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Wichita Signs

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Welch Cleaners [gone]
Wichita, KS		 Cowboy Cleaners [gone]
Wichita, KS
Welch Cleaners was part a Wichita chain that was founded in 1932. The globe, which once revolved, was part of the original design. This was the last location left with a globe. In 2009, this location closed. The letters were removed from the building but the owner said the globe would stay. The building was still vacant in 2011. By 2015, the globe was gone. [first photo thanks Glenda Campbell]

There were a dozen Cowboy Cleaners in town by the late 1950s. The locations featured freestanding rooftop lettering and pole signs with statues of a cowboy on horseback. The interiors featured a Western theme. This was the last remaining location. It closed in 2005 and the cowboy statue was immediately taken down and sold. Although the interior was gutted, these neon letters were still there in 2010 when this photo was taken. By 2012, the letters were gone. There was also a cowboy statue at another Cowboy Cleaners location at a liquor store in Wichita. That statue is also gone now. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Western Holiday Motel
Wichita, KS		 El Mariachi [gone]
Wichita, KS		 Tax Wise
Wichita, KS		 Darlo Shoes [gone]
Wichita, KS
The Western Holiday Motel sign was once outlined with neon and the cowboy's right arm moved up and down. The cowboy may have been inspired by Vegas Vic. The sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The El Mariachi sign originally advertised for the Beuttel's Clothing store. Beuttel's operated here from 1932-1997. The sign may have been built in 1956. This sign was removed around 2020. For more, see this website.

Tax Wise opened in 1959 and this sign is probably from then. The motor box below indicates that the sign revolved originally. [map]

Darlo Shoes opened in 1968. This sign was a combination of neon and plastic. This photo is from 2010. In 2011, the central panels of the sign were missing. By 2015, the panels had been replaced. Around 2018, the sign was removed. For more, see this website.

Dutch's Greenhouse
Wichita, KS		 Angelo's Italian Restaurant
Wichita, KS		 Savute's Italian Restaurant
Wichita, KS

Dutch's Greenhouse opened here in 1957. This sign may have been built later or adapted from an earlier neon sign. [map]

The Angelo's Italian Restaurant sign is a recreation built in 2021 of the original sign. When the restaurant opened a location in 1961 in a building that previously housed Leo's Furniture, the owners decided to keep the lion and just adapt the text. The restaurant moved in 1976 and the sign was brought along. In 2000, the sign was hit by a truck and destroyed. The new sign was built by Miracle Signs. The arrow at the bottom was originally neon extension tubing that alternated between a compressed and a straight arrow. [map]

Savute's Italian Restaurant was established in 1944 as "Rosie's." The restaurant moved to its current location in 1952. The name was changed to Savute's in 1960. These signs are probably from then. [map]

Bell Floor Co.
Wichita, KS		 Morey's Place
Wichita, KS		 Road House
Wichita, KS		 Starlite
Restaurant [gone]
Wichita, KS
The Bell Floor Co. is now Bell's Abbey Carpet & Floor. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

In addition to this sign, Morey's Place featured a giant horseshoe entrance and a bull on the roof. The restaurant was Burke's Steak House before becoming Morey's around 1994. By 2015, the place had closed and the bull was gone. In 2018, the building had apparently been destroyed by a fire. The sign was still there. [map]

The Road House rooftop sign was based on the Rock Court motor court sign. It was built in 2018 by Miracle Signs. The motor court was built in 1933 and featured motel rooms, cabins, and a restaurant/supper club. One of the buildings now houses the Road House Event Center. I believe the other buildings are still being renovated. For more, see this website. [map]

The Starlite Restaurant had been closed for many years when the photo of the sign was taken in 2006. The sign was finally removed and wound up in a sign shop's yard. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]

Uptown Motel
Wichita, KS		 Southwest National
Bank Parking
Wichita, KS		Razook's
Furniture
Wichita, KS		 Pepsi-Cola
Wichita, KS
The Uptown Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2010. By 2015, the neon was gone and the sign had backlit plastic letters. For more, see this website. [map]

The Southwest National Bank Parking sign is probably from the 1950s. There is a Claude Neon Federal tag at the bottom. [map]

Razook's Furniture was established in 1954 and is still operating. This sign was built for Laughlin Furniture which opened in the building in the mid-1920s. Razook's moved into the space in 1973. [map]

This massive Pepsi-Cola sign is located at the Pepsi-Cola bottling plant. It has not been lit at night for many years. The sign has been around since at least 1960. It was probably built in the 1950s. Pepsi began using this bottle cap logo in 1950. The sign was moved to this location in 1982 from another Pepsi plant in Wichita. [map]

Jim's Furniture
Wichita, KS
2010: 2023:
The Jim's Furniture sign was built by the Storer Sign Co. around 1968 for Dick's Furniture. Around 1971, the business was sold and the sign's letters were changed to "Jim's." The sign is about 35 feet tall and features rocket-shaped panels covering the sign's support poles. It has backlit, corrugated plastic letters, typical of the 1960s. The arrow had chasing bulbs. The lower panel has always read "Furniture" and most likely was lit with neon. The sign is no longer lit. Although the sign's original paint color is unknown, it was blue in the early 2000s. By 2009, it was painted red which faded to pink. It was painted red again in 2012. [map]

More Wichita:
Athena Jewelry
Beechcraft
Bell Boy Motel [vintage; gone]
D&A Sporting Goods [vintage; gone]
Donut Whole
Edgemoor Plaza
Frontier Village [gone]
Jack Smith Shoe Shop
Jack's North Hi Carryout
Quick & Easy Washomat [gone]
Takhoma Burger [in storage]
West Side Flower Shop [gone]

Kansas
(page 1)		 Kansas
(page 2)		 Kansas
(page 3)		 Kansas
(page 4)		 Kansas
(page 5)		 Kansas City, KS
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