I mentioned that I would be doing more reporting on the blog lately. One of the pieces of that is that I issued myself a press badge. Freedom of the press means that I can, as long I use it in good faith. And it's been fun finding and chasing stories around the city.
My personal interpretation of good faith in this context means that I need to do something with said adventures on the blog (remember, this isn't legal advice, hire your own lawyer if you want a professional opinion on the matter). It may not be exactly what any interviewees were expecting, but that's just journalism baby!
Cut to me walking down the street this March. I forget exactly what I was coming from, but I ended up walking by a certain store that caught my eye, which boasted a bright neon sign saying "Let there be Neon."
Pictured: The beginnings of this adventure.
I was instantly curious about this quaint shop. Glancing in the windows, I could see the glow of several neon signs; it looked like a museum. But as soon as I went to the door, I saw a sign informing me that I could not walk in.
Pictured: A barrier to entry. In case you can't read it, it says "Sorry, NO WALK INS Pick up / drop off only.
Not one to be dissuaded by a piece of paper, I remembered that I had my press badge on me. I donned it, pulled out my journal, and boldly walked in. Instead of telling me to get out, I ended up getting a tour!
This place is so cool. It's one of the few places left in the country that actually does custom neon signs. As cheap as the led stuff that seems to be in every weed store and overpriced bar in the city is, it's not the same.
Pictured: Bask in the majesty.
Some facts I learned during my tour:
Let There Be Neon has been around for about 50 years and has been in one family's hands for 25-30 years. The person who showed me around, Molly, was part of this family (it's nice seeing people my age actually interested in their family's businesses) and had been formally working there for about five years.
Neon glows red when electricity is run through it while argon (another noble gas) glows blue. Other colors are achieved by lining the inside of the glass tubes with a phosphorus coating.
A kind of "mascot" of the company is Mr. Clock, a cool little dude.
Pictured: Molly and Mr. Clock!
Larger projects take years to complete. For example, one of their projects called the ladder took at least three years.
Outdoor signs have special considerations due to their exposure to the elements.
The smallest pieces start at around $900. Expensive, but this stuff has to be hand bent by technicians. There's no way to do an assembly line. It's a craft.
Pictured: Jimmy; one of the technicians who is hand bending a tube. A lot of precision is required.
It's a shame that places like this aren't explicitly open to the public. I certainly felt enriched after my tour and wish I could tell you to just drop by. But do remember, a piece of paper isn't a human. If you're not a jerk about it, you never know exactly what you will find. And, if you ever need a custom neon sign, check this place out!
To Let There Be Neon: Thank you so much for letting me come into your shop. I really did enjoy it. I'd urge you to rethink your walk-in policy. Maybe have a specific walk in time or something? Idk. But what you do is so interesting it feels like a shame that people can't see it. Wishing you the absolute best!