With an exterior lit only by a neon window sign reading “cocktails,” it’s easy to assume from the outside that Club Charles is your standard dive.

Neon signs were enough of a novelty that when the Las Vegas Club on Fremont Street erected one in 1930 it made the Review-Journal’s front page.

As anyone who’s taken a trip to Li Po lounge or 500 Club can attest, neon signs still have a foothold in San Francisco. But they’re relegated to mom-and-pops, small businesses and the like.

“Neonific is redefining how LED signs can fuel brand activation and fan engagement,” says Alvin Chik. “We’re proud to help FC Porto supporters showcase their loyalty with light, especially during a ...

Inside The Neon Company studio on DeKalb Avenue, a guild of craftspeople spends their days hand-fabricating neon signs in much the same way their progenitors did a century ago. The company, which ...