3545 International is a commercial building at the corner of 36th Avenue and International Boulevard (originally East 14th Street.) It dates back to 1924 when it was built as an auto dealership for Field and Lee. It was most recently the home of Bonanza.
Field and Lee closed in 1927. The building then served as a temporary home for theH.O. Harrison Chrysler showroom.
In 1929 it was Remmer Brothers DeSoto showroom, which later also sold used cars.
In 1930, it became the "east of the lake" headquarters of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph. They moved to 1470 Fruitvale Avenue in 1936.
1939 ad
In 1937, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of California moved in until c.1940 when they moved into what is now known as the Mayway building in West Oakland.
From 1940 to 1959, it was the home of Martsolf Furniture (briefly Esper and Martsolf). John Martsolf closed the business in 1959.
It was Furniture Dealers Outlet from 1959 until they went bankrupt in 1961.
In late 1961, it became the Sisters of Service Thrift Shop until 1965.
Beginning in 1965, it was the home of Value Village Thrift Store, a joint project of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home and Lutheran Care for the Aging.
The 1969 reverse directory lists it as Kelly Furniture and Upholstering.
c.1970 it was the home of the Spanish Speaking Community Action Center.
1925 Sanborn excerpt
Sign
A neon blade sign plus a massive star on the roof appear in a 1924 photo when it opened as a Field and Lee showroom. Neither appears in a 1930 photo when it was an office of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.
It appears the same sign box may have been reused by Esper and Martsolf, with modifications to add the pelican at the top. The pelican was to go with their c.1941 tagline, "a little down on a big bill" promoting their credit line. In print ads, a pelican is holding what appears to be money in its bill.
1941 ad
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