Edgewood Plaza (Rem.)
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

The neon lettering at Edgewood Plaza gave this Lakeland shopping center an extra helping of personality after dark. Stretching across the storefronts beneath the covered walkway, the illuminated names made an ordinary shopping trip a little more colorful. This was the kind of detail that could easily disappear during a renovation without attracting much attention. 10-09

Located at South Florida Avenue and Edgewood Drive, the plaza served neighborhood shoppers through a succession of businesses. Turtle’s Records & Tapes supplied a particularly memorable chapter, with a late-1980s Queensrÿche appearance remembered by local music fans. Nearby Southgate Shopping Center later appeared in Edward Scissorhands, giving this stretch of the avenue connections to both music and movies.

UPDATE: Edgewood Plaza remains open, but the vintage neon lettering pictured here has been removed during later renovations. The shopping center continues serving customers without the nighttime display that once distinguished its storefronts. 07-26

Pensacola Beach Sign (Rem.)
Gulf Breeze, FL
Photo courtesy Christopher Hammersla

The Pensacola Beach sign makes quite an announcement that sand and water are ahead. A colorful sailfish, bright starburst, and animated lighting turn a directional marker into a roadside attraction. It’s the sort of landmark that becomes part of the vacation before you reach the beach itself. 09-10

The original display was installed in downtown Pensacola in 1960 before moving to Gulf Breeze in 1962 to guide beach traffic. Its bold design made it recognizable to generations of returning visitors. Hurricane damage eventually brought an end to the original structure, but the community retained the familiar image through a replacement built in 2006.

UPDATE: The Pensacola Beach sign continues welcoming motorists, although the display is a recreation of the original. Its sailfish and starburst preserve the recognizable design, carrying on a roadside tradition that began more than six decades ago. 07-26