G sign photo via SCCCD

Contractors will take another shot at removing the G sign atop the former Guarantee Savings building in Downtown Fresno on Saturday.

Removal is expected to start around 8 a.m. and be complete by mid-morning at 1171 Fulton St., the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) office. A stretch of Fresno Street between Van Ness Avenue and 

The first attempt on Jan. 20 was met with two challenges. The sign weighs nearly double the initial estimate of 4,500-6,500 pounds. After the crane was adjusted to accommodate the weight, an unknown element in the post’s infrastructure prevented the sign from being lifted from its post despite numerous attempts.

SCCCD spokesperson Jill Wagner said the decision to not proceed was based on safety.

The building at 1171 Fulton Street opened in 1921 as the Mattei building, named after its owner, Andrew Mattei. In 1961, Guarantee Savings and Loan purchased the building and installed the 15-foot weather beacon on its roof. 

The giant rotating G changed color according to the weather, and downtown workers and shoppers counted on the G for weather information as they strolled the Fulton Mall retail district. Due to costs, the G went dark in 1994. Power was restored in 2003 but featured only white lights. 

SCCCD then purchased the former Guarantee Savings building in 2018, occupying the building in 2019 after some renovations.

The sign is being removed in preparation for its replacement with a replica sign, a plan announced back in November. 

Cen Cal Services is the contractor working on the removal. In November, the SCCCD Board of Trustees approved a $91,875 contract to remove the sign, which came with no existing schematics.

Wagner said the failed first attempt was not the fault of the contractor. It’s unknown how much the additional work will cost. 

The sign will be relocated to the Fresno Fairgrounds to join a collection of iconic Fresno signs. A new G sign is being fabricated, with installation anticipated by summer 2025. 

The replacement sign will be constructed to honor the spirit of the past while complying with current structural design codes. The new replica sign will have upgraded LED lighting to follow the existing exterior building lighting schemes that change in recognition of commemorative events.