Flamingo Bowl To Get Flashy Marquee Sign
Developer and entrepreneur Joe Edwards is expanding his magic touch beyond the Delmar Loop. Soon to open will be an instantly trendy new bowling alley, the Flamingo Bowl. Wednesday he appeared before the Board of Adjustment to appeal a routine denial of a sign permit. His proposed sign did not meet the standard criteria.
The Board of Adjustment is pretty conservative when it comes to signs, perhaps a good thing. They try to avoid strobe lights and reader board that are generally considered to be too tacky and possibly overly distracting to drivers. Edwards’ proposed sign will have features like signs at his other establishments such as Blueberry Hill and The Pageant. Namely, it will have a reader board to announce upcoming bands performing at the bowling alley (yes, live music while bowling!).
But reader boards are one of those no-nos except in rare cases. Board members were stumped when trying to think of a reader board on Washington Avenue — almost to the point where I thought they’d say no to this feature. I didn’t want to testify in this issue but I could easily think of one — the convention center.
I briefly got a glimpse of the proposed sign for Flamingo Bowl but what I saw looked very interesting. Thankfully they approved his sign request. I think this will be a great addition to Washington Avenue, helping draw visitors westward along Washington Ave from the convention center.
I welcome the return of the artistic and expensive lighted sign.
– Steve
I think the signs are a great visual. My one concern about the signs in the Loop is that the people on them are white and straight.
I understand Joe is trying to create a retro atmosphere, but not everything back then was cool. Certainly the Loop has come a long way. I would guess that much of the money spent in the loop does not come from straight white consumers.
I appreciate Joe Edwards and what he has done and would appreciate him even more if he showed some sensitivity on this issue.
Hope the Flamingo Bowl sign lends itself to a more ‘enlightened’ feel.
[REPLY – I somewhat agree although I don’t know that we have to take the whole diversity/PC thing too far. Besides, have you seen the male character on the Pin-Up Bowl sign? He is certainly white but he doesn’t look so straight. – SLP]
check the inside of pinup bowl…many of the pinup women are black.
As far as the straight/gay issue, I’m not sure having two guys playing grab-ass on a neon sign would be a great idea…for Joe Edwards’ business or for Wash Ave.
[REPLY I think someone would be hard pressed to communicate sexuality on a static sign without getting into stereotypes.
And yes, the grab-ass sign is better suited for Manchester in the Grove… – SLP]