While visiting the National Steinbeck Center in downtown Salinas, I spotted a Fox Theater a block away. Ah, a Fox.

Its website says it was built in 1921. It’s currently used for concerts, weddings and other events. It’s smaller than Pomona’s, but older, and that vertical sign is great. Check out the ticket booth at left.

Salinas has a surprisingly functional business district. Most of the activity is seemingly centered on three blocks of Main Street, dead-ending at the Steinbeck center, and the cross streets. Plenty of older architecture, with a few modern facades here and there.

Because of the Fox, I couldn’t help weighing this downtown against Pomona’s. I hate to say it, but Pomona’s downtown is so pockmarked with parking lots where buildings used to be that it will take a lot of investment to bring downtown only to Salinas’ level. That said, Salinas’ level is higher than I’d have expected before visiting.