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April 29, 2017 by tomdalzell

The Signs of Shattuck

 

Signs are no stranger to Quirky Berkeley.  In past posts, I have shown business signage from San Pablo Avenue and from University Avenue, the signs of Little India, neon signs of Telegraph Avenue, and neon signs from University and San Pablo Avenues.  Plus, I now notice, a couple more.

Today – signs from Shattuck Avenue south of University.  I am probably in a small minority that finds signs quirky, or at least potentially quirky.  If nothing else, here is a record of signage on four blocks of Shattuck Avenue as of April 2017.  If you are reading this 50 years later, you are, no doubt, fascinated by our signage.

2010 Shattuck Avenue

2010 Shattuck Avenue

2020 Shattuck Avenue

2020 Shattuck Avenue

2017 Shattuck Avenue

2017 Shattuck Avenue

2024 Shattuck Avenue

2024 Shattuck Avenue

2026 Shattuck Avenue

2026 Shattuck Avenue

2036 Shattuck Avenue

2036 Shattuck Avenue

2036 Shattuck Avenue

2036 Shattuck Avenue

2037 Shattuck Avenue

2037 Shattuck Avenue

2039 Shattuck Avenue

2039 Shattuck Avenue

2045 Shattuck Avenue

2045 Shattuck Avenue

2101 Shattuck Avenue

2101 Shattuck Avenue

2106 Shattuck Avenue

2106 Shattuck Avenue

2109 Shattuck Avenue

2109 Shattuck Avenue

2110 Shattuck Avenue

2110 Shattuck Avenue

2112 Shattuck Avenue

2112 Shattuck Avenue

2114 Shattuck Avenue

2114 Shattuck Avenue

2116 Shattuck Avenue

2116 Shattuck Avenue

2117 Shattuck Avenue

2117 Shattuck Avenue

2118 Shattuck Avenue

2118 Shattuck Avenue

2119 Shattuck Avenue

2119 Shattuck Avenue

2150 Shattuck Avenue

2150 Shattuck Avenue

2170 Shattuck Avenue

2170 Shattuck Avenue

2177 Shattuck Avenue

2177 Shattuck Avenue

2202 Shattuck Avenue

2202 Shattuck Avenue

2204 Shattuck Avenue

2204 Shattuck Avenue

2204 Shattuck Avenue

2204 Shattuck Avenue

2208 Shattuck Avenue

2208 Shattuck Avenue

2230 Shattuck Avenue

2230 Shattuck Avenue

2231 Shattuck Avenue

2231 Shattuck Avenue

2233 Shattuck Avenue

2233 Shattuck Avenue

2261 Shattuck Avenue

2261 Shattuck Avenue

2270 Shattuck Avenue

2270 Shattuck Avenue

2271 University Avenue

2271 Shattuck Avenue

2272 Shattuck Avenue

2272 Shattuck Avenue

2281 Shattuck Avenue

2281 Shattuck Avenue

2283 Shattuck Avenue

2283 Shattuck Avenue

2327 Shattuck Avenue

2327 Shattuck Avenue

2323 Shattuck Avenue

2323 Shattuck Avenue

2295 Shattuck Avenue

2295 Shattuck Avenue

2330-2338 Shattuck Avenue

2330-2338 Shattuck Avenue

2349 Shattuck Avenue

2349 Shattuck Avenue

2350

2350 Shattuck Avenue

2364 Shattuck Avenue

2364 Shattuck Avenue

2370 Shattuck Avenue

2370 Shattuck Avenue

2375 Shattuck Avenue

2375 Shattuck Avenue

2395 Shattuck Avenue

2395 Shattuck Avenue

2399 Shattuck Avenue

2399 Shattuck Avenue

With Shattuck Avenue comes the bonus of Shattuck Place, the two-block island that was the product of an era in which steam trains traversed Shattuck.

trainScreen-shot-2012-08-09-at-10.19.00-AM-e1344532861137

In any event – the signs of Shattuck Place:

21 Shattuck Place

21 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

91

91 Shattuck Place

64D Shattuck Place

64D Shattuck Place

64 Shattuck Place

64 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

100 Shattuck Place

116 Shattuck Place

116 Shattuck Place

125 Shattuck Place

125 Shattuck Place

128 Shattuck Place

128 Shattuck Place

130 Shattuck Place

130 Shattuck Place

Quirky Berkeley in Berkeley, Calif. is seen on April 11th, 2017.

131 Shattuck Place

136 Shattuck Place

136 Shattuck Place

150A Shattuck Place

150A Shattuck Place

Shattuck is often overlooked when we think of Berkeley quirk.  There are, to be sure, those who appreciate Shattuck in all its glory. But, for most of us, it is not first string.

My friend haunts Shattuck at night.  He finds more life there than Telegraph, and has a whole set of friends that I don’t know, bouncers and the down and out and deadbeats and dealers and the Characters of Shattuck, not to mention a great appreciation for the Dollar Store.  I do love the image of my friend walking Shattuck, striding even, on the way somewhere at night.  He has a great eye for quirk, and was a little disappointed that I went with signs, not quirk.  “What about the Grateful Dead bears not he sidewalk?”  Another day.

After he leafed through these photos, he played a game that we play often.  “Best  sign?”

Well, I am taken by the Western Dental sign.  My friend correctly pointed out that it is a chain,and that I had not included other chains in my photos.  Point taken.  It is one of many Western Dental offices, but, as far as I can tell, the only one with a rocking sign.

He was taken by the Paul’s Shoe sign.   It has the added plus of being one of several Paul’s Shoes that exist in the world.  He disappeared back into his room and in 20 minutes came back with these photos:

glen ellyn il

Glen Ellyn IL

Glendale

Glendale CA

Great Falls VA

Great Falls VA

Lisle IL

Lisle IL

Little Rock

Little Rock

SF

San Francisco

Westbrook Maine

Westbrook ME

Good work!

Faced with two strong choices, what should we do?  If you had only one bullet, who would you shoot – Stalin or Hitler?

The obvious:  Kenny G.  So here – go to a third choice.  We compromise, abandoning our original choices, and agree that Friendly Market (under new management) is the best sign.  Not for artistic effort, but for name and sentiment.

OK – that’s done. What about the post?

Original

 

P.S.  And, yes, we do know that there was ANOTHER Friendly Market in Berkeley, at 1600 Ward Street.

Screen Shot 2017-04-29 at 7.03.25 AM

1600 Ward Street. Photo: Google Maps

It is one of the many corner bodegas that are gone.  It looks like it was in fact very friendly.

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4 Responses to The Signs of Shattuck

  1. Jim Milstead says:
    April 29, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Tom, you neglected to include one of the most iconic and unintentionally humorous signs at 2429 Shattuck Ave. for “King Dong” Chinese restaurant which has been there for over 20 years.

    Reply
    • tomdalzell says:
      April 30, 2017 at 1:49 pm

      It IS a great name and sign. I didn’t get that far south yet. I will. And King Dong will see these pages.

      Reply
  2. Piero Martinucci says:
    May 2, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    Best sign ever: Central Launderette, 2462 Shattuck.

    Reply
    • tomdalzell says:
      May 3, 2017 at 3:05 am

      I love that sign – just didn’t get that far south on Shattuck. I will and that sign is probably best in show for that stretch. Good eye!

      Reply

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