Chicago Loses Another Classic Neon Sign As Foremost Liquors Marquee Comes Down
The Foremost Liquors sign, 1040 W. Argyle St., in Uptown on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
From Block Club Chicago: UPTOWN — Chicago is losing another iconic neon sign.
The sign for Uptown’s Foremost Liquors — with yellowed neon bulbs that lit up the historic Argyle Street for 70 years — was sold to an Indiana collector and taken away Tuesday as the business prepares to move across the street.
It’s the second Chicago classic sign moved out of the city by private collectors in the past month, as local preservationists scrape to find solutions and incentives for small business owners to keep up them as bright odes to mid-century history.
Dark for Decades: the Cotton Boll Motel neon sign gets new life on Rt. 66
Howard County Rt. 1 motels and hotels could get reused or redeveloped
Screenshot from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s press conference, via Howard County Government’s YouTube channel
From Baltimore Fishbowl: Howard County’s Route 1 Corridor is ready for a tune-up, and County Executive Calvin Ball wants to help it happen.
Ball announced on Wednesday his support for Zoning Amendment Regulation 221 (ZRA-221), which would allow for the adaptive reuse and redevelopment of existing motel and hotel sites along the corridor.
In 2023, Ball proposed the Route 1 Corridor Plan for Washington Boulevard, which was adopted alongside the County’s General Plan, HoCo by Design. The plan outlined the corridor’s problems, including areas of blight and disinvestment. Due to decades of disuse and neglect, there are many deteriorating and underutilized commercial and industrial properties that do not conform to current zoning regulations. The plan recommended redevelopment and revitalization of these areas. ZRA-221 is the first step in that direction.
Philippe says goodbye to a century-old tradition: the sawdust on its floors
Phillipe is saying goodbye to the sawdust on its floor. Photo by ~db~ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr / LAist
From LAist: Phillippe is known for its French dip sandwiches.
But just as famous, many would argue, is the sawdust scattered about on the floor of the century-old shop in Chinatown.
The quirky signature even (still) has an entry on the shop’s FAQ page.
Well, that quirk is no more. Philippe announced Wednesday on social media in a “sawdust update” bidding goodbye to the tradition because of safety reasons, effective March 31.
Route 66 centennial celebrated with new sign at Navy Pier
Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks Wednesday during a news conference to recognize Navy Pier as the starting point of Route 66 near Harry Caray’s restaurant. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
From the Chicago Sun-Times: U.S. Route 66 is a cultural landmark that holds the rich history of America’s automotive and commercial boom, and the memories of countless family road trips.
The storied highway, which spans 2,400 miles between Chicago to California, is celebrating its centennial this year. Chicago honored the landmark Wednesday by unveiling a new sign marking the symbolic start of the route at Navy Pier outside of Harry Caray’s Tavern.
Vintage cars surrounded the sign as city leaders and preservationists gathered to mark the milestone.
KC’s iconic Western Auto sign at risk of staying dark as World Cup deadline slips away
From FoxKC4: KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For generations, it’s been a glowing symbol of Kansas City’s skyline. But now, the iconic Western Auto sign sits dark and with the World Cup fast approaching, time may be running out to bring it back.
The towering landmark, perched atop the Western Auto Lofts, has been unlit for more than eight months.
Once expected to shine for an international audience this summer, those hopes are fading as negotiations between the city and the building’s homeowners association stall.
The Western Auto Lofts HOA says it needs $100,000 funding they believe the city has already pledged. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas confirms money has been allocated, but says an agreement on how to move forward remains out of reach.
conic mid-century diner Ted’s Frostop threatened with demolition
From Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans: Ted’s Frostop at 3100 Calhoun St., with its iconic 14-foot-tall root beer mug and brightly colored neon signage, remains a rare example of the mid-20th century drive-in fast-food restaurants that became ubiquitous as American culture became increasingly reliant on automobiles and highways.
Recently announced plans to develop new student housing for Tulane University would require demolishing the classic mid-century modern landmark. Renderings published on NOLA.com show the root beer mug and signage awkwardly tacked on to a proposed three-story grey box, as Frostop will remain a tenant in the new development. The project will be developed by the Robert family of Robert’s Fresh Market.