A retractable placard system for galley cart storage bays is provided. The placard system includes an outer plate and a placard. The outer plate is mounted with a hinge to a surface of a cart storage bay and is adapted to depend substantially vertically from the surface in a first position and to rotate in a first direction upon contact by a first edge of a half size cart. The placard is mounted to the outer plate. The placard is visible in the bay with the outer plate in the first position and retracted with the outer plate rotated in the first direction to a second position.