One of my favorite hallmarks of city life is the array of neon signs that dot the built environment.  Well done signs can serve not only as advertisements for a business, but become neighborhood icons.

There are a number of signs that have become hallmarks to the places I’ve lived and loved.  For me, nothing evokes a part of Chicago like the Double Door sign that hangs over Milwaukee Avenue.  Likewise, few items capture the whimsy of State Street in Madison, WI like the Badger Liquors sign that guards the intersection of State and Gorham.

St. Louis is blessed to have its share of neon.  You may have already seen my ode to The Royale and their beautiful, purple sign that brightens an otherwise dark stretch of Kingshighway.  However, there are a number of other great neon signs found throughout the city.

One that I always enjoy seeing is the sign from the Gelateria del Leone on South Grand.  It’s not big and certainly doesn’t stand out like others signs throughout town.  However, it has an understated beauty, a glow that welcomes you to the many shops, restaurants and bars of this area.  Here’s a couple of shots of that sign from a recent Sunday night stroll through the neighborhood.

The facade of the Gelateria del Leone on South Grand, lit by the warm glow of their “Gelateria” neon.

A closer view of the red neon Gelateria sign that marks the corner of Wyoming and Grand.