Rare, Decades-Old ‘Ghost Signs’ Revealed On Lakeview Building Facing Demolition
The siding on 3609 N. Ravenswood Ave. was removed recently, revealing decades-old ghost signs, as seen on July 18, 2022. Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
From Block Club Chicago: LAKEVIEW — Colorful, decades-old ads that were hidden away for years have been found during renovations to a building in Lakeview.
The siding on 3609 N. Ravenswood Ave., a wooden two-flat dating back to the 1890s, was taken down recently. The change revealed well-preserved walls of advertisements that might date back to the ’50s.
The northern wall of the building features an ad for Shell oil. The logos used date back to 1948-1955. There are also banners for Ward’s Soft Bun Bread — which later became known as Wonder Bread — and for car services.
Denver Diner sign preserved at Colfax Avenue Museum
Rusch Signs & Graphics
From CBS Colorado: The Denver Diner sign will live on at the Colfax Avenue Museum. Chase, which purchased the site of the former iconic Denver restaurant, donated the sign to the museum for preservation.
The signage was removed by Rusch Signs & Graphics, Inc., on June 21 and delivered to the Colfax Avenue Museum’s possession the next day.
Fire strikes Falmouth diner, but owner wants to reopen soon
Betsy’s Diner in Falmouth had damage to the roof after an early morning fire Tuesday. Sarah Carlon, Cape Cod Times
From the Cape Code Times: FALMOUTH — At roughly 5 a.m. Tuesday, Lisa Keuchkarian, owner of Betsy’s Diner in Falmouth, received a phone call from the Falmouth Fire Department telling her that the eatery was engulfed in flames.
“Their response was very quick,” Keuchkarian said.
Captain Bruce Girouard of the Falmouth Fire Department said a call came in at 4:56 a.m., informing them that the diner was on fire.
“The rubber membrane of the roof on top of Betsy’s Diner was what was actually on fire,” he said. “It looked a lot more impressive than it actually was.”
New owner vows to preserve period appeal of Bedford County’s Lincoln Motor Court
Cottages are photographed at the Lincoln Motor Court along the Lincoln Highway in Napier Township, Bedford County on May 4. Built around 1940, it is the last cottage-style motel on the Lincoln Highway. Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
From the Tribune Review: A Bedford County native is the new proprietor and steward of a historic landmark along the Lincoln Highway.
Lucas Steinbrunner, 41, said the Lincoln Motor Court, which has been in business along Route 30 in Napier Township since 1940, is a perfect fit for him.
“I’ve always liked older things,” he said. “I drive an old car, and I grew up with a grandfather who would take me to antique shops.”
Long Island landmark Hildebrandt’s sold to new owners, saved from closure
From News 12 Long Island: Hildebrandt’s in Williston Park has been a Long Island community staple for nearly a century and has now been saved from closure by its new owners.
After the luncheonette faced the prospect of closing, new owners Randy Sarf and Spencer Singer, picked up the torch and kept Hildebrandt’s open.
The iconic ice cream shop opened its doors in 1927. Since then, multiple generations of Long Island residents have sat at its counters and enjoyed some of the homemade ice cream.
Former Los Angeles Macy’s store converted to mixed-use commercial space
Courtesy Fotoworks/Benny Chan
From Building Design + Construction: Work to convert the former Westside Pavilion Macy’s department store in West Los Angeles to a mixed-use commercial campus recently completed. The development repurposes about 240,000 sf of shuttered retail space into an open, creative office campus with new commercial leasing opportunities.
“Adaptive reuse of the former Westside Pavilion Macy’s preserves an urban fabric that a generation of Angelenos associate with the memories of time spent with family and friends at the mall,” said Sejal Sonani, principal and managing director at HLW, which provided architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture services. “West End is also an impressive case study on repurposing underperforming and abandoned malls throughout the country.”
Located next to the former Westside Pavilion that was transformed into a 584,000 sf Google office campus, the development bolsters a new transit-oriented job center near the Westwood/Rancho Park Expo light rail station. The project included seismic upgrades, a glass curtain wall system, extensive landscaped courtyard areas, and a new 1,000-car parking structure.
Iconic Haines Shoe House in York County being sold, turned into an Airbnb
The Haines Shoe House was in need of preservation in 1986. York Daily Record Staff
From the York Daily Record: If you’ve wanted to spend the night in the Haines Shoe House, you may soon get your chance.
The iconic house visible from Route 30 east of York is being sold and turned into an Air BnB, according to a Facebook post made by current owner Jeff Schmuck.
“A change is coming! The Shoe House is under contract with new owners taking possession late July,” Schmuck wrote in the post. “The new owners are a local family that plan to turn The Shoe into an Air BnB, while maintaining the museum feel and artifacts, so it will be shared with the public.”