The ghost sign for McPike Drug Co. — 6th and Howard Sts. in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. Such pretty lettering made out of freeform tile squares! This corner storefront is now home to the Yerba Buena Market.
Across the street was a really interesting site-specific installation that was removed in summer 2014, as it looks as though the old hotel will finally be rehabbed into upscale housing. This was also the site of a massive tragedy in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, as all the hotels on this corner toppled onto each other.
awesome piece
If it wasn’t for a drug store I don’t know if I’d think of this but the randomness of the tiles reminds me of the pictures of spider webs woven under the influence of various drugs.
I can see that. I’ve photographed tons of tiled entryways over the years, but this is by far one of my favorites. The lettering is so elegant, and then the surrounding mosaic is pretty random.