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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Florida Signs (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Welcome Sign Pensacola, FL |
Jolly Green Giant Pensacola, FL |
ABC Autos Tampa, FL |
Brahman Lounge & Liquors Tampa, FL |
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This Welcome Sign was originally built in the late 1950s and located downtown. It was then moved here to the foot of the Bob Sikes Bridge. The wind has always been hard on the sign with broken neon tubes costing about $4,000 per year. Around 2000, the sign was completely restored with fiber optic tubing replacing the fragile neon. In late 2004, Hurricane Ivan did considerable damage (photo at left). The sign has since been restored (photo at right from 2010). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Jolly Green Giant sign is installed at Bailey's Farmers Market. The business was originally known as Bailey's Homestead when it opened in 1938. The market moved here in 2004. This 25 foot tall sign is a replica of the one that was at the original location. That sign was 32 feet tall and could not be moved here due to local sign ordinances. The ABC Autos sign is animated and lit at night. For more, see this website. The Brahman Lounge & Liquors sign appears to be from the 1950s. |
| Brahma Coffee Shop [gone] Ocala, FL |
Sundays Motel Ocala, FL |
Sun Plaza Motel Ocala, FL |
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The Brahma Coffee Shop was demolished in the late 1970s.
The Sundays Motel and Sun Plaza Motel have the same plastic sun incorporated into their signs. I don't know if the motels were related but certainly these signs must have been produced by the same company. The Sun Plaza Motel has been here since at least the 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [night photo thanks Robby Delius] |
| Lorito's Italian Kitchen Ocala, FL |
Holiday Motel Ocala, FL |
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Lorito's Italian Kitchen opened in 1970. This fourteen foot tall neon sign was built at that time. In 2009, after this photo was taken, the sign was knocked down by a car. The sign suffered extensive damage. Instead of repainting the sign, vinyl overlays were affixed to the sign's original steel faces. The sign company felt this was the best way to reproduce the sign's shading and texture. A UV coating was applied to prevent fading in the sun. The neon was also replaced. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Holiday Motel was definitely inspired by Holiday Inn signs. The arrow sign definitely borrowed the font style. The neon tubing at the top of the larger sign also mimics the Holiday Inn starburst. This sign is only partially lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 1. |
| Cameo Photo Supply Ocala, FL |
Skycraft Surplus Winter Park, FL |
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Cameo Photo Supply opened in 1951. The banner's promise of an "all new Cameo" concerns me. I hope it doesn't mean that they'll be getting rid of this great canopy and sign.
Skycraft Surplus opened in the mid-1970s and features this UFO over the entrance. There are also two rockets mounted on the exterior wall. The store sells electronic parts, electrical supplies, hardware, and other stuff. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Holler Chevrolet Winter Park, FL |
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| The giant Holler Chevrolet sign was moved when the dealership moved to thier new location. The blade sign and the OK sign were left behind. I don't know if they are still there, were destroyed, or if they found homes. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [third and fourth photos thanks Tom Fawls] |
| Brown's Floral Shop Plant City, FL |
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| Brown's Floral Shop has been around since 1928. |
| Reed's Motel Avon Park, FL |
Badcock Furniture [gone] Ybor City, FL |
Andy's Drive-in Winter Haven, FL |
Automotive Engineering Clearwater, FL |
The Orange Shop Citra, FL |
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Reed's Motel opened in 1957. In 2004, the sign was severely damaged in a hurricane. The original sign was renovated with a different vertical portion and a smaller arrow. The original diving woman wore a one-piece bathing suit. The sign is lit at night. In 2012, I heard that this place has closed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
Badcock Furniture first opened in Mulberry, FL and now has over 300 locations in the Southeast. However, this location and sign are now gone. A similar sign still exists in Fairmont, NC. For more, see this website. Andy's Drive-in opened in 1951. It is officially known as Andy's Drive-In Restaurant and Igloo. The "igloo" is the ice cream take-out window on the side of the building. The Automotive 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. |
| Wilson Drug Company Bartow, FL |
El Jon Motel Bartow, FL |
Ferris Groves Floral City, FL |
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The Wilson Drug Company has a mass-produced drug store sign. There are other examples in Cullman, AL, Artesia, CA, and Salida, CO.
The El Jon Motel still has a Superior Motel 4-leaf clover sign. I don't know if there was a Superior Motel chain or if this was just an endorsement of some kind like the AAA-approved motels. There are still other examples of these signs out there. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. Ferris Groves has been growing and selling fruit since 1930. In 1944, the company added a packing and shipping plant. Shortly thereafter, the retail store was built out front. The neon sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see their website. |
| Pulse Bar and Lounge Lakeland, FL |
Performance Car Wash Lakeland, FL |
Southgate Shopping Center Lakeland, FL |
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The Pulse Bar and Lounge has been here since 1940. It was originally known as the Green Parrot. The sign has been updated with a plastic box but they have kept this neon parrot.
The Performance Car Wash sign is missing his upper torso on the other side. Does anyone know how long this sign has been here and if it was always used for the car wash? 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. |
| Dick's Auto Sales [gone] Lakeland, FL |
Sunset Motel Lakeland, FL |
Prestler's Motel Lakeland, FL |
Southside Cleaners Lakeland, FL |
Southside Cleaners Lakeland, FL |
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Dick's Auto Sales was established in 1945. This sign appeared to be from the 1950s or 1960s. While the business is still there, the sign was destroyed by a tornado in 2011.
The Sunset Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. This photo is from 2009. The upper part of the sign with the sun was removed in 2011. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Prestler's Motel is just down the road from the Sunset Motel and was probably built around the same time. 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] |
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More Lakeland Signs:
Canada Dry [vintage] Roto-Sphere |
| Shell Factory Fort Myers, FL |
Florida Motel Gainesville, FL |
Dade City Hardware Dade City, FL |
Queen's Lodge Motel & Apartments West Palm Beach, FL |
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The Shell Factory first opened in 1938 in Bonita Springs. Destroyed by fire in 1952, the store was rebuilt here. The store nearly closed for good in 1997. The buyer renovated and expanded the place. In addition to the huge gift shop, there is also a restaurant, trails, a petting zoo, a video arcade, bumper boats and mini golf. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Florida Motel was probably built in the 1950s. The sheet metal representation is about 15' tall. I don't know if it was ever outlined with neon. The triangular portion of the sign is mostly lit at night. For more, see their website. The Dade City Hardware sign appears to be from the 1950s or even earlier. The Queen's Lodge Motel & Apartments was established in 1972. The motel and this sign look older than that so it was probably another business/name before than. For more, see their website. |
| FL (page 2) | FL (page 3) | FL (page 4) |
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| RoadsideArchitecture.com |