Craby Joe's RIP

All is not well in Bukowski Square at Main and 7th. As noted all over the Internet, Craby Joe's closed on Christmas Eve, a passing that was mourned by many, though not the Daily Mirror, who was at midnight Mass.

However, a post by Ed Fuentes noted that Craby Joe's sign had vanished. My first thought was that it was tucked away in the garage of Nathan Marask, 1947project partner, crime buddy and authority on neon signs. Alas, no. Nor did Nathan know where it was. Sad foot!

So off I went to Bukowski Square, stopping by the film shoot I posted yesterday.

 

Photographs by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times

There was the former Craby Joe's, with a man asleep in the doorway. And barely a trace of the sign. I wish I'd gotten a better picture of it, but the sun is at the wrong angle this time of year and the Daily Mirror's Speed Graphic is in the shop--permanently.

 

Here's Bukowski Square on Dec. 13, 2007. Note Craby Joe's to the far left.

The good news is that I found some other vestiges of the past.

 

Here's a sign from the Leonide Hotel--"Nice Place."

And, beneath a few inches of asphalt, what appears to be the tile floor of the Hippodrome, as noted in Ed's post.

 

And "L.A. Takedown."

 

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Comments

[Jeremy Hansen]

I have the sign. It's going to be restored by the Museum of Neon Art. Craby Joe's was my favorite bar because of its "interesting" elements and because of the Bukowski connection.

--Thanks for the info. Keep me updated!

--Larry

[Jeremy Hansen]

The Museum of Neon Art is hoping to have the sign up and running by Feb 14th, the next downtown LA Artwalk. The new location of the museum is on 4th, between Spring and Main on the south side of 4th. Check it out.

[Jeremy Hansen]

Craby Joe's Lives!

http://a659.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/101/l_637739ea3d46f5269069e8a93961453a.jpg