Category: Signs of the Times

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Back in 2016, a Vine (remember those?) by “Gasoleen” immortalized the “FR E SH A VOCA DO” sign at a Torrance Del Taco as “Free sha-VA-ca-doo.” I hadn’t seen the video, but I had watched the sign’s letters drift apart over a few months. They even updated the logo without fixing the spacing…until they changed it to say “FREE SHAVOCADO” ASK INSIDE for the summer. That’s when I took a photo of it myself, and discovered that the Free Shavocado tag already existed on Tumblr.

I guess someone’s nostalgic for the meme, because today, roughly 10 years later, the sign once again says “FRE SH A VOCA DO.”

A square red DEL TACO sign stands on a post above two narrower signs, one with movable lettering and the other indicating that the 'DRIVE THRU' is open late. The custom sign between them reads 'FRE SH A VOCA DO'. Behind the sign it's a mottled sky, some white, some blue. A skinny tree tied to two support poles, with mostly empty branches (but a few leaves finally starting to bud), stands next to it. Cars can be seen on the road behind the signpost, and some low buildings across the way.

The other side of the sign. It's seen from a bit further away, so I used digital zoom and the image is a bit blurrier. The DEL TACO and drive-through (sorry, drive thru) signs look the same. At first it looks like the tree is missing, but it's just mostly hidden behind the signs. From this side the sky is a dull gray, and the sign reads 'FRE SH A GUACA MOLE' instead.

They put it on the opposite side this time. On the side visible in both the meme and my own older photo, they’ve put a new variation: “FRE SH A GUACA MOLE.”

Looking back at the original post, I realize I should’ve crossed the street to match the original angle (and get a clearer shot) on this one. At least I got a clear photo of the returning classic!

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A squareish hand-painted metal sign with the words 'Coffee,' 'Espresso' and 'Wifi' stacked vertically. The letters and border are black on a bright yellow background. The sign hangs from an ornamented wrought-iron-style stand above a planter and is viewed diagonally from above. Between 'Coffee' and 'Espresso' there's a drawing of a cup and saucer with steam rising from it.

When I took this photo back in 2016, it was a combination coffee/Chinese food restaurant: they sold coffee in the mornings and Chinese food for lunch and dinner. The owner had previously run a separate coffee shop (The Bean Counter, IIRC) in the same shopping center, then combined the two businesses to save on rent. It was one of our go-to Chinese takeout sources, and I’d sometimes grab coffee in the mornings if I was in the area or on my way somewhere in that direction.

The old coffee location sat vacant for a few years until a bakery (with coffee on the side) moved in. Amusingly, the bakery — which is still there today — also chose a pun-based name: Redondough (as in Redondo Beach).

In early 2020 — and I mean early, either January or February — they were offered a really nice buyout price by someone who wanted to turn-key convert it overnight to a Hawaiian restaurant. I imagine when mid-March rolled around and the initial Covid lockdown started, they were extremely relieved to have accepted it!

I never did get around to trying the Hawaiian place, even for takeout. Eventually it was taken over by a Korean fast food chain.

Photo taken February 27, 2016 and originally posted on my Instagram account a few days later with this title, but no commentary.

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While driving around Hermosa Beach, I finally made it to 1st Place! Unfortunately, once you get there, there's only one way you can go.

Looking up at three street signs alternating directions at the top of a narrow pole. The top says 1st Place. The next one down is Prospect Ave (though not all of the name is visible). And below that is a standard One Way sign.

While driving around Hermosa Beach, I finally made it to 1st Place! Unfortunately, once you get there, there’s only one way you can go.

Taken May 6, 2015, and originally posted that evening on my Instagram account.

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