Cut Rate Liquors
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp

Check out the neon and old-time bulbs on Cut Rate Liquors in Denver, Colorado. The combination gives this sign a little theater-marquee appeal, turning a straightforward advertisement into something worth stopping to admire. Even the simple promise of cut-rate prices gets a more colorful delivery here. 09-10

The exposed bulbs add another layer to the neon lettering, giving the sign plenty of detail to study. It's easy to picture how the two kinds of lighting would work together after dark, helping the storefront catch attention along the street.

UPDATE: The current status of this particular storefront and sign remains unconfirmed. Denver has had several similarly named liquor businesses, making it difficult to connect newer listings with the sign pictured here. 06-26

Goose's Liquor
Worland, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's an eye-catching sign at Goose's Liquor in Worland, Wyoming. The huge red starburst on top is hard to miss, giving this neighborhood liquor store and bar a little Space Age flair. It's the kind of roadside feature that makes you turn your head while passing through town. 09-06

Then there's the little animal below it. At first glance, those long ears might suggest a bunny, but the figure appears to be a cartoon kangaroo carrying a bottle in its pouch. Between the kangaroo and the oversized starburst, this sign certainly has its own personality.

UPDATE: Goose's continues to appear in local business and beer-retailer listings. Good to see this familiar Worland stop carrying on. The unusual marquee remains the highlight of this view, with plenty to catch the eye before you even reach the door. 06-26

Liquor Store
Gunnison, CO
Photo courtesy Chris Krok

Check out this slender Liquor Store sign in Gunnison, Colorado. The sweeping arrow points the way to the merchandise, making good use of a narrow sign panel. It may not be the biggest marquee along the road, but that swooping outline gives it plenty of character. 09-06

The arrow does most of the work here, drawing the eye down toward the business. It's a simple roadside message delivered with a little flair, back when an interesting shape could help a small storefront stand out to passing motorists.

UPDATE: The sign has been reported removed, although its removal date and the identity of the original business remain uncertain. For now, this photograph preserves a distinctive little piece of Gunnison's roadside scenery. 06-26

Junction Creek Liquors (Closed)
Durango, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's Junction Creek Liquors in Durango, Colorado. Check out the picturesque marquee perched on the roof, giving the otherwise straightforward storefront a little extra personality. This former Main Avenue business stood in front of Durango High School. 09-06

The store also figures in a tragic chapter of local history. In 1986, part-time clerk Dennis Sleater, a 24-year-old Fort Lewis College student, was killed during an apparent robbery. A thirty-year retrospective reported that his murder remained unsolved, leaving a painful story behind this familiar neighborhood storefront.

UPDATE: Junction Creek Liquors has long since closed, and the rooftop marquee has been reported removed. The building's reported demolition remains unconfirmed, but this view preserves the store and its unusual sign from their days along Main Avenue. 06-26

Quality Liquors (Gone)
Longmont, CO
Photo courtesy Robin McCracken

Check out the tall sign for Quality Liquors in Longmont, Colorado. The large yellow arrow points down toward the store, leaving passing motorists little doubt about where to turn. Along with the nearby Lamplighter Motel, it gives this stretch of Main Street a welcome touch of old roadside character. 02-10

The store's signs have been estimated to date from the 1950s or 1960s. That puts their design in the heyday of colorful roadside advertising, when arrows, neon, and tall poles helped businesses compete for attention from the road. This one certainly understood the assignment.

UPDATE: Quality Liquor remains listed as an operating Main Street business. The latest condition of the vintage yellow arrow has not been confirmed, so the store's survival and the sign's status remain separate questions. Hopefully this familiar roadside pointer gets to keep doing its job. 06-26

John's Liquors
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp

John's Liquors adds another vintage sign to Denver's East Colfax Avenue. Among the corridor's motels, theaters, diners, and neighborhood businesses, this marquee fits right into the old commercial scenery. Colfax is one of those streets where looking up can be just as rewarding as watching the storefronts. 09-10

The sign has attracted attention beyond the neighborhood, earning a place in a 2015 roundup of notable commercial signs along central Colfax. Its appeal is easy to understand: an everyday business with a marquee that gives it a recognizable roadside identity.

UPDATE: John's remains active on East Colfax and appears among businesses participating in the local Fax Pass program. Good to see this longtime stop continuing to be part of the avenue's neighborhood business scene. 06-26