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Watts Up! Historic JFG Sign Relighting Kick-Offs Preservation Month April 30th, 2011 Posted by Hunter Wilson
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Newly refurbished, the JFG Sign returns as a bright beacon to the Charlotte skyline on Saturday April 30 in a twilight relighting ceremony at its new home in the historic North Carolina Music Factory. The re-lighting of the JFG Sign kicks off the first weekend of events marking the beginning of Charlotte’s Historic Preservation Month. In addition to the JFG sign, the well-loved Reid’s Fine Foods sign will be lit the same weekend, on Sunday evening May 1 at the store’s new flagship location in the Myers Park neighborhood.
“We thought plugging the signs back in would be an electrifying way to kick off the month’s activities,” said Diane Althouse, Director of the non-profit preservation advocacy group Historic Charlotte, Inc. (HCI). “Both the Reid’s and JFG Signs are part of Charlotte’s local heritage. We know the public will be as excited as we are to see them returned to our skyline again.” Additional Preservation Month events include guided Uptown Architectural Walking Tours on May 7 and 8 and a Mid-Century Modern Home Tour on May 14.

The JFG Sign was removed from its old location next to the John Belk Freeway and Bank of America Stadium in October 2009 for refurbishment by the local SignArt Company. While the sign was being restored the coffee company sought a new location for the sign. The historic North Carolina Music Factory was a natural choice, company officials said. The 10,000 pound sign was hoisted into position a few weeks ago atop the VBGB Beer Hall & Garden, but the company waited until Preservation Month to relight it.

To celebrate the occasion JFG is inviting Charlotteans to the Music Factory grounds Saturday night where the sign will be turned back on right after sunset at 8:30 PM EST.

“It’s a happy ending to our story” said JFG Marketing Vice President John Sillars. “The Music Factory’s a fine new home for us, and now we’re thrilled to be lighting up the night again in Charlotte along with our friends at Reid’s Fine Foods. We really did Save Our Signs.”

In February 2010 JFG and HCI announced a partnership creating the initiative of Save Our Signs Charlotte, a fund to restore and preserve historic signs in the Charlotte area. Under the plan, JFG paid for its own sign’s restoration, but Charlotteans helped preserve other well-loved area signs by either buying JFG coffee (the company contributed a portion of each purchase to the restoration fund) or by making a direct contribution to SOS Charlotte on HCI’s website: HistoricCharlotte.org.

The Reid’s Sign, located at located at 2823 Selwyn Avenue, is the first historic sign to be awarded a grant to help with its refurbishment under the SOS program, Althouse said.

“We are very excited to be hosting the lighting ceremony this Saturday night,” said Music Factory developer Noah Lazes. “Guests can enjoy a meal and order the specialty drink at VBGB Beer Hall & Garden specifically created to honor the JFG sign. We look forward to toasting the return of a classic.
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Hunter Wilson
Owner, CarolinaNightlife.com1 Posts
Charles is the Executive Director of Carolina Nightlife and very involved in the nightlife industry in NC and SC. He has been working with venues of all sizes, different brands and products, and countless events across NC and SC for over 8 years.