Starting in the South End, we find this great wall-sized ad on Pacific St.
This laundromat on Shippan Avenue has a nice, big Coca-Cola sign on the side.
A few weeks later, the "laundromat" sign broke, revealing that this used to be Vic's Cycles. Was Vic's a motorcycle shop?
I'm sad that Chinese Mirch is gone, but the demolition of its building on Atlantic Street revealed this classic sign for a long-gone antiques store.
Continuing the demolition theme, I'll never again get to enjoy Plateau's lacy Malaysian crepes, but the site of its former home revealed another subtle ghost sign.
Any clues on where that arrow used to lead?
Up above the Plateau site on the side of the Montana for Men building, you'll find this large, faded ad. If you squint, it looks like it says "(something) stores and hamsters." That can't be right.
On the other (west) side of the building, all the way at the top, you'll find another sign that's impossible to make out.
This sign is at street level on the same wall. It might be the same logo or name, but it's been painted over, too. COM-something?
On the other side of the BarBQ/McFadden's building, all the way at the top, you can just make out a sign with "Martin" in script below "ANK." Any guesses?
On Main Street near Bobby V's, you'll find this awesome sign inside the front door of an apartment building. It's doubly awesome that the building owner kept this sign intact. I'd love to find out what restaurant was advertising its blue plate dinner.
I found this barely legible sign on Summer Street in the alley next to
Barcelona. Any clues as to what it said? It looks like a jumble of
letters painted over each other. I want to believe that it said "The
A-Team Parking Only."
I don't think this sign on Washington Boulevard is that old since Seasons Too is still around, but it still counts!
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, some old signs saw the light of day for the first time in probably decades. Here are a few on West Broad Street near Matthew's Bakery.
Sandy also uncovered this "Veterans" sign on Cove Road, across from Pat's Hubba Hubba. Was this a VFW hall back in the day?
While they aren't ghost ads, these old signs on the First County Bank building next to the Stamford Town Center are cool.
Over in Glenbrook, some old train or trolley tracks have poked their way out from under Taylor Reed Place.
I saw this old-school classic in the Wall Street section of Norwalk. It looks like it had lights on it at some point. I'm sure the American Pickers guys would try to buy it. The best part is that Norwalk Luggage is still around! As a side note, I'm fascinated by the Wall Street area in Norwalk. I'll write a dedicated post about it soon.
Port Chester has a few ghost ads as well. Here's one that says "RANGES HEATERS".
Here's another one for a product that undoes something. Maybe it was some kind of correction fluid or adhesive remover.
I saw this massive building from the train many times before I finally walked around all sides of it and figured out what it was. It used to be the Embassy Theater, a classic vaudeville and movie theater - heck, a movie palace.
Here's a link to some photos of the once-magnificent interior of this historic theater: After the Final Curtain: Embassy Theatre. I hope the Embassy gets the restoration it deserves, much like its neighbor The Capitol Theatre did.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this round of ghost ads and other urban artifacts. If you see anything else that looks old and cool, drop me a line and I'll check it out!
