‘Eichler Numbers’ Is Back!

Joe Eichler knew the value of branding—and the joy that comes from pulling into your home's driveway, glancing up at those distinctive Eichler address numbers, and realizing you have finally 'arrived.'

Walnut Creek Eichler owner Theresa Lee knows all about that joy. Through her enterprising spirit and affection for the Eichler lifestyle, Lee recently came to the rescue, reviving an important Eichler tradition: manufacturing and marketing original‐styled Eichler house numbers.

Good news: 'Eichler Numbers' is now back in business!

And why not? After all, having original house numbers is one of the hallmarks of Eichler homeownership. There's a camaraderie that comes with owning an Eichler, and modern house numbers are part of the language that bonds, one of the ways neighbors can share in the 'coolness' of their community.

Easily identified by three‐dimensional white block letters on a black wooden backdrop, Joe's original, 60‐plus‐year‐old cast‐plaster numbers have been known to crumble or become damaged by exposure to the elements over time. That's where San Jose Eichler owner Scot Nicholls stepped in, way back in 1996.

Over the three decades that followed, Scot and his wife, Carmen, have operated Eichler Numbers, producing a high‐quality line of authentic, weather‐resistant reproduction numbers for the Eichler communities. But in recent years the couple discontinued production to spend more time with family.

Enter Theresa Lee, with ears perked.

"Being a realtor, I was looking to acquire Eichler numbers for a client who had just purchased an Eichler," says Lee, who's an agent with Coldwell Banker. "I was mortified to see I couldn't buy them anymore…and that something else [similar, but not authentic] I had found was double the price."

Lee, who lives in a 1956 Jones & Emmons design in Walnut Creek's Rancho San Miguel, says, "I felt it was important to maintain the original look and feel of our homes, especially as people do renovations and original details become lost. That's when I reached out to Marty Arbunich of the Eichler Network, who introduced me to Scot."

Eager to see production continue, Lee negotiated taking over the business in July 2024. "In my prior career, I came from a design, production, and e‐commerce background, and my husband, Dan Noceti, is a luthier who makes custom electric guitars," says Lee. "That's why I think Scot felt we would have some expertise to apply to his business."

While passing the torch to Lee, Scot points out that the combination of new owners' backgrounds "just fit, along with the very state‐of‐the‐art digital shop in which Dan makes guitars. I imagine he will probably get into streamlining design and adding his original touches to the manufacturing process."

"Theresa has taken over the entire operation," adds Scot. "I shipped all my inventory to her, as well as the jigs for actual fabrication of the numbers, and had the domain transferred."