While nothing ever beats Marina stores in my heart, these early-50s builds had a pretty neat look too, with their curved metal fascias and patterned concrete walls. The design seems to have a bit of an Asian flair to it, or maybe I'm just over-analyzing things. The sharp pointy bollards out front are much less appealing, looking like some sort of fortification from centuries past!
Huh, I wouldn't have guessed that this store was from the 1950s. It looks more like a 1970s Houston Safeway Super Store to me, albeit smaller! The roof has a bit of a mansard design to it almost like a classic Wendy's or something. We have one Wendy's in Houston with a fairly untouched classic exterior and old signage. I pass by this Wendy's when going to/from work. Unfortunately, this Wendy's probably does need an updating, especially the signage, since Wendy is starting to look quite macabre on that disintegrating old sign! You'll have to zoom in to really see it! Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E3bc7XuvbZnkMWbS9
ReplyDeleteAside from that, I can see how this might have been inspired by Asian design. It is pretty neat. I wonder if this store had some kind of extensive exterior remodel somewhere along the way since it doesn't really look like it is from the early 1950s!
I do have some Safeway decor news to report here in Houston. One of our Randalbertsons, the Katy Blue & Grey Market one, has recently received a Colorful Lifestyle v2 remodel. Well, mostly Colorful Lifestyle v2. It looks like a little bit of Modern got mixed into Lifestyle with the signage above the doors! There are only two new photos to judge things by, but it looks like Colorful Lifestyle v2 (with a touch of Modern) looks pretty good in an old Blue & Grey Market Albertsons. It helps that Randall's updated the flooring with actual flooring cover as they usually do in Houston at least. Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UVW5Tuxzn1mf18YZ8
I can't say for sure, but it's entirely possible that this store had an expansion and exterior remodel at some point. It definitely doesn't feel as outdated as other 50s stores I've visited! I know there were a handful of other Seattle-area Safeways with similar facades, but I believe this is the only one that still exists and I'm not sure when those stores were built.
DeleteThat's quite interesting -- I wonder how those Modern signs (just painted white instead of black) ended up there!