Mr. Gresham's Service Station (1205 S. Coast Hwy 101)

Constructed in 1933, this building was the most unique and fanciful service station along the highway, with its pyramidal hip roof and blind Italian-like arches. Such imaginative architecture was sure to catch the eye of a passing motorist and there were plenty of those. Travel and tourism were a major component of Downtown's economy during the period between 1920 and 1940. Almost every intersection in town had at least one gas station.