Surf Cleaners sign saved

Encinitas firefighter Bob Voorhees, a downtown Encinitas resident for many decades, recently took it upon himself to track down and save a piece of old Highway 101 architecture.

Last month, Voorhees and several other residents noticed the Surf Cleaners building at 760 South Coast Highway being updated. Hanging out for decades over the two-story, 1950s-era building was the business’ large sign. At one time it was illuminated by neon lights.

Although several residents made inquiries to the cleaner's employees, no information was given on what would happen to the sign other than it would probably stay up. One day, as construction neared completion, the sign was down — gone.

A week later, Voorhees contacted one of the building’s owners, Mike Shaw, grandson of the original owner of Surf Cleaners, Sid Shaw. Shaw referred him to the new façade’s contractor.

The contractor said he had saved it at his Vista construction yard for a while, but it should have been taken to the dump. It was scheduled to go to the dump the next day. Voorhees immediately drove over and picked up the 600-pound sign, not knowing what he was going to do with it but wanting to save it for Encinitas.

Some have accused city planners of encouraging the removal of non-conforming signage when businesses apply for a remodel. City councilman Tony Kranz said he knows of no such efforts within the city.

“Under the current code, if an old sign is removed, it can’t be put back up,” said Kranz. “When the issue came up, I offered to help Surf Cleaners with the city’s red tape, so the sign could be restored and saved. Evidently, the owners weighed their cost options and chose not to do that,” said Kranz.

Voorhees said Shaw asked a friend of his what she thought of the new façade.

“She was frank. She told him she hated it because they took down the old sign,” said Voorhees.

The sign now sits on its side at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. Unfortunately, missing is the big white arrow that was on the side of the sign, which hung over the business’ sidewalk, pointing downward, directly at the cleaner’s front door. No one knows what happened to that piece.

Barbara Grice, executive director of the museum, said they are happy to have the piece saved and are now looking at options. “It may be cheaper to create an exact replica than repair the original,” said Grice. On the museum’s property, a project to create a replica of older Encinitas' main street is underway.

Encinitas 101 Main Street Association’s Thora Guthrie says their organization tries to work with building owners and the city to help preserve the corridor, as new restaurants, high-end boutiques, a Whole Foods, and office buildings have begun to change the look of the beach town’s business district. Of Voorhees, Guthrie said, “He’s our hero.”