This is the old sign that used to mark the main entrance to Park-N-Shop on Willow Pass Road in Concord.
It was removed several years ago and replaced, however, the big “C” on the top remained in the back of Park-N-Shop for several years. Its whereabouts is currently unknown.
This photo was sent to Claycord by an anonymous reader, however, we believe it originally came from the Concord Historical Society.
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24 comments
I miss this old Park-n-Shop sign, it should’ve been grandfathered-in and been allowed to remain a Concord landmark. A few decades ago the owners of the remaining tower turned it into a public art display. The round beams of the tower had panels added squaring them, a three-sided beam triangle was added to the top with a small spire at the very top, sections were painted in pastel rainbow colors, mirrors were added on the inside panels in certain locations, and a long neon tube went from the top of the tower and down the center of it that reflected off of the mirrors. This public art installation hasn’t been well maintained and the neon light hasn’t worked in at least a decade or more.
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THE CONCORD CITY COUNCIL SHOULD DEMAND THAT THE OWNERS OF THIS PUBLIC ART DISPLAY REPAIR IT AND PUT IT BACK IN WORKING ORDER, EVEN IF THAT MEANS UPDATING THE NEON LIGHT WITH MORE MODERN LED LIGHTING. COME ON CONCORD CITY COUNCIL, STOP FAILING!!!!! YOU’VE HAD DECADES TO MAKE SURE THIS PUBLIC ART DISPLAY BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, INSTEAD YOU’VE ALLOWED IT TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR, IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN CONCORD THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSTANTLY TOUTING. THE TIME HAS COME THAT YOU FINALLY TAKE ACTION, REQUIRE, AND DEMAND THE REPAIR OF THIS PUBLIC ART DISPLAY!!!
Yes, they could have put money in to restoring this iconic sign and True Landmark instead of the Spirit poles which was such a waste and any of the other ridiculous projects that were a waste of money.
BUB,
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The past and present incarnations of the Concord City Council had and have no desire to restore or replace the Park-n-Shop sign. It was the Concord City Council that imposed a height restriction on signage that resulted in the sign coming down in the first place. They could’ve grandfathered the sign, so that it could’ve stayed up, they chose not to do so.
I still miss it!
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL hasn’t a clue how to do anything but raise taxes. Everything they touch turns into crap. More permits, demand small business what to sell and at what price. Vote them all out.
Sounds like what Obama said about Biden.
Bring back the old sign !
And bring back a new and improved Spirit Poles ! And get rid of those stupit bike lanes.
Always wondered what that giant “C” in the back lot was about. Disappeared some years ago.
When I was a kid I referred to that as the “Eiffel Tower of Concord”…I miss it
I was always so happy to see this sign from the freeway when coming home from a long trip. Not every city has its own giant initial emblazoned on the night sky, but for a long time Concord did. To heck with wasting money on the art installation. Let’s better waste it on a replica of the old sign.
LOCAL LADY,
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First you’d have to get the Concord City Council to change the ordinance allowing a replica sign of the type and height of the original for this one location only. Good luck!!! They can’t fix and/or change much more simple things.
Quicker and easier to get rid of the City Council, I’m afraid.
LOCAL LADY,
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Unfortunately, it’s not as quick and easy to get rid of the Concord City Council as you might think.
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The defeat of Concord City Councilmember Tim McGallian in 2022, was the first time a Concord City Councilmember has been defeated since 1993, when Councilmembers Lloyd Mashore, Nancy Gore, and Byron Campbell were defeated.
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Yes, technically Councilmember Ron Leone was defeated in 2018, but that’s because we went to district elections. Councilmember Ron Leone had originally decided not to run for reelection in 2018 and to instead run for Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, but he was defeated in the primary, as a result of his primary defeat he chose to run for reelection in the newly formed Concord City Council District 1 election against Concord City Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister, which he lost. Had Councilmember Leone chosen to run for reelection to the Concord City Council instead of running for Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, then he would’ve just been gerrymandered into a safe district, as the other four Councilmembers were, and Dominic Aliano would never have been elected to Concord City Council District 3 seat.
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I do however wish you were correct.
I’ve always said this sign should never, ever have been taken down. It was an icon of the whole area. It needs to be reinstalled.
I’m a fan of nostalgic signs and such…
Milk Farm
Doggie Dinner
The Biggest Little City in the World….
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feel free to add your favorites…………………
🙂
I have happy memories of my dad driving us up to the Nut Tree and seeing the Milk Farm sign along the way. We stopped there once and I enjoyed the best milkshake I ever had. It was another era.
https://southcarolina1670.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/trying-to-recollect-memories-of-fabled-milk-farm-restaurant/
neat article
🙂
And I forgot…Bring Back the Stack !
Does anyone remember what year the old sign was taken down?
Loved the big “C” of concord, could see it from the freeway, disappointed when it was not replaced after remodel.
My grandaddy was an electrician and helped to make this sign.
Remember “midnight movies” at the Crapi?
we used to cut school and watch matinee for $.50.
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