With the news arriving this week that Western Appliance — a retailer founded in 1873 — would be closing the doors of its San Jose store, one question frequently popped up on social media posts: What happens to its towering neon sign, which has been an icon on West San Carlos Street since 1962?
The immediate answer is nothing anytime soon. Western Appliance is liquidating its stock, and the store won’t close until that’s gone. No plans have been announced to sell the property, but given its prime location near the intersection of Bascom Avenue, not far from the 280-880 interchange, Valley Fair and Santana Row, you can count on it. But even then, the development process could take years before the sign is in any danger of demolition.
And let’s hope it never comes down to that. It’s an oft-sung refrain in this corner, but San Jose and the surrounding area have too few interesting structures and signs to just let those pieces of roadside history get blown away.
The sign was installed in 1962, and according to the San Jose Signs Project guidebook, Western Appliance found a unique way to skirt a prohibition on rooftop signs that then existed on San Jose’s books. Most people passing by the store may think it’s a free-standing sign or attached to the roof, but the supporting columns actually go through the building’s roof and are still visible on the showroom floor.
There also were originally blinking orbs atop the space-age sign’s three spires. Two of the light canisters were shaken loose by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, prompting the store to remove the third, which was hanging by a wire.
In case you were wondering, the sign isn’t one of San Jose’s 217 city landmarks. Juliet Arroyo, San Jose’s historic preservation officer, says the Western Appliance sign is one of a dozen that she’s hoping to add to the city’s Historic Resources Index, which contains about 4,000 structures deemed to be of some historical significance.
Ken Middlebrook, director of collections at History San Jose, thinks it’s possible for the sign to be repurposed, like the Futurama Bowl sign, a Googie masterpiece that now touts a Safeway shopping center on Stevens Creek Boulevard. It could also stay in place, be restored and incorporated into whatever comes next for the space, though it will be a little more imposing than the Stephen’s Meat “Dancing Pig” sign will be for Google’s planned project.
There’s also a possibility of moving it, but that would be costly and difficult with a sign that large — it’s easily more than 50 feet high — and where would it go? There’s been talk of creating a historic neon park as part of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds revitalization, but would that be ready in time to move it?
“Perhaps its potential loss may generate actual community action toward a solution on these neon landmarks,” Middlebrook says. That would be the best outcome of all.
HOMECOMING CHEERS: Even though Joe Pavelski‘s return to San Jose on Saturday night was with the Dallas Stars, there are still a lot of warm feeling’s for the former Sharks captain. At Joseph George Fine Wines on Meridian Avenue, owner Bert George had a banner made for the store’s window that read, “Thank You Captain America, Joe Pavelski #8, Willow Glen and San Jose Love You.”
TIMELY TALK: The often outspoken and always interesting author and activist Dr. Cornel West will discuss democracy, race and justice at Foothill College on Jan. 17. West, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard, will no doubt have a lot to say about current affairs. Tickets to the 6:30 p.m. conversation at the Smithwick Theatre are $35-$75, with the higher end including admission to a private reception and photo opportunity, and are available at foothill.edu/speakers.
SUPER CONDUCTOR: Emily Ray, founding music director and conductor of the Mission Chamber Orchestra in San Jose, will give a presentation about her musical journey Jan. 18 hosted by We and Our Neighbors at the group’s Union Avenue club house. If you want to attend the 10:30 a.m. talk, RSVP to Joya DeRossett via email joyade88@aol.com.
And if you’d like to catch Ray in her natural element, she’ll be back with baton in hand Feb. 15 for “Pathways of Love,” the Mission Chamber Orchestra Valentine’s Day weekend program. The program of romantic classical music features soprano Dolores Ferraro and is being held at a new venue, San Jose’s First United Methodist Church on North Fifth Street. Go to www.missionchamber.org for details.