Plans to Demolish a Historic Downtown Phoenix Motel Meet Firm Resistance
A 2013 photo of the building at the heart of a historical preservation controversy. Modern Phoenix
From the Phoenix New Times: Historic preservationists are hoping to dissuade a property owner from demolishing a motel to make way for a new cryptocurrency-friendly hotel in downtown Phoenix, citing the historic significance of a Midcentury Modern building at the heart of the dispute.
The building is located at 600 West Van Buren Street, near a strip of Grand Avenue renowned for its offbeat arts and culture, plus historic preservation efforts. Together with an annex, it once formed a travel destination called the City Center Motel, which was built with space-age Google design elements including a distinct angular porte cochere that juts out near the entrance.
Photos: South Wind Motel returned to mid-century glory
ADAM CAIRNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH
From The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus, Ohio; The South Wind Motel, which was redeveloped by Michael Kelly back to it’s 1959 mid-century glory, recently opened in the Brewery District at 919 South High Street.
The amazing story behind NJ’s Bendix Diner, named one of the nation’s best
From Fox 5 New York: The Bendix Diner in New Jersey has been featured in movies and TV shows, and has been serving up great food for 75 years, but that is just one part of the incredible story of the diner and its owner, John Diakakis.
Conway leaders look to preserve and protect historical signs
From WMBF: CONWAY, S.C. – In Conway, history is all around you and not just downtown.
City leaders are looking to preserve their past for the future, specifically historical business signs.
However, keeping these signs up to code and as original as possible is getting tougher and more expensive.
As you make your way down Main Street in downtown Conway, it’s hard to miss those flashing neon lights letting you know who’s taking the stage.
Retro restaurants: Finding classic diner cars in MetroWest, Greater Milford
Chet’s Diner has been a landmark along Route 20 in Northborough since 1931.” Daily News Staff Photo/Ken McGagh
From the MetroWest Daily News: Fluffy pancakes straight from the griddle. Sizzling corned beef hash. Strong, hot coffee served in a sturdy mug.
There are certain constants we’ve come to expect from diners, most having to do with the comforting, no-frills menu. But to diner purists, the restaurant’s physical structure is also important.
Traditionally, a “diner” means a restaurant that is prefabricated and transported to its location, rather than constructed on-site, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Think stainless steel walls, chrome fixtures and Formica countertops — visual cues as American as apple pie.
And in Massachusetts, prefab diners often mean one thing: The Worcester Lunch Car Company.
The 40 Best Neon Signs in Metro Phoenix
The neon-drenched sign for Lenny’s Burgers on Glendale Avenue. Lenny’s Burger Facebook
From the Phoenix New Times: Vintage neon signs have become a rare and treasured thing in the Valley. In fact, local preservationists estimate there are only around three dozen old-school illuminated displays still in operation around metro Phoenix. And that number gets smaller every year, says local historian Marshall Shore.
“There are so few [vintage] neon signs left now that it’s become a scarce commodity,” he says.
It’s a far cry from 70 years ago, Shore says, when neon signs were a staple of businesses along major thoroughfares and highways around the Valley (as well as in other cities nationwide) during the art form’s boom in the 1950s, which coincided with the growth of car culture.