Easterseals of Southern California has purchased the closed Golden Spur restaurant in Glendora, California, and pledged to repurpose its vintage neon sign.
As reported in October, the Golden Spur at 1223 E. Route 66 in Glendora closed after 100 years there, leaving the fate of the restaurant’s neon sign in doubt.
According to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Easterseals bought the property for $2.16 million and will convert it into a day facility for developmentally disabled or special-needs adults.
The restaurant building hasn’t retained any historical character because of numerous updates over the decades. But the neon sign is another story. But city planner Mark Carnahan and Kathleen Kolenda, Easterseals’ vice president of adult day services, report good news about that.
A condition of approval for the new use was that the sign be either saved or donated, Carnahan said. Easterseals was fine with that.
“We’re going to retain the sign. We want to incorporate it into our sign,” Kolenda said. “We think it’s an icon and it’s a great landmark for us too.”
The panel proclaiming “Sundays brunch buffet” has been removed. “Restaurant” and “cocktails” will also go. A sign specialist will help Easterseals figure out how to best use the rest — including the boot, of course.
The new version might read “Easterseals at the Golden Spur.”
“It’s very nostalgic, and Easterseals turns 100 in 2019,” Kolenda said of the sign. “It’s all coming together.”
Legends of America reported this about the history of the Golden Spur before it closed:
Though its “new” stucco exterior belies its long history, the Golden Spur began as a ride-up hamburger stand for the equestrian crowd. Today, the old restaurant offers a full menu of steak and seafood, but its vintage neon sign, complete with a cowboy boot, remains as a reminder of its colorful past.
(Daytime image of the Golden Spur sign by Don Barrett, via Flickr)
It’s noble of the EasterSeals Foundation to save the Golden Spur sign. But, IMO, it should be preserved/restored as original rather than being ‘re-purposed.’
I agree, the sign is not really preserved if it is repurposed to keep only a portion.
my great grandpa designed that sign….. I hope they don’t ruin it.