We have written before about signs on businesses, their place in a community, their role in defining an area, the many memories they can elicit and the landmark status of some.
Just last week the sign on the former Thrifty Foods was taken down and now Sapperton has a new Save-On-Foods sign. That led us to think about earlier signage in this town; that is, signs we remember with some fondness.
There are a number in Sapperton that stand out, starting with the brewery site's Lucky Lager sign. This large landmark sign sat on top of a building flashing the words “Lucky Lager” followed by a red cross.
Further up East Columbia, people remember the signs on Spots Café and Chopsticks, and at Braid there was the simple but very noticeable sign on Millar's Drugstore. Over at Royal Square there was the large front sign of the Dominion grocery store - another grocery store in our local history. Right next to this store was the tall sign for Riddell Wiltse Motors at the Esso station.
Uptown, many people remember the variety of Woodward's signs that marked that department store, and just a block away was a burger place, the Big S - a popular spot with an interesting sign. On 12th Street people talk of the Shakey's pizza sign that had lots of colour.
Heading downtown to Columbia Street, folks often remark on the large auto dealer signs, many very tall and all very bright. At the Pattullo Bridge end of the road, there were dealers on both sides of the street with signs blazing away in a glow of reds and yellows. Others at the 10th and 12th Street end of Columbia Street stand out for other people who remember the lighted signs there in what was an auto row.
One downtown sign forgotten by many goes back to when city hall was there near Sixth Street. This building had a large sign, lighted with big light bulbs, proclaiming "City Hall" high on its roof.
And discussion of downtown signs always includes two specific ones. One was the Army and Navy sign on the old store when it was in the Trapp building. This was a big sign that certainly drew your attention. A couple of blocks away, the Mc and Mc sign, a huge clock with a swinging pendulum, marked that end of town near Eighth Street.
Other downtown signs of note were those marking the footwear businesses of Johnston Shoes and Sinclair's. The Royal City Café, the Pagoda Restaurant, Cunningham Hardware and the CPR Station are others that people remember and there were even more before bright-lighted signage went out of favour.
So what was your favourite lighted business sign? Any of those mentioned here stand out for you? As of last week, the Thrifty Foods sign is now on many people's list.
