Mall Sign: Lakewood Shopping Center

Lakewood, California - circa 1950s

The very bold and distinctive looking entrance sign at the Lakewood Shopping Center (or just Lakewood Center) as seen in the 1950s. This photo find comes courtesy of Brian Neuroth. Thanks, Brian! This is a great sign design to study, where less (in this case anyway), is obviously more.

Mall history: 1952 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: 1, 2, 3, 4

Mall Sign: Vineland Shopping Center

Vineland, New Jersey - 1973

The Vineland Shopping Center and its swanky signage, in this fantastic vintage snapshot taken back in 1973. Photo is courtesy of this flickr photoset, which also contains an interesting side-by-side shot of this image, along with an updated one of the same sign (yes, it's still there) at the Vineland Shopping Center, taken much more recently. (Surprise! Though similar, the vintage version's still cooler.)

See more mall signs here!

JCPenney Store At Fremont Mall

Fremont, Nebraska - circa 1960s

Greetings from Fremont, Nebraska and the Fremont Mall... where shopping in the mall is a family affair! I know that because it says so on this cool vintage postcard, which shows not only the exterior of the Penney's (or JCPenney if you prefer) store at the mall, but also a good portion of its sign (the mall's).

I don't know a heck of a lot about Fremont Mall, but I don't have to, because Labelscar has my back on this one. They have both a great post on the mall with lots of info and contemporary photos, as well as a more recent shot taken from almost the same spot as this vintage one (and it still looks surprisingly similar!). Check it out.

Mall history: 1967 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none

Mall Sign: Edgemoor Plaza Shopping Center

Wichita, Kansas - circa 1956

Swanktastic sign (designed and built by Claude Neon Federal Signs) at the Edgemoor Plaza shopping center in Wichita, KS. Edgemoor Plaza originally opened to shoppers in 1954. Not sure if it's still there today (and if so, under what name).

See more mall signs here!

(Study image courtesy of the Howard Eastwood Collection, Wichita State University Libraries' Department of Special Collections)

Mall Sign: Valley Fair Mall

Appleton, Wisconsin

Recent photo (2006) of an old weather-worn entrance sign at the now-defunct Valley Fair Mall (aka Valley Fair Shopping Center). Don't know how far back this relic actually dates (Valley Fair opened in 1954), but I think it's seen better days (like the mall). Image via Wikipedia's Valley Fair Shopping Center entry.

More Valley Fair: 1, 2

Mall Sign: Midway Mall

Sand Island, Midway Atoll, Hawaii

Midway Mall sign at Sand Island, on Midway Atoll (also known as Midway Island), Hawaii, snapped in 1999 by Forest & Kim Starr. Because even the smallest and most humble of places must have a mall--though this one's more for the birds these days.

"Midway Mall" isn't really an actual shopping mall in reality, but the sign says that (and it is called that), and since I like the shot, I thought it'd be fun to post here in a quasi "sort of related" kind of way. Midway Mall is an area in the center of the island that once catered to Navy families, but is now largely abandoned. It has a tiny general store, some offices, a bowling alley, and a theater (where Bob Hope once appeared).

Give it a couple years. Some overzealous developer will find a way to turn it into an open-air Lifestyle Town Center. Or a Wal-Mart, take your pick.

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Mall Sign: Haltom Plaza Shopping Center

Haltom City, Texas

Close-up detail of the neon lettering on the entrance sign at Haltom Plaza shopping center. Never heard of this shopping center, never seen it before, but I sure like their sign. This recently-shot image is courtesy of Earthly Possessions' photos on Flickr, and there's also a wider view of the whole sign here. From what I can gather, the Haltom Plaza shopping center itself, dates back to the 1950s, as does its beautiful sign.

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Mall Sign: Northland Shopping Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The beautiful 1950s-era sign at the old Northland Shopping Center in Tulsa, OK (courtesy of Roadside Architecture). This mall first opened in the '50s and finally closed around 1990. The above photo was taken in recent years, though the sign itself still retained its original vintage look.

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Mall Sign: Quarry Center

Louisville, Kentucky

Pretty nifty signage here at the Quarry Center, a small strip shopping center in Louisville, KY. The snapshots here were taken this year, but the sign is obviously an older one, as is the shopping center. These were taken and kindly submitted by, Jay (thanks again!), who added:

"Earlier this year, I got inspired to run around and take some photos of Louisville-area signs that have survived through the years (though a few just barely). This little center recently lost its biggest tenant, an independent drug store. Not sure what will happen next, but I wanted to catch the sign while I could. The center itself has been renovated since it was built.

The blue neon around the edge was almost completely burnt out on the other side, so this was the best nighttime shot I could get."

See more mall signs here!

Mall Sign: Wonderland Mall

Livonia, Michigan

The super-cool Wonderland Mall sign (via AmericaJR.com) as it looked a few years ago (before the defunct shopping mall was demolished), yet still reflecting its classic original retro design from the 1960s. I've always liked this simple, yet bold, power look. An interesting and solid sign design if you ask me. Here are a few notes via Dead Malls' Wonderland entry:

"Wonderland Mall, Michigan's third-oldest mall, opened in 1959 in the western Detroit suburb of Livonia. This 850,000 sq. ft. mall had Montgomery Ward as its original anchor. Later on Target, Foland's (a catalog store), Amazing Savings (formerly Mazel's), Dunham's Sporting Goods, and Office Max joined the anchor lineup. It also was the first mall in metro Detroit to offer kiddie train rides, and used that as a selling point in its promotions.

The layout of Wonderland was similar to a 'TTT' look. At the left end of the first 'T' were Wards and Amazing Savings. An AMC 6-screen multiplex was situated at the right end of the last 'T'. The three wings that spurred off the 'T's, from left to right, were Dunham's/OfficeMax, Foland's, and Target."

Mall history: 1959 - 2003 (dead)
Current website: n/a (archived site here)
Previous entries: 1

Mall Sign: Big Town Mall

Mesquite, Texas

Not the shopping center's original classic sign (which you can see in another post here), but still quite a bold and distinctive one that I kind of dig, as it sits here at the then-abandoned, now-demolished Big Town Mall (pic courtesy of this blog). I enjoy seeing Montgomery Ward listed there as well. I'm not sure when the mall switched to this particular signage design--probably sometime in the 1980s, I'm guessing. A few Big Town Mall Wikipedia notes:

"Big Town Mall was constructed in 1959 and was the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall in the Southwest. Some of the surrounding facilities included Bowlanes, A&R Course, Horse and Rider, an Exhibition hall, and a half price shoe store. At one time up to three major chain stores such as JC Penney, Sanger-Harris, and Neiman Marcus were part of the complex. The attached Woolworths was also quite popular due to its sizable inventory and food court.

This once popular spot in Mesquite that housed department stores, retail shops, an early form of arcade, and even a movie theater, has since become a derelict building after Montgomery Ward went bankrupt in 2001 and Town East Mall had long since become the new 'hotspot' for local and national retailers. For several years the mall stayed active with privately owned shops targeting urban young."

Mall history: 1959 - 2006 (dead)
Developer: Gerri Von Frelick
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Resource articles: 1, 2, 3, 4
Previous entries: 1, 2

Mall Sign: Buckingham Square

Aurora, Colorado

I don't know exactly how "vintage" this sign at Buckingham Square Mall is, but it sure looks pretty (image courtesy of dafaba on Flickr). Does anyone know if this is the mall's original sign from 1971 when it first opened? I'm guessing it's not, just looking at it. Probably an '80s or early '90s makeover design but I really don't know. I'd love to find out it's original vintage signage, though.

Buckingham Square Mall is now closed apparently--a dead mall--and sits awaiting future re-development (which will probably wind up rhyming with "Pall-Vart").

The mall's old website is still online (link below), but I doubt it will get updated anymore.

Mall history: 1971 - 2007
Current website: here

Current aerial view

Previous entries: none

Mall Sign: Town & Country Shopping Center

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Nice retro design signage, dating back to around the fifties. This is a recent photo of the Town & Country Shopping Center's original vintage-era entrance sign. I haven't had a chance to research it yet, so I don't know whether or not this shopping center is still in operation today. I just liked the neat sign (courtesy of the swanktastic Roadside Architecture site).

Shopping Mall Sign: San Antonio Center

Mountain View, California

Finishing a couple more posts from earlier this morning, when my internet connection suddenly conked out on me because it hates me.

So this is the distinctive entrance sign at the San Antonio Shopping Center, in Mountain View, CA. Photo was taken in July of 2005 (courtesy of Marcel Marchon). I'm not sure how far back this particular signage design goes at this mall, so I don't know exactly how "vintage" it is (does anyone else?), but either way it's an interesting looking sign, isn't it?

More San Antonio Shopping Center

Shopping Mall Sign: Regency Mall

Augusta, Georgia

Entrance sign (along with cinema listings) for Regency Mall, in Augusta, Georgia. While the above photo was taken in 2006, this dead mall has been long-abandoned and was never updated during its lifespan, so the sign you see here is frozen in time, still sporting its original 1970s look! Some design notes from Wikipedia:

"Regency Mall was configured in a Y-shaped layout. Its surrounding landscape was terraced, providing ground-level entrances to the upper and lower levels. The mall’s interior was decorated in an alabaster motif with brown accents, and its floors were finished in brown-speckled terrazzo tile. Live trees were planted at intervals along the lower-level concourses.

The mall’s three wings met at a 28,000 square-foot center court, framed by 45-foot pillars and featuring a fountain, a 28-foot clock tower and a stage area floored in brown tile. Regency Mall had more than 800,000 square feet of space; when it opened, it was the largest enclosed shopping mall in Georgia."

Btw, take a look at my recent Randall Park Mall video (Ohio). Aside from the name of course, the entrance sign seen there looks identical to this one. Same developer, same era, so it makes sense, but still interesting to note.

Mall history: 1978 - 2002
Developer: Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr.
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Reference links: 1
Previous entries: none

Westgate Shopping Center sign

Albany, New York - October 1960

The photo above accompanied the article below entitled "90 Feet in the Air", from the October 1960 issue of Signs of the Times Magazine. Apparently both the shopping center and its beautiful sign are still there today (such as they are), but a look at this page will show that it doesn't look quite the same these days. But at least it's still there (as of 2005 anyway).

Now on to the original article:

"The trend toward bigger and bigger signs is well exemplified by the gigantic Westgate Shopping Center spectacular in Albany, N. Y., that rises 90 feet in the air above the parking lot entrance to the store group. The king-sized identification, incorporating neonized copy, a chasing border action and a jump clock, is raised on two towering steel uprights.

The uprights are formed of 30-inch wide flange, 108-pound steel. Each section is 100 feet long--extending 90 feet above ground and 10 feet below grade, based in 33 tons of concrete. The columns were delivered to Albany on two railroad flat cars and emplaced by a pair of 100-foot boom cranes.

The single copy panel, a 30 by 20-foot oval, is faced with porcelain with white porcelain channel letters. The double-faced sections are turquoise, rimmed with yellow porcelain. The huge 'W' is 8 feet tall, outlined with four rows of clear red tubing. Three rows of red illuminate the remaining 'Westgate' letters. The remaining copy is double tubed in turquoise. Some 1500 yellow incandescent lamps border the oval and, activated by two flashers, create a rotating light effect.

The background for the clock, which utilizes 36-inch letters, is black satin finished enamel. Filler for both the clock unit and the copy panel is stainless steel. The enclosure at the sign base, which houses the electrical service equipment, also is formed of porcelain and stainless steel.

The contract for construction of the display, exclusive of the planter, was awarded to Judge Neon Sign Co., Inc., Albany, N. Y. The steel structure was subcontracted to a local steel fabricator. Judge Neon completed all excavating work, set the footings and constructed and installed all other elements of the sign under the supervision of Mr. Trembly, Judge production manager.

Tests were performed to determine the proper height of the proposed sign in regard to several nearby obstacles which would tend to obscure visibility from desired directions. After determination of the general size and shape, rough drawings were prepared by Raymond Murphy, sign company designer.

A steel rung ladder has been welded to one of the steel columns to give service crews access to the towering sign. A trolley track has been incorporated at the top of the sign from which scaffolding or a bos'n chair can be suspended to reach the various parts of the display. Three platforms have been installed between the two ovals which provide access through the rear of the sign. An additional platform was placed below he clock unit for this servicing."

Mall history: 1957 - present
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none