After More Than A Century, An Iconic Columbus Florist Closes Its Doors
From Columbus Navigator: One of Columbus’ longest-standing small businesses has officially closed up shop. 5th Avenue Floral Co., a beloved florist that’s been serving the community for over 124 years, said goodbye over the weekend, marking the end of an era for local flower lovers.
The family-owned business, tucked along West 5th Avenue in Grandview Heights, shared the news with customers in a heartfelt social media post. “We are saddened to say goodbye,” the announcement read, “but the memories will last forever.” The closure comes as the shop’s longtime owners head into retirement, and hopefully, into plenty of quality time with their grandchildren.
Discover Colorado’s Magical Neon Alley
Credit: Google/Dave Adams
From dailywise.com: Neon Alley… have you heard of it? If you’re imagining Fremont Street in Las Vegas, you’re on the right track, but this gem is actually nestled right in Colorado.
Ready to embark on a luminous nighttime adventure? Let’s head to southern Colorado.
Tucked away in Pueblo, the enchanting Pueblo Neon Alley captures the spirit of the past while lighting up the present. It’s a dazzling outdoor art showcase right in the Centennial State, beckoning visitors with its nostalgic glow.
Hotel De Anza’s iconic neon sign will glow again after restoration
The rooftop neon sign at the Hotel De Anza in downtown San Jose, photographed Monday, June 2, 2025, has been dark for months but will be restored this month and is expected to be relit on June 27, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
From the East Bay Times: There’s great news on the horizon for downtown San Jose’s skyline. The iconic neon sign atop the Hotel De Anza is set to be restored and back to its full glowing glory later this month.
You might remember that the 10-story, art deco hotel on West Santa Clara Street was purchased last year by a new ownership group, MHP Hospitality, after being closed for several months because of internal flood damage. The hotel reopened earlier this year, and there’s even jazz back at the famed Hedley Club lounge a couple nights a week.
But the return of the rooftop sign should help remind people the De Anza is alive and well. Sean Curtis, the hotel’s chief operating officer, said Oakland-based Arrow Sign Company has been hired to restore the fading neon sign, which will also be re-painted so its red color pops during daylight hours, too.
Lowell’s iconic ‘Sun’ signs get a new glow
The “Sun” signs in Lowell. Courtesy of the Lowell Historic Board
From Boston.com: The iconic twin “Sun” signs perched on top of the historic Sun Building in Lowell were beginning to lose their neon glow. And years of ongoing maintenance had become too costly for the former owners, so in 2018, the Lowell Sun newspaper inquired about removing them.
But, the Lowell Historic Board administrator, Stephen Stowell, had a different idea for them — to restore the signs using LED lights.
Beginning this week, work will commence to remove the neon tubing and replace the two signs with LED lights.
New Plans Filed For Alexandria Theater Redevelopment, San Francisco
Alexandria Theater existing condition. Image from Timespace Group
From SF Yimby: New plans have been published alongside a project review meeting request for the adaptive reuse of the 102-year-old Alexandria Theater at 5400 Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District of San Francisco. The eight-story proposal looks to expand the long-closed theater to produce 83 units with ground-floor retail. TimeSpace Group is responsible for the application.
The roughly 81-foot-tall structure would yield around 116,280 square feet, including 103,500 square feet for housing, 1,710 square feet of ground-level retail, and 1,440 square feet for a community benefit space. Unit types will vary, with 14 one-bedroom, 51 two-bedroom, and 18 three-bedroom units. Bicycle parking will be provided, though the exact capacity is not specified.
City Council committee reviewing Coney Island casino application
From news12 Brooklyn: The developer looking to build a casino in Coney Island is hoping to clear a final hurdle to be considered for one of three downstate gaming licenses.
Representatives from “The Coney” went before the New York City Council Land Use committee on Thursday as it reviews the application to make changes to the city map.
Cruisin’ Down Memory Lane on Route 66
Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri can be found on Route 66
From Leisure Group Travel: Floating in his own pond next to a picnic area, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma epitomizes the kitschy roadside curiosities that intrigued motorists during the heyday of Route 66, the most fabled highway in America. The smiling marine mammal, a cement behemoth measuring 80 feet long, is one of the most iconic landmarks along the legendary ribbon of pavement that traversed eight U.S. states from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.
Like many places along the road in Oklahoma and elsewhere, the whale and surrounding park are undergoing upgrades in preparation for Route 66 Centennial celebrations in 2026. Though the east-west corridor, affectionately known as the Mother Road, was replaced by superhighways decades ago, vast stretches of the old two-lane artery are still open to traffic, allowing travelers to leave the fast lane and see the real America, a land sprinkled with neon signs, quirky wayside attractions, souvenir shops, cozy motels and mom-and-pop diners dishing upcomfort food.
With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 fast approaching, communities along the highway are fixing up vintage neon signs and installing new ones. Downtown historic districts are being spruced up, new attractions are being unveiled and museums are undergoing expansions or adding new features as they get ready to celebrate the golden age of automobile travel. Towns big and small will be supercharging their existing annual events for 2026, and colorful murals are beautifying old buildings.