Steele Electric (Gone)
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy John V Cinchett

Here is a clever design for a neon sign for an electric company. This Steele Electric marquee was designed as an electric bolt by Cinchett Neon Signs. This photo dates back to 1956. Many thanks to John V Cinchett for info. 11-08

You don't expect an electrical contractor to have one of the more interesting signs on the street, but Steele Electric did just that. Standing along Florida Avenue, the bright neon marquee proved that even everyday businesses went the extra mile to catch the attention of passing motorists.

Back in the 1950s, independent shops often invested in custom signs instead of settling for plain lettering on a building. Whether it was a motel, restaurant, hardware store, or electrician, every business seemed to have its own personality. Steele Electric's sign fit right in with the colorful roadside landscape that once lined Tampa's commercial streets.

It's easy to picture the neon glowing after dark as people headed home from work or cruised up Florida Avenue. A sign like this turned an ordinary storefront into something worth remembering.

UPDATE: Steele Electric is gone, and the vintage neon sign has disappeared from Florida Avenue. The building has since found new life with other businesses. 08-26

Mons Venus
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Chibbqking

Cruising along Dale Mabry Highway, it's hard not to notice the vintage Mons Venus marquee rising above the sea of modern chain restaurant signs. While everything around it has been updated over the years, this old roadside sign still has the kind of personality that made highway advertising fun.

The club opened in 1981, and its towering sign has become a familiar landmark for anyone driving between downtown Tampa and Raymond James Stadium. Whether visitors recognize it from local lore or are simply seeing it for the first time, the marquee stands out because it looks like it belongs to an earlier era of roadside design.

It's interesting how a classic sign can outshine all the polished corporate logos surrounding it. Sometimes the older ones simply have more character.

UPDATE: Mons Venus remains in business, and the familiar roadside marquee continues to overlook Dale Mabry Highway. 08-26

Record City Records (Gone)
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy John V Cinchett

This record shop called Record City Records was on South Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa, in 1958 and sported quite a fancy neon job. This sign was made by Cinchett Neon Signs during the 1950s. Many thanks to John V Cinchett for info. 07-09

Back when records were the way people discovered new music, shops like this were a regular stop around town. Whether you were hunting for the latest hit, replacing a worn-out favorite, or just browsing the racks, a neighborhood record store was part of the fun. The sign out front promised there was music waiting inside.

Like so many independent businesses of the era, Record City didn't need a giant building to stand out. A colorful marquee and a good location along the road were often enough to bring customers through the door.

UPDATE: Record City eventually disappeared from Tampa's roadside, and the vintage sign is gone as well. 08-26