RIVER NORTH — As the historic neon signs dwindle in numbers throughout the city, River North offers a bright spot for the once prominent urban landscape feature.
Preservation Chicago, an organization aimed at protecting the city's architectural gems, recently released its list of endangered architecture.
One of the entries on the list was the city's neon signs.
"Chicago’s historic neon signs were once a prominent part of Chicago’s landscape and cityscape, fronting almost every commercial street throughout the city," according to the organization. "While many examples remain, they are becoming rare celebrated features."
River North is rare in that it has seen a resurgence in neon signs in the last few decades, said Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller.
"It's unique because as other neighborhoods are losing their signs, River North has seen neon signs go up," Miller said.
"You have places like the Chop House, Blue Chicago, Fado, Corner Bakery with neon signs that are all fairly new, many within the last 20 years," Miller said.
Thirty years ago, the area that has come to be known as River North was a semi-industrial neighborhood with some apartments and single-room-occupancy hotels that were down on their luck, Miller said.
"River North was always in the shadows of the Loop and Near North Side," Miller said. "It always had a bit of that danger factor."
Neon signs were prominent throughout the blocks of River North advertising hotels and diners that looked like they could be out of an Edward Hooper painting, Miller said.
But in the '70s and '80s, the historic neon signs came down as changes started to take shape, Miller said.
One of the remaining historic neon signs in River North is Eerie-LaSalle Body shop, 146 W. Erie St., Miller said.
Miller is glad to see the resurgence in the brightly colored signs.
"Fortunately, businesses in River North have taken an interest in neon signs," Miller said.
"They have a magical appearance — a glow — they really have a life to them," Miller said. "They are the spirit of River North as we know it today."
Among the businesses with neon signs still lighting up night after night are Binny's Beverage Depot, 213 W. Grand Ave.; The Redhead Piano Bar, 16 West Ontario St., Maggiano's Little Italy, 516 N. Clark St., Quartino, 626 N. State St.
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