Elmwood Avenue was once known as The Neon Strip, thanks to house after house that was outfitted with blue neon strips of light, near the rooflines. Along with the unifying neon strips, Elmwood also had plenty of other neon attractions, including the phases of the moon on the Half & Half building (Artvoice moon phases) and the Tango Dancers at Bidwell.
While the blue neon strips never made a comeback, restored neon works such as the tango dancers are a refreshing site to see. Adding to this surge, Bobby Rabb (owner of Mr. Goodbar) has now unveiled a newly fabricated work that replaces an iconic neon sign that once graced the building at 1110 Elmwood Avenue.
“We are installed an LED replica of our original neon sign that’s been up since the 70s that was taken down in the early 2000s,” said Rabb. “I am very excited about this. I started here as manager right when it was taken down due to neon being so fragile and it kept breaking. Since taking over as owner I’ve always wanted to bring it back and I am so excited that it’s finally happening.”
I remember the impact that this neon sign had on the street, but over time I figured that it was just another artistic element that would never be brought back to life. Seeing this newly fabricated sign installed on the facade of Mr. Goodbar is oh-so gratifying. I passed by the building yesterday and was thrilled to see if back in its dedicated spot. It completely changes the look of the building, and the street, bringing with it a sense of nostalgia that a lot of people will appreciate. Not to mention future generations that will get to enjoy a splash of neon magic that was once the signature trademark of the street.
