Neon Return: West Columbia’s iconic WECO sign is refurbished
With a large crowd in attendance, West Columbia’s refurbished WECO sign was relit Jan. 10. JORDAN LAWRENCE | CHRONICLE
From Lexington County Chronicle: The building at 750 Meeting St. in West Columbia has been many things since it was built in the 1940s.
It started out as Lower Main Market before becoming a Dixie Home Store in 1951 (the chain that would later become Winn-Dixie). A furniture company and a tile store came later, and Charity Thrift took up residence in 2002 before the current resident, marketing agency Riggs Partners, moved in about 15 years ago.
But when it comes to local iconography, the building’s most impactful stretch came between the 1970s and 2001, when it was home to WECO Billiards, which lent its name to the pool-ball-bedecked sign along Meeting Street that has become one of the city’s most recognizable markers.
Original Sign Returns to Arby’s Restaurant in Meadville
From Erie News Now: The old, original sign outside an Arby’s in Meadville is back.
It was reinstalled after the restaurant on Park Ave. was rebuilt.
Neon nostalgia is real and the glow is coming back to Windsor
The Yorktown Square neon sign in South Windsor. Tecumseh Signs is restoring neon signs in Windsor to take advantage of the nostalgia the signs provide. (Mike Evans/CBC)
From CBC: Neon signs once dominated urban landscapes all across Canada from the 1940s to the 1990s. The neon glow dominated Ouellette Avenue businesses, mainly as commercial advertisements.
However, as the signs aged, they were replaced by other cheaper options.
“LED hitting the market has crippled neon,” said Justin Franzoso of Tecumseh Signs.
However, the nostalgia over old neon signs is creating quite a buzz. Tecumseh Signs is trying to take advantage.
World Famous Drag Queen Opens the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs
From Hotels Above Par: Owned by world-famous drag queen, Trixie Mattel, her namesake roadside motel is every bit as camp as you’d expect, and it makes for a fabulous stay in Palm Springs. Tucked behind a gold-adorned bubblegum pink gate, the refurbished mid-century motel is an Instagram-dream-come true. From its neon Trixie Motel sign, 70s pool floats and Mattel’s signature made up eyes painted on the wall, to the gilded retro Palm Springs aesthetic in the reception and individually themed rooms, the property is brimming with photo opps.
Tom Carvel: The Greek American who invented soft serve ice cream
From Greek City Times: Greek American businessman, Tom Carvel (born Athanasios Karvelas), created America’s first ice cream franchise and is well-known as the inventor of soft serve ice cream.
A flat tire on his truck led to his successful career as a early immigrant to the USA.
Tom Carvel was born on July 14, 1906 in Athens, Greece. In 1910, when Tom was only four years old, his parents decided to leave what was then impoverished Greece for Connecticut in America.