| Super Signage |
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| FLORIDA (page 1) |
| Welcome Sign Pensacola, FL |
Brahma Coffee Shop (gone) Ocala, FL |
Lorito's Italian Kitchen Ocala, FL |
Sun Plaza Motel Ocala, FL |
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The Welcome Sign was originally built in the late 1950s and located downtown before being moved to the foot of the Bob Sikes Bridge. Supposedly, the sign is large enough to be seen from outer space. The wind has always been hard on the sign with broken neon tubes costing about $4,000 annually. Around 2000, the sign was completely restored with fiber optic tubing replacing the fragile neon. Unfortunately, in late 2004, Hurricane Ivan really took its toll as evidenced here. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Brahma Coffee Shop was demolished in the late 1970s. Lorito's Italian Kitchen features this 14' tall neon sign. Supposedly, it is from 1973 and the city gave the owner a hard time when the sign went up. The Sun Plaza Motel has been here since at least the 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [photo thanks Robby Delius] |
| Badcock Furniture Ybor City, FL |
Andy's Drive-in Winter Haven, FL |
Auto Engineering Clearwater, FL |
The Orange Shop Citra, FL |
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Badcock Furniture first opened in Mulberry, FL and now has over 300 locations in the Southeast. For more, see this website.
Andy's Drive-in opened in 1951. It was once known as Andy's Drive-In Restaurant and Igloo. I don't know if there was an igloo structure at one time. The Auto Engineering sign is meant to represent an engine rod. The lights at the top descend in animated racetrack fashion. The circle behind the text features swirling neon that alternates betwen green, red, and white. The sign has been here since at least the 1960s. The Orange Shop opened in 1936. In addition to this shop, they have an online mail-order business. For more, see their website. |
| Ferris Groves Floral City, FL |
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| Ferris Groves has been around since 1930. In 1944, the moderne packing and shipping plant was added. Shortly thereafter, the retail store was built out front. Keeping up with the times, they have added on-line sales as well. For more, see their website. |
| Southgate Shopping Center Lakeland, FL |
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| The Southgate Shopping Center was built in 1957. It appeared in the 1990 movie "Edward Scissorhands." The arch sign is 70' tall and was designed by Publix which still has a supermarket on site. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Sunset Motel Lakeland, FL |
Southside Cleaners Lakeland, FL |
Southside Cleaners Lakeland, FL |
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The Sunset Motel survives on a remote stretch of the New Tampa Highway. The sign looks to be 1950s (see this vintage image).
Southside Cleaners has two locations in Lakeland. The original building dates from 1954 when Florida Drive-In Cleaners was here. The original Lakeland sign was erected in 1962. It was designed by then 12-year-old Greg Meyers whose parents owned the business. Greg has been responsible for the sayings on the sign, changed weekly, since the beginning. The second Southside Cleaners in Lakeland was built in 1992. Its sign imitates the style of the original. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [second and third photos thanks Greg Meyers] |
| Palm Aire Motel St. Petersburg, FL |
Venice Motel St. Petersburg, FL |
Sandman Motel St. Petersburg, FL |
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| The Palm Aire Motel, Venice Motel and Sandman Motel are just some of the survivors with nice signage on 34th St. North. The Sandman Motel was built in the late 1950s. Its gorgeous sign still lights up the night. For more, see this website. |
| Landmark Motel St. Petersburg, FL |
West Central Shopping Center St. Petersburg, FL |
World Liquors St. Petersburg, FL |
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The Landmark Motel is another oldie with a gorgeous sign. The West Central Shopping Center sign looks 1950s. It appears to have been battered about and reframed (hurricane damage?). [photo thanks Robby Delius] The World Liquors features a globe which I suspect revolved at one time. |
| Belleair Village Motel Largo, FL |
Frankie's Pizza Miami, FL |
Cisco's Café Virginia Gardens, FL |
Shell Factory North Fort Myers, FL |
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The Belleair Village Motel was built in 1965. It features a Sputnik style ball on top of its sign. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Robby Delius]
Frankie's Pizza and its signage has been around since the late 1950s. Their pizza gets rave reviews. Cisco's Café is a Mexican restaurant that gets very good reviews. The sign appears to be an oldie. The Shell Factory first opened in 1938 in Bonita Springs. Destroyed by fire in 1952, they moved here and rebuilt. They nearly closed for good in 1997 but a new buyer renovated and expanded the place. In addition to the huge gift shop, they also have a restaurant, trails and a petting zoo, a video arcade, bumper boats and mini golf. For more, see their website. |
| FL (page 2) |
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