Safety Brakes (Gone)
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's an old sign along the boulevard in Salt Lake City. The sign for Safety Brakes features a large star mounted next to the lettering, making it stand out among the businesses that once lined this busy stretch of town.

Safety Brakes was established in 1925 and spent decades serving Salt Lake City motorists. The company specialized in brake work, wheel alignments, front-end service, and state vehicle inspections. Over the years the business expanded to multiple locations and became a familiar name for generations of local drivers. The large roadside sign served as a reminder that long before national chains dominated the industry, many communities relied on locally owned specialty shops like this one. 10-06

UPDATE: Safety Brakes is no longer in business and the original shop has been removed or extensively redeveloped. The vintage roadside sign pictured here has also been removed and is no longer standing. Whether the sign or its distinctive star were preserved is unknown. 06-26

Joan
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

At first glance, this sign looks like it simply says "Joan." A closer look reveals it actually belongs to the Jo-An Apartments, a mid-century apartment building in Salt Lake City. The vertical sign hangs from the corner of the building and is the type of neighborhood landmark that residents probably used as a point of reference for years.

The Jo-An Apartments were built in 1951 and remain a good example of the postwar apartment construction that helped shape many Salt Lake City neighborhoods. The building's vertical neon sign gives the property plenty of personality and stands out among the more modern apartment complexes that have appeared over the years. 10-06

UPDATE: The Jo-An Apartments remain standing today, and the vintage vertical sign continues to hang from the building. While reports vary on whether the neon is still illuminated, the sign itself survives as a nice piece of Salt Lake City's mid-century streetscape. 06-26

Meyers Shoe Repair
Pocatello, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's an old shoe repair shop located in Pocatello, ID. Meyers Shoe Repair is a reminder of an era when fixing a worn pair of shoes was often preferred over replacing them. The vintage projecting sign hanging above the sidewalk helped customers find one of Pocatello's longtime neighborhood businesses.

The Meyers family entered the shoe repair trade in Pocatello in 1956 and operated the shop for decades. Along the way, the business became known for keeping everything from everyday shoes to specialty footwear in service. In 2014, the shop's classic neon sign underwent a complete restoration, helping ensure that this piece of downtown Pocatello history would continue hanging over the street for years to come. 10-06

UPDATE: The building that housed Meyers Shoe Repair still stands today, and the restored vintage sign remains in place. The business later operated as Mountain Shoe Lifts before eventually transitioning under new ownership. While the future use of the building may change, this classic downtown sign continues to survive as a reminder of a trade that was once found in nearly every American city. 06-26

Ashton Henderson (Gone)
Pocatello, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Ashton Henderson Photographer is prominently featured on this rooftop sign atop a rather modern-looking building in Pocatello, ID. Long before everyone carried a camera in their pocket, photography studios like Ashton Hendersonplayed an important role in documenting weddings, graduations, family milestones, and everyday life in communities across America.

The studio operated in Pocatello for decades and became associated with the Henderson family, who built a reputation for portrait and commercial photography throughout southeastern Idaho. The building's rooftop sign made the business easy to spot and gave the property a distinctive appearance among the surrounding downtown buildings. 10-06

UPDATE: The photography studio closed following the retirement of its longtime operators, and the building has since been repurposed for other uses sometime before 2012. Unfortunately, the rooftop sign has been removed and is no longer standing. While the building remains, one of Pocatello's more recognizable photography-related signs has disappeared from the skyline. 06-26

Harrison's Jewelers
Pocatello, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Pocatello is also home to Harrison's Jewelers and its large marquee on the side of the building. The sign is a nice reminder of the days when downtown businesses advertised themselves with large signs that could be spotted from well down the block.

The store traced its roots back to 1898 when an English watchmaker established the business in the growing railroad town. Over the years, Harrison's Jewelers remained in the same family for four generations before closing in 2004 after more than a century in business. 10-06

UPDATE: Although Harrison's Jewelers is no longer in business, the downtown building remains standing. Better yet, the large Harrison's marquee still hangs on the side of the building, continuing to serve as a reminder of one of Pocatello's oldest family-owned businesses. 06-26

Brigham Arch
Brigham City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Brigham City is home to a welcome arch. Check out the Brigham Arch as it spans this big street. Community welcome arches were once popular throughout the West, but relatively few remain standing today.

The arch was originally installed in 1928 and has welcomed visitors to downtown Brigham City for nearly a century. The sign's famous slogan references the nearby Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, one of the region's best-known natural attractions. Raised high above Main Street, the arch has become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and a favorite subject for photographers passing through town. 10-06

UPDATE: The Brigham Arch still stands over downtown Brigham City today and remains one of Utah's oldest surviving welcome arches. In 2024, the structure underwent a major restoration that included replacing the original neon lighting with LEDs. 06-26