Plus, Fresno's skyline loses its Big G after 59 years; new owners of defunct drive-in Penguin Point sell off collectibles; and more stories from the American roadside.
I don't think the Bill's Cafe sign is up yet but there are "plans to display the 15-foot-tall sign on the cafe's turfed patio, visible from Jefferson Street."
According to this article, the Artsmith's sign will be donated to the "Signs of Our Times project" which means local Vangie Osborn, a private collector who hopes to open a museum someday and has a lot of Boise signs in storage.
I'm so honored to see the photos here, Rolando. Thanks for sharing! I'm thrilled to contribute to one of my favorite Substacks.
Also- such a great Tribute to Smith's. I worked in Times Square from 2008-2020 (And... I'm back there again on the weekends.) I remember when Smith's closed, and reopened. What a gift it stayed the same. I think I remember seeing that infamous signage in a movie at one point but for the life of me I can't remember which one.
Figured you would appreciate, from local news: the walk-up Dairy Queen that closed due to corporate pressure in Merritt Island, FL has filed off the serial numbers and is reopening as Parkway Creamery February 8th, after waiting out their year long non-compete https://www.floridatoday.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/02/07/former-merritt-island-dairy-queen-to-reopen-as-parkway-creamery/72493902007/
Ooh! Thanks for he heads-up!
I don't think the Bill's Cafe sign is up yet but there are "plans to display the 15-foot-tall sign on the cafe's turfed patio, visible from Jefferson Street."
Noted!
According to this article, the Artsmith's sign will be donated to the "Signs of Our Times project" which means local Vangie Osborn, a private collector who hopes to open a museum someday and has a lot of Boise signs in storage.
https://boisedev.com/news/2024/02/02/artsmiths-boise/
Funny that was tiny caption in the photo --- think they'd break that point out in the story!
Promising news! Thank you!
I'm so honored to see the photos here, Rolando. Thanks for sharing! I'm thrilled to contribute to one of my favorite Substacks.
Also- such a great Tribute to Smith's. I worked in Times Square from 2008-2020 (And... I'm back there again on the weekends.) I remember when Smith's closed, and reopened. What a gift it stayed the same. I think I remember seeing that infamous signage in a movie at one point but for the life of me I can't remember which one.
Thanks Andee! One place Smith's can be spotted is the opening credits of Night Court! Not much of that New York left!