Berlin's Clothing
Charleston, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

That big old marquee hanging over the sidewalk lets you know Berlin's Clothing has been around Charleston for a while. Since 1883, in fact. Located at King and Broad Streets, Berlin's is one of those downtown stores where the sign seems like it has always belonged. 12-07

Henry Berlinsky started the business after arriving in America with just $1.38 in his pocket. He began selling clothes from a cart before opening the store in 1883. More than a century later, the Berlin family was still behind the counter.

And that "Since 1883" has seen plenty. Berlin's survived the Charleston earthquake of 1886, Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and all the changes that came along King Street in between. Not many old storefront signs can brag about a date like that.

UPDATE: Berlin's remains open and family-owned at King and Broad Streets, more than 140 years after it first opened. The familiar marquee is still hanging over the sidewalk. 08-26

Crum Brothers Frigidaire (Gone)
Orangeburg, SC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's one old sign that certainly knew how to advertise Frigidaire. Crum Brothers was once an automobile and appliance dealer along Russell Street in Orangeburg, but it's that towering porcelain and neon sign that really steals the show. And yes, there's even an orange up there for Orangeburg. 01-08

Crum Brothers sold automobiles along with Frigidaire appliances, which explains the unusual combination advertised on the sign. When this photo was taken, the business itself may have been long gone, but the big old sign was still standing beside the former dealership.

A 2001 Washington Post road-trip story called it "the finest neon sign I've ever seen." That's quite a compliment for an old appliance dealer in Orangeburg, but looking at this thing, it's not hard to understand why.

UPDATE: The old Crum Brothers building is gone and the Frigidaire sign has since been removed from Russell Street. 08-26

Weeks' Department Store
St George, SC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Check out the old Star Brand Shoes sign on the side of Weeks' Department Store in St. George. With its big star, faded lettering and "WEEKS" painted across the bottom, this is the kind of old advertising that can make an otherwise ordinary downtown building worth another look. 01-08

Star Brand Shoes goes way back to the days when shoe companies painted their names across storefronts all over small-town America. The brand was associated with Roberts, Johnson & Rand of St. Louis and was being advertised by the turn of the century with the slogan "Star Brand Shoes Are Better."

Weeks' is still an old-fashioned clothing and shoe store, selling everything from work boots and dress shoes to suits and bow ties. There's even another vintage shoe sign on the building advertising Dekas shoes for men.

Nice to see a place where the old signs haven't disappeared.

UPDATE: Weeks' Department Store remains open and the old Star Brand Shoes sign is still there. 08-26

James Furniture (Gone)
Newport, TN
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's another old appliance sign hanging on in downtown Newport. James Furniture & Appliance Co. sold furniture and GE appliances along East Broadway, and that big General Electric sign gave the storefront plenty of old-time character. 01-08

The business opened in 1948 and stayed around for more than 60 years, selling refrigerators, ranges and other household appliances along with furniture. By the time this photo was taken, the old GE dealer sign was still hanging out front, looking like it had been there through more than a few appliance upgrades.

James Furniture finally closed in 2010 after 62 years in business.

UPDATE: The store is gone, and the old GE Appliances sign has been removed from the building. 08-26

Norge Home Appliances (Gone)
Hamlet, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's one of those old appliance signs that somehow managed to outlast the appliance store. Norge Home Appliances once advertised a dealer in Hamlet, North Carolina, and that big weathered neon sign was still hanging above the storefront decades later. 01-08

By this time the building had become Richmond Upholstery, but nobody had bothered to take down the old Norge sign. That's just fine with us. The faded paint, rust and remains of the neon gave it considerably more character than whatever new sign might have replaced it.

Norge was once a familiar name in home appliances, selling refrigerators, washing machines, heaters and other household necessities during the postwar years. The company became part of Borg-Warner and remained a recognizable appliance brand until it was acquired by Magic Chef in 1979.

UPDATE: The Norge sign was still standing in 2009, but had been removed by 2013. 08-26