Arizona Daily Star photographer Kelly Presnell revisited neon signs that dot the landscape in Tucson. Many are a throwback to a time when a handful of longtime restaurants, hotels and bars served a smaller city. Some of the signs are barely hanging on today. Some have been lovingly restored to their former glory. Regardless, there's no way to duplicate the feel of neon when the sun goes down.
The distinctive neon sign for Kingfisher Bar and Grill, reflected in the roof of a car, at 2564 E Grant Rd. The restaurant, which opened in 1993, is a steady staple of the Tucson restaurant scene.
The neon signs lighting up the Crossroads Restaurant, 2602 S. 4th Ave. It's the oldest Mexican restaurant on 4th Ave. – it opened in 1936.
An Arizona Daily Star story in 2009 highlighted the colorful history:
From the beginning, long before fast-food joints were ubiquitous, Crossroads was a drive-in. There were a handful of tables inside, but the action was outdoors for decades.
It was a wild scene, said owner Roberto "Bobby" Gonzalez Jr., who literally grew up at the restaurant. He was 6 years old when his father and uncle bought Crossroads in 1979. His uncle, Tony, became the sole owner in 1982.
"The parents would drink their pitchers in the car, while the kids ran around in the lot as mariachi music blared. It was their playground," Bobby Gonzalez said.
The non-working sign (which used to rotate) at Color TV King, now Rugs & More, 2420 N. Campbell Ave. Jack Fitzgerald moved from New York to Tucson in 1961. "Fitzgerald, The Color TV King" opened a remodeled store 1964 featuring more than 200 televisions, according to a newspaper ad. Fitzgerald quickly became known for his television ad pitches. A Zenith console color TV sold for $218 – "the lowest price ever."
In this Series
Visual series: Tucson's Neon Culture
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Updated
Tucson's Neon Culture, Part One
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Updated
Tucson's Neon Culture, Part Two
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Updated
Tucson's Neon Culture, Part Three
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