Behind the Shot
Googie coffee shops draw the viewer in with characteristics like exaggerated rooflines, tall windows and eye-catching signage. All have some, and some have all. Chips, on Hawthorne Boulevard in Hawthorne, California, has it all—especially the signage. Completed in 1957, Chips is a Googie treasure that has been in continuous operation since its opening. The sign’s five steel mesh drums, each holding a letter to spell out “Chips,” are angled so they appear to shift and turn toward you as you drive past.
Carlos Vargas captured this vibrant image in 2014. Hang it in any space you think could use an extra punch of color.
