Dear PoPville,

I was at 18th and Columbia Roads and I noticed a still extant painted sign on building next to Sun bank at Columbia Road west of 18th that says “Merrini’s Califlorida” as I recall seeing it about 30 years ago there, do you know anything about it?

sssdc1 writes on flickr that it is:

“Menchini’s Califlorida Fruit Shop Ghost Sign, Columbia Rd NW DC”

I couldn’t find any more info online. Anyone else familiar with Menchini’s Califlorida Fruit Shop?


At first I was just gonna point out how I’d never seen a fall out sign in front of a big federal building before but then I noticed the sticker:


Last Friday we spoke about the strange Burger King in Van Ness and other quirky buildings around town. I have to say that the Barrel House Liquor Store located in Logan Circle at 14th and Rhode Island Ave, NW has to be one of the best in town. It’s got it all, in addition to the great door which we’ve noted before, it’s got one of the few awesome neon signs in DC:

And it’s old. A reader sent the following awesome ad from 1948:


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