Red dot, dot, dot...

Liquor Store, Allendale, SC 

This scene called for a quick stop to fill two things on my roadside check list - red dot stores and tiny concrete business buildings. I'm like a roving Santa check, check, checking off my odd list. 

Red Dot Stores AKA Liquor Stores: Ever wonder why in South Carolina liquor stores have red dots as their sign? It started with Jesse Fabian a liquor store owner from Charleston and his sign man Alford "Doc" Wamsley. In 1945 the legislature enacted the requirement that sign lettering for a liquor store sign could not be any large than six inches high and four inched wide. After painting the correct size lettering on Jesse's store, they thought the letters were too small to be seen. Inspired by a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Doc painted a red dot around the lettering. It spread all across the state. The reason you see a lot of stores using three dots with the letter A, B and C (one letter on each dot) is it stands for Alcohol Bureau of Control, the agency that oversee liquor stores. If you ask a local for a red dot store or a ABC store, chances are they will know what you need.

Red Dot, Dot, Dot, Dot

Kathy's ABC, Santee, SC  

You can always identify a liquor store in South Carolina by the bright red dots and this one in Santee wasn't taking any chances that you might not notice. Dot, dot, dot! It stood out bright and clear even on a drizzly day.

The convenience store seemed to be short a few letters. I figures out the first three lines but the last one has me stumped. "We Have No Ethonol Gas, Blenheim Gingerale, Under New Management". Any guesses on the last line?

Dot, dot, dot...

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

Quaintest little liquor store in Charleston. I can never post a picture of a S.C. liquor store without getting questions about the red dots so here is one explanation:

Red Dot Stores AKA Liquor Stores: Ever wonder why in South Carolina liquor stores have red dots as their sign? It started with Jesse Fabian a liquor store owner from Charleston and his sign man Alford "Doc" Wamsley. In 1945 the legislature enacted the requirement that sign lettering for a liquor store sign could not be any large than six inches high and four inched wide. After painting the correct size lettering on Jesse's store, they thought the letters were too small to be seen. Inspired by a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Doc painted a red dot around the lettering. It spread all across the state. The reason you see a lot of stores using three dots with the letter A, B and C (one letter on each dot) is it stands for Alcohol Bureau of Control, the agency that oversee liquor stores. If you ask a local for a red dot store or a ABC store, chances are they will know what you need.

Vintage red dot, dot, dot store

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

It looks like a vintage shot doesn't it? I took it over the weekend. When I took my camera out of the cool car into the heat and humidity it ages the picture nicely. People are endlessly fascinated by the red dots on liqueur stores in South Carolina.

Red Dot Stores AKA Liquor Stores

Ever wonder why in South Carolina liquor stores have red dots as their sign? It started with Jesse Fabian a liquor store owner from Charleston and his sign man Alford "Doc" Wamsley. In 1945 the legislature enacted the requirement that sign lettering for a liquor store sign could not be any large than six inches high and four inched wide. After painting the correct size lettering on Jesse's store, they thought the letters were too small to be seen. Inspired by a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, Doc painted a red dot around the lettering. It spread all across the state. The reason you see a lot of stores using three dots with the letter A, B and C (one letter on each dot) is it stands for Alcohol Bureau of Control, the agency that oversee liquor stores. If you ask a local for a red dot store or a ABC store, chances are they will know what you need.

Wow, we had a thunderstorm this afternoon! I didn't miss having to navigate the rushing rivers of the streets of downtown Charleston. I understand people were stuck in traffic for hours. I do however miss being the one with the best action flooded street photos. Oh well. It is nice to be safe and dry.

Teeny tiny Red Dot store

S.C.

This has to be the teeniest, tiniest red dot store. Cute isn't it? Can you imagine doing business in that little building surrounded by shelves of liquor? It would be a fun short story.

I've afraid I've started my week needed another weekend. Whew. Busy days, kids. I'm off for a long walk before dark. Back later.

Dot, dot, dot....

Exchange St., Charleston, S.C.

I seem to be collecting pictures of red dot liquor stores.

Busy days at work, kids. I'm beat. I walked down to the new Tabbuli Grill for a quick bite and then crashed.

Dot, dot, dot.....

East Bay Wine & Spirits, East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

Red dots. There is a rash of them all over town. Must be catching.

Red dot, dot, dot....

Red Dot Store, Hampton, S.C.

Sometimes I forget that every state doesn't use Red Dots to identify liquor stores. It's one of those quirky and colorful South Carolina things that I love so much and this is the best explanation I could find:

Why is there a red dot on South Carolina liquor stores?
It is believed to have its origin in the South Carolina Constitution of 1895, article 8, section 11, which prohibited alcohol sales between sundown and sun-up. The red ball designates the sun and identifies the store as one that sells alcohol. The State newspaper, 10/03/1984, gave the following theory:

In the 1940s, the state was forcing liquor stores to shrink their signs dramatically, so as not to advertise alcohol too blatantly. Stores were allowed to use lettering only a few inches high on doors or windows. A Charleston liquor store "highlighted" the tiny lettering with a dramatic red dot, and everyone else followed suit.

Bonus joke courtesy of Phil's Phun.

A man ran through a crowded train looking very agitated, calling out, "Is there a Catholic priest on board?"

When he got no reply, he ran back up the train shouting, "Is there an Anglican priest on board?"

Still no reply.

By now becoming more desperate, he ran down the train shouting, "Is there a Rabbi on board?"

Eventually, a gentleman stood up and said, "Can I be of any assistance, my friend? I'm a Methodist minister."

The man looked at him and said,

"No, you're no bloody good. I need a corkscrew!"