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Omaha Signs

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KFAB
Omaha, NE
>The KFAB AM radio station studios moved from Lincoln, NE to this building in Omaha in 1948. This sign might be from the 1950s or later. [map]

La Casa Pizzaria
Leavenworth St.
Omaha, NE		 La Casa Pizzaria
S. 168th St.
Omaha, NE
The La Casa Pizzaria on Leavenworth St. opened in 1953. The neon sign with "Peppi" was installed in 1957. The Peppi portion is about ten feet tall. His strumming hand is lit in two-part animation. In 2020, the original sign was hit by a truck. The Peppi panels were badly damaged. They were removed and completely restored by Signworks. It was reinstalled in 2021. For more, see this website. [map]

Around 2014, a three-dimensional, bronze statue of Peppi was installed at the Grover St. location.

In 2019, the S. 168th St. location opened with a similar, new neon sign. [map]

Max I. Walker Cleaners
Maple St.
Omaha, NE		 Max I. Walker Cleaners
Cuming St. [gone]
Omaha, NE		 Max I. Walker Cleaners
Underwood Ave.
Omaha, NE
Max I. Walker Cleaners was founded in 1917. There are about 10 locations in the Omaha area now. These three locations appear to be the oldest. The Cuming St. location opened in 1956 and this sign is probably from then. This location closed and the sign was painted over with black paint. By 2018, the Maple St. neon text panels had been replaced with plastic panels. The neon around the outside of the sign was also gone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [Maple St. map]; [Cuming St. map]; [Underwood Ave. map]

Jerry's Bar [gone?]
Omaha, NE		 Grinn & Barrett
Tattoo & Piercing [gone]
Omaha, NE		 Kremer Funeral Home
Omaha, NE
Jerry's Bar opened in 1955. This sign might be from the 1940s. It appears to have been adapted. The sign fell over in 2022 and it's not yet known if it will be repaired. It was still not there in 2023. [map]

The Grinn & Barrett Tattoo & Piercing sign was originally installed at the Marsh Motel in Villisca, IA. The sign was probably from the 1950s. It was later adapted for the Circle J Motel. The tattoo studio owner found the sign at a salvage yard. He adapted it and installed it at his business in 2013. An additional letter block was added above the arrow. Around 2022, the tattoo shop moved and the sign was removed. It is not displayed at the new location. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Kremer Funeral Home was established in 1936. The building previously housed a church. This sign might be from the 1940s. For more, see this website. [map]

Endicott-Johnson Shoes
Omaha, NE		 Hempel Sheet Metal Works
Omaha, NE
The Endicott-Johnson Shoes sign hangs inside Billy Frogg's Grill & Bar. The letters on the metal panels are perforated and backlit from inside. The shoe company was founded in 1899. This sign is probably from the 1910s.

Hempel Sheet Metal Works was founded in 1903. I don't know if this sign is vintage or modern. For more, see this website. [map]

Key Cleaners
Omaha, NE		 Wolf Brothers Western Store
Omaha, NE
Key Cleaners may have opened in 1969. This sign is probably from then. [map]

The Wolf Brothers Western Store sign was 50 feet tall. It was installed in 1975. It was damaged by a tornado that same year and rebuilt. These photos are from 2008. By 2009, the sign had been repainted. In 2021, the store closed. In 2022, the sign was removed. The owners now display the top part of the sign inside their event venue, the Hitch, at the original location. For more, see this website.

The Nifty
Omaha, NE
The Nifty bar opened in the 1930s. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Louis Market
Omaha, NE
2008: 2022:
The Louis Market opened in 1957. This sign was probably built then. It is 20 feet wide. The market closed in 2012 and the sign was removed and put in storage. The building was demolished in 2015. In 2017, the sign was restored and installed on the deck of the nearby Benson Lights apartments. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Omaha Lace
Cleaners
Omaha, NE		 Masonic Temple
Omaha, NE		 Omaha Star
Omaha, NE
Omaha Lace Cleaners was established in 1922. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Masonic Temple is also known as Florence Lodge #281 which was built in 1912. This neon sign is installed above the entrance. For more, see this website. [map]

The Omaha Star newspaper was founded in 1938. This sign is from the mid-1940s. Over the years, the sign had been stripped of neon and had repainted lettering and a map of Africa (not original). Around 2008, the sign was restored and protected with clear plastic panels. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Piccolo Pete's [gone]
Omaha, NE
Piccolo Pete's restaurant opened in 1933. There was originally a tall blade sign above the entrance. The sign with the piccolo player is from the early 1960s. The man was modeled after the owner, Tony Piccolo, who did not play the piccolo. The sign was repainted in 2008. The parking sign might be a new sign. The restaurant closed in 2015. The signs were still there in 2017. In 2019, the signs were sold to the Nevada Neon Project. They will be displayed in neon exhibitions and possibly a museum in the future. For more, see this website.

Angie's Restaurant (later Lucky's ten-O-one) [gone]
Omaha, NE
2006: 2009:
Angie's Restaurant opened here in 1977. This rooftop sign dates to the 1950s when the restaurant was known as Trentino's. In 2007, the restaurant became "Lucky's ten-O-one" and the lettering on top of the sign was changed to "Lucky's". The sign was repainted at that time but the neon was broken in 2009. The parking sign appeared to be new. The sign was still there in 2011. By 2014, the building and signs were gone.

More Omaha:
American National Bank
Bronco Burgers
Charlie Graham Body and Service [gone]
Gorat's Steak House
Holiday Lounge
Miller Electric Company
Mt. Fuji Inn [private collection]
Westgate Plaza

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