Hotel Regis
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

More old hotel lettering turns up on the side of the Hotel Regis in Sacramento. The painted name kept making its pitch long after the last guest checked out, leaving a reminder of downtown's earlier lodging days.

Built in 1911–1912, the five-story hotel opened with 60 rooms near the State Capitol. An old Kilpatrick's Bread advertisement also shares the building, promising “You'll Never Buy Better Bread.” A room and a loaf, both advertised on brick.

UPDATE: Hotel operations ended in December 1983, and conversion of the upper floors into offices began the following year. The building survives with commercial spaces and remnants of its painted signs. 09-26

Steam Heat
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

“Steam heat, hot & cold water, telephone and elevator” reads this old wall advertisement at Sacramento's Hotel Regis. A throwback to when those conveniences were worth spelling out in large painted letters. After a long trip, hot water and a ride upstairs probably sounded pretty good.

Built in 1911–1912, the five-story hotel used its brick wall to let travelers know what awaited inside. The faded list recalls an earlier standard of hotel comfort, when an elevator could help sell a room as readily as the price.

UPDATE: The Regis stopped operating as a hotel in December 1983, and its upper floors were later converted into offices. The painted amenities remain as reminders of its lodging days. 09-26

New York Hotel
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Looking for a room at a reasonable price? The old New York Hotel in Stockton advertised $2.50 to $4.00 per week, with meals for 35 cents. Those painted rates might still catch the eye, though getting them honored would probably take a trip back in time.

Built around 1910 near the railroad corridors, the hotel offered lodging for travelers and working people passing through Stockton. A restaurant and bar occupied the ground floor, with rooms above. A meal downstairs and a bed upstairs made a handy stop after a long day.

UPDATE: The former hotel has been converted into the New York Apartments. Its painted wall advertisement survives, keeping those weekly room rates and 35-cent meals in view. 09-26

Kendall's
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Before Office Depot and Staples, there was Kendall's in downtown Stockton. The painted lettering advertises gifts, safes, stationery, and office equipment, covering quite a shopping list on one wall. Pick up some writing paper and perhaps a safe to keep it in.

Kendall's took over the former Horan Furniture building on Weber Avenue by 1945. The store supplied everything from bookkeeping materials to party favors, giving local businesses and everyday shoppers plenty of reasons to stop in. The old lettering recalls when office shopping meant a trip downtown.

UPDATE: The San Joaquin County Office of Education purchased the building in 2019 and renovated it for educational and technology programs, including Code Stack Academy. The historic Kendall's wall signage remains, keeping the store's name in view. 09-26

Kress
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Need more stationery? The old S.H. Kress & Co. in downtown Stockton once offered that and quite a bit more. This five-and-dime carried household goods, toys, and everyday odds and ends, with a storefront considerably dressier than the prices might suggest.

Built in 1930, the Art Deco building features decorative brickwork and terra cotta ornamentation. The Kress name remains part of the facade, recalling when a trip downtown could mean browsing the counters and finding something else to take home.

UPDATE: The Stockton store closed in 1992, and the building reopened as the Kress Legal Center after a restoration completed in 2005. Its distinctive facade and historic lettering were preserved, keeping a little of the five-and-dime days along Sutter Street. 09-26

Famous Foods
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Buffet and drinks, with Famous Foods thrown into the pitch. How could a hungry traveler pass up this old wall advertisement in Stockton? The faded lettering still offers a tempting suggestion, even if finding the dining room might take more than following the sign.

The wording has been associated with Hart's Lunch & Pastry, a regional restaurant business that promoted its meals as “Hart's Famous Foods.” Places like these catered to downtown workers and travelers looking for a convenient meal before getting on with the day.

UPDATE: Hart's is no longer operating. The exact location of this photographed advertisement has not been confirmed, but the image preserves its invitation to stop for something to eat. 09-26

Green's Furs
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Old lettering outside Green's Furs and Fashions recalls another of Sacramento's downtown specialty shops. The name offered a hint of what shoppers might find inside, back when a trip along K Street included a little window shopping for something dressy.

Historical photographs from July 1958 show the store at 1016 K Street, complete with its neon signage and merchandise displays. Coats and other finery once filled the windows, while the lettering in this photo preserves a bit of the shop's earlier appearance.

UPDATE: Green's former K Street storefront has been repurposed since its days as a fur shop. The old name recalls a time when independent clothing stores were part of the downtown shopping rounds. 09-26