I passed by this sign at least twice a weekday, to-and-from work for 15 years, as I navigated the El Camino Real. Such a cool old sign.
I checked Google Maps Street View and it appears that as of November 2019, the sign was still standing, but the neon’s been removed. Too bad.
I’d heard that it was going to be taken down. If that happened, I hope someone save it.
I made a special trip at night to get a shot of the neon lit up.
I maaaaay have taken a picture or two of this sign.
It stood at Washington and El Camino in Santa Clara, not far from the SCU campus, on a corner lot filled with old, dilapidated bungalows.
I drove past this sign on my way to, and from, work, every weekday for 8 years.
Some shots were taken with film cameras, some with digital.
I recall riding my bike the nearly 2.5 mile trip from our home down El Camino one Saturday morning – with a bag of cameras – to shoot this awesome sign.
A relic of a bygone era.
Sadly, the sign is no longer standing.
I checked Google Maps Street View and all that remains is an empty lot with a tan colored slat/chainlink fence surrounding it.
I’d bet it’s likely condos or high-density housing fill the lot today.
I hope someone saved the sign.
Russ Morris. Slightly Obsessed With Photography since 1964. 