PATTERNS AND TONES

"Caspers Famous Hot Dogs - South Hayward No. 1" 2018 In my final entry this month on the structures of the San Francisco Bay Area's famous Caspers Hot Dog chain, I decided to feature this 1950's location last, as its architectural elements are unique and stand out from the others. It's octagonal facade is also lined with flagstone, but unlike the previous locations which featured flat slabs or boulder shaped rock, the flagstone at this location were chiseled into brick shaped rectangles. This was a pretty common material used for building facades at the time and is neatly stacked, much like the brick facades of its neighbors. The roof is neither gabled like the ranch-style of their Pleasant Hill location, nor incorporated into the trapezoid shaped buildings that were constructed in Dublin , Albany , and North Hayward . It looks to me like a pretty standard flat roofed 50's diner with its stripped edge. What really sets this location apart is its orig...

“Caspers Famous Hot Dogs - North Hayward No. 1” 2018 Who knew Hayward, CA was such a special place? It boasts not one but two Caspers Famous Hot Dog stands! This 60's gem sits on Foothill Boulevard north of it's first location. Its shingled siding and iconographic logo are accented by its neighbor's Googie signage that rises three stories above its roof line. I couldn't help but think that Hayward Tools and Equipment must have been a converted carwash. This location was packed with patrons. The smell of their delishious hot dogs permeated the parking lot making it hard to shoot the subject! It was clear that this was the best location out of all the Caspars I had visited. The Boulevard was busy with commuters racing to the freeway entrance just a few blocks away. It was a great pleasure to photograph this location and a bit of a challenge to frame this structure around its towering neighbor. Two architectural visions from various eras vying for your patrona...