me wonder if some of them were designed by the same sign company. For more, see this website. |
| Downtown Parking Gallup, NM |
Jerry's Café Gallup, NM |
Virgie's Restaurant & Lounge Gallup, NM |
Avalon Restaurant Gallup, NM |
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The Downtown Parking sign looks 1950s.
The Jerry's Café sign, also most likely from the 1950s, looks like it was recently restored. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Virgie's Restaurant & Lounge opened in the late 1960s or early 1970s as a cafeteria. It became Virgie's and adapted the sign in 1980. For more, see this website. The Avalon Restaurant offers Chinese, American, and Mexican food. It has been here since at least the 1960s. I believe the Shell gas station sign in the distance is also 1950s/1960s. |
| Ranch Kitchen Gallup, NM |
Richardson's Trading Company & Cash Pawn Gallup, NM |
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The Ranch Kitchen opened at its original location in 1955. It moved here in 1982. The sign, which features oversized cookware, was restored in 2002. This photo is from 2006. By 2009, the neon had been removed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Richardson's Trading Company has been here since 1913. The store features Indian arts and crafts: baskets, kachinas, paintings, rugs, pottery, and jewelry. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Grants Café Grants, NM |
Roarin' 20's Grants, NM |
Franciscan Lodge Grants, NM |
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Grant's Café opened in 1938. In 1998, the sign had blown down and was abandoned in a field several miles away. It was recovered, restored and reinstalled in 2002.
I believe the Roarin' 20's is closed now. It looks like there was another name covered up with the "The". For more, see this website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Franciscan Lodge was built in 1950. The rooms appear to be all or mostly long-term rentals now. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Uranium Café Grants, NM |
Canton Café Grants, NM |
Los Alamitos Motel Grants, NM |
Sands Motel Grants, NM |
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The Uranium Café opened in 1956. The restaurant's name is a reference to Grants' uranium mining boom which began in 1950. The sign has been painted various colors over the years. I believe the neon was restored in 2001. After being closed for many years, the restaurant reopened in 2010 as Nana's Cafe. The sign will stay the same. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
The Canton Café sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] All that's left of the Los Alamitos Motel is this sign. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Sands Motel has two nicely maintained signs. |
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