6 Inviting Tavern Signs

BRINGING A BRAND to life through signage (and having fun while doing it) is, ultimately, a signmaker’s goal. Or, as Abbot Image Solutions’ (Wilmington, OH) owner Greg Abbot puts it, “This type of signage allows us to push the envelope on innovation and creativity [and] we take great pride in making it happen.”

Sweet Package

What family-owned micro-distillery Pap’s Hilltop Distillery (Hillsboro, OH) lacks in size, it makes up for in uniqueness and character, thanks, in part, to the multiple signage pieces manufactured and installed by Abbott Image Solutions. Owner Greg Abbott says the distinctive elements include a main sign consisting of a custom-painted backer with halo- and face-illuminated channel letters plus dimensional accent pieces; a dimensional, illuminated blade icon sign created using multiple layers and painting techniques; and a custom, rustic awning with channel letters and lights above and below.

Fruity Fixture

Word-of-mouth is often the way projects are passed from business to business, especially in the sign industry. Such was the case for Media 1/Wrap This (Sanford, FL) who received the request for a new, nearby Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co. sign upon a recommendation from the brewery’s general contractor. The eye-catching teal-and-black blade sign was crafted with aluminum fabrication using Piedmont Plastics ¾-in. push-through acrylic, 3M full-color vinyl printed on an HP Latex printer and Hanley LEDs from Grimco, according to Media 1 Vice President Rick Ream.

Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

Edward DeZuzio of Butler Sign Co. (Wayne, NJ) and Sean Cahill of Cahill Studio (Tinton Falls, NJ) speak of each other as though they were a match made in heaven — or at least for the creation of the signage for Tavern 5 (Pompton Plains, NJ). While restaurant design firm Cahill created the Tavern’s entire look, including the signage, Butler fabricated it, going off of Cahill’s design renderings for material selection, dimension, color and natural shadowing. Materials included Gemini solid-painted aluminum and brushed-copper letters for the exterior as well as HDU sign panels and paint by JPS Signs (Erie, PA).

A High Bar for Low Bar

“Get some Fitches, some enamel, a ladder and a snap line and you’re basically good to go,” Seth Vargas of Sleight of Hand Signs (Oakland, CA) says of the tools needed to create his handpainted signage for Low Bar, also in Oakland. Vargas created the signage to keep in line with the bar’s existing branding. “Even if the designs come from a digital medium, [hand painting] still adds a thoughtful touch,” Vargas says. “The public may not know why they like a sign, they just know it looks good, and often the signs that are appreciated and noticed are done by hand.”

A Biker Oasis

Sturgis, SD, is home to one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the US. When the city’s Oasis Bar & Fireside Lounge wanted to update its branding, Boyd Sign Systems (Englewood, CO) incorporated some of the original logo into the design while also creating a more modern, inviting look, Vice President, Sales Angela Hensarling says. The unique architecture of the building required the sign to stand off about 6 in., requiring a ¼-in. aluminum back with an added ¾-in. Kömacel PVC front panel for interest. All the parts were routed using a MultiCam router and painted using Matthews Paint System.

Good Things Come in Threes

Crossroad Sign Studio (Lynnwood, WA) was “tapped” to design, build and install signs for three area locations of Tapped Mill Creek (Mill Creek, VA). While every Tapped location has a unique sign, this particular one has two — one casual design for the front and one more formal, linear design for the rear entrance, Crossroad owner Jeff Thomas explains. As a full-service sign studio, Crossroad provides all design and project management from conception to final inspection, matching the job to the most appropriate regional fabricator when applicable.

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📷 Abbott Image Solutions | Media 1/Wrap This | Butler Sign Co. | Sleight of Hand Signs | Boyd Sign Systems | Crossroad Sign Studio