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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Virginia Signs (page 2) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Cape Motel Cape Charles, VA |
2400 Diner Fredericksburg, VA |
Baby Jim's Snack Bar Culpeper, VA |
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The Cape Motel and sign are from the 1950s.
The 2400 Diner opened in the 1950s. Although not a true diner, the restaurant has stools and diner atmosphere. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. Baby Jim's Snack Bar is a simple take-out burger joint. They started at another location in 1947 and opened this one in 1952. For more, see this website. |
| Masonic Lodge Culpeper, VA |
Gayheart Drug Store and Luncheonette (now Frost Café) Culpeper, VA |
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The Culpeper Masonic Lodge was built in 1900.
The Gayheart Drug Store opened in 1928 and closed in 2002. The first photo is from 2003 when the store was vacant. Shortly thereafter, the Frost Café took over the space. The store's ceiling, floor, soda fountain, and lunch counter were preserved. The neon sign was adapted with the new name. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Boulevard Cleaners Newport News, VA |
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| Boulevard Cleaners has a nicely maintained neon sign. |
| Chinatown Restaurant Newport News, VA |
Bradish Signs Newport News, VA |
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The Chinatown Restaurant sign was completely covered over with white paint in 2009 when the restaurant closed. This photo is from 2007.
Bradish Signs features a giant paint brush with dripping paint and a palette-like nameplate. I don't believe this sign is lit anymore. |
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More Newport News Signs:
Monty's Penguin |
| Captain George's Seafood Restaurant Hampton, VA |
Amory's Seafood Hampton, VA |
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This Captain George's Seafood Restaurant location closed in 2008. I don't think any of their other four restaurants have an old sign like this one. By 2010, this sign was covered with white paint while the building remained vacant. For more, see their website.
Amory's Seafood has been in the wholesale business since 1917. This sign is at their wholesale location. The company opened a retail fish store in 1973 in Portsmouth, VA. They also have a restaurant in Chesapeake, VA. |
| Jack's Family Restaurant Hampton, VA |
Lucky 7 Market Charlottesville, VA |
Dixie Pig Barbecue Martinsville, VA |
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Jack's Family Restaurant has a boxy building but a nice-looking sign.
The Lucky 7 Market and sign are from the 1960s. The Dixie Pig Barbecue features this old sign which is still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [first photo thanks Robby Delius] |
| Dixie Pottery Abingdon, VA |
Alpine Motel Abingdon, VA |
Hi-Lo Drive-Thru Abingdon, VA |
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The Dixie Pottery store and sign are from 1957. For more, see their website.
The Alpine Motel and sign were built in 1963. Sometime after 2008, the sign was remodeled. The corrugated plastic panels were replaced and the poles are either covered or gone. The first photo is from 2003, the second from 2011. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Hi-Lo Drive-Thru and sign are from 1956. The first photo is from 2007. The sign was repainted in 2010 (second photo). |
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More Abingdon Signs:
Robert E. Lee Motel |
| Mitchem's Shoe Repair Richmond, VA |
Joy Garden Richmond, VA |
The Triple Richmond, VA |
King's Fish Richmond, VA |
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The Mitchem's Shoe Repair sign is similar to the Goodyear shoe sign in Birmingham, AL.
Joy Garden opened in 1958 with this neon sign. It is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Richmond. For more, see this website. The Triple sign has been here since at least the 1970s. For more, see this website. I don't believe the King's Fish sign is all that old either but it's still nice-looking. For more, see this website. |
| Richmond Camera Shop Richmond, VA |
Westland Shopping Center Richmond, VA |
Natural Gas Company of Virginia Richmond, VA |
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The Richmond Camera Shop was founded in 1938 and was the first camera shop in town. This sign, now missing its neon, was probably built then.
I believe the Westland Shopping Center sign was recently restored. The Natural Gas Company of Virginia features some nice old signage. |
| Bill's Barbecue Richmond, VA |
Satellite Restaurant Richmond, VA |
Buford Shopping Center Richmond, VA |
FFV Cookies & Crackers Richmond, VA |
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Bill's Barbecue opened in 1930 and is famous for its barbecue pork sandwiches, limeade and other regional offerings. There are several locations in Richmond. This one has a drive-through window and drive-in canopies, however, I'm not sure if there are car hops or not. For more, see this website.
In 2004, a vinyl sign was installed in the windows of the Satellite Restaurant indicating that it had become the Crab House Lounge & Restaurant. As of 2009, this sign and the temporary sign were still there. In fact, the neon sign is still lit at night. The Satellite opened in 1962. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [scan thanks Robby Delius] The Buford Shopping Center sign appears to be from the 1950s. However, the plastic letters seem to be from later. Does anyone know when this sign was built or if there was ever a name change? For more, see this website. FFV Cookies & Crackers were once baked here by Interbake Foods with the Famous Foods of Virginia label. Interbake was originally founded in 1899 as the Southern Biscuit Company and this building is from then. The company closed this factory in 2006 and it has been vacant since then. I don't believe the sign is lit anymore. However, there is talk of converting the building into offices and/or condos so perhaps it will be relit then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Regal Boot Richmond, VA |
Mill End Shop Richmond, VA |
A&N Stores Richmond, VA |
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These three signs are on display at the Valentine Richmond History Center. For more, see this website.
The Regal Boot sign is made of cast aluminum. It was originally installed at the Regal Shoe Co. on Broad St. The American Sign Museum acquired an identical sign in 2009. There was another one in Boston, MA. The Mill End Shop sign was built in the late 1950s. The business closed in 1996 and donated this sign to the museum. It was restored in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. This A&N Stores sign is from 1930 and was previously installed at the company's Culpeper, VA location which closed in 2008. A&N started out selling dry goods and went on to become a chain of sporting goods stores. |
| C.F. Sauer Company Extracts Richmond, VA |
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| The C.F. Sauer Company began production in Richmond in 1887. By 1927, the company had become the largest producer of extracts and spices in the U.S. Sauer still continues production at its downtown factory. This rooftop sign is still in operation and features a baker stirring in extract with "vanilla" spelling out in red continuous script. The animated, incandescent sign was saved in 1978 when the building it was installed on top of was demolished. The sign was restored around 2006. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Coca-Cola signs Richmond, VA |
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| These huge Coca-Cola signs are composed of incandescent bulbs. In the storefront below is now Harvey's Progressive Barber Shop. There was supposedly a paper goods store here originally. In 2007, these signs were repainted (two photos at right). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More Richmond Signs:
Fat Boy Drive-in [gone] Hank's Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q |
| VA (page 1) | VA (page 3) |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |