Blog Archives
S&Q alley
I like alleys.
S&Q Clothiers has been gone for decades. After the store closed, the local community theater used the building for productions; the column located in the middle of the stage provided a challenge for directors. And there’s just not that many good ways to incorporate columns into stage productions.
The sign in the window that says, “Lala’s Two coming soon” has been there so long, we’ve lost hope that it will ever happen. Especially since Lala’s original location, just across the alley, closed down.
But meanwhile, in the alley, it made my day to spot this original S&Q sign above the doorway. And that’s why I like alleys.
Lubbock, Texas
With many toppings
This potato restaurant has been out of business for at least fifteen years, which gives you some indication of how fast vacant properties move in downtown Lubbock. I can remember eating here; it was so long ago that I was still wearing suits (with shoulder pads!) to work.
Odd that it couldn’t make a go of it, since they offered many toppings…and more.
along Broadway
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 1.6.2013
Wingate, round 2
The second in a very short series* of shots from Wingate, another one of the little towns that gets smaller very day.
It’s not like it was ever that big, I guess; the population seems to have peaked at 250 in the 1940s. At that time, the town had a school, a bank, and a post office. In 1991, the school district was absorbed by another town. The population dropped to 132 in 2000, and it wasn’t even listed in the 2010 count.
Wingate, Texas
*Two
photographed 5.3.2009
Dirty windows
Just like this place, I have the idea this vacant building won’t be around too much longer. It used to be the location of a very interesting furniture store, but it’s in sort of an awkward location – across the lake from downtown, too far up Congress from the hip SoCo neighborhood. I hope that the stonework survives whatever comes next. And that someone washes the windows.
South Congress Avenue, near Barton Springs Road
Austin, Texas
photographed 12.23.2012
Please don’t block gate(s)
Third in a series of signs telling us what not to do – this time we are not supposed to block the gate. Or gates. Take your pick, I guess, of the two messages.
The place looked like it had been abandoned for a while, so I am not sure why it matters if the gate(s) is/are blocked or not. But still – it’s probably for the best if you heed the warning.
McNeil Road, near Burnet Road
Austin, Texas
photographed 12.22.2012
