ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 coming up in 2026, the City of Albuquerque is working with 14 local businesses and property owners to restore vintage signs along the “Mother Road.”
The City of Albuquerque Department of Arts & Culture and Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is investing $432,000 in the Revamp Route 66: Sign Improvement Grant Program. As of mid-September, a little over one year after the program was announced, new and restored signs are popping up across the city.
Some businesses like Root 66 Barber and The Imperial Inn have already had their signs finished. The 5501 Plaza and the Dog House said their signs are almost complete.
“It’s been an honor to get it for sure. These signs aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination and it’s not something we would have probably invested that much money in. So to be awarded that really meant a lot to us,” said Dacia Weist, owner of 5501 Plaza and program participant.
“It’s going to be great; because it’s going to show, it’s neon. So we are looking forward to it, and hopefully it will attract more people,” said Vicki Jaramillo, general manager of Dog House.
KRQE NEWS 13 compiled the following list and photo gallery to track the transformation of the signs at the 14 establishments participating in the Route 66 sign program.
**Note: Renderings of the signs may differ from the final product, and some establishments have already had their sign projects completed.
–Cost estimates listed below came from the project applications submitted to the City of Albuquerque that were requested by KRQE.
5501 Plaza, 5431 Central Ave. NW
Signs at 5501 Plaza, 5431 Central Ave. NW in Albuquerque. March 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Rendering of signs at 5501 Plaza, 5431 Central Ave. NW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Finished sign at 5501 Plaza, 5431 Central Ave. NW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Estimated cost of improvements: $30,404.06
Project status: Almost complete
Brief description of project: The existing signs have been updated with neon, vinyl graphics, electrical, and more.
Americana Motel, 5908 Central Ave. SW
Americana Motel, 5908 Central Ave. SW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Sign rendering for the Americana Motel, 5908 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $30,834.56
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Restore the neon, vinyl, and aluminum signage. Create a new aluminum arrow.
Arrive Hotel, 717 Central Ave. NW
Arrive Hotel, 717 Central Ave. NW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Rendering of the sign at Arrive Hotel, 717 Central Ave. NW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $142,310
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: New letter cabinets with backlighting. New blue neon, electronics, and more.
Central Grill, 2056 Central Ave. SW
Central Grill, 2056 Central Ave. SW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Rendering of the sign for Central Grill, 2056 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $29,085.66
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Add neon with LED upgrades to the “breakfast and lunch portion of the sign” that includes the Route 66 logo.
Dog House, 1216 Central Ave. SW
Dog House sign, 1216 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. Circa 2018 (Credit: KRQE )
Sign rendering for Dog House, 1216 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Almost completed sign at Dog House, 1216 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer )
Estimated cost of improvements: $18,511.45
Project status: Almost Complete
Brief description of project: Replace the street sign and include neon that makes the dog’s tail appear to be moving and as if the dog is eating hot dogs.
Imperial Inn, 701 Central Ave. NE
Rendering of The Imperial Inn sign at 701 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Finished The Imperial Inn sign at 701 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque. July 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Estimated cost of improvements: $59,435
Project status: Completed
Brief description of project: The sign project has already been completed. Zeon Signs/EPNM helped reimagine it.
Loma Verde Apartments, 7503 Central Ave. NE
Loma Verde Apartments, 7503 Central Ave. NE. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Rendering of the sign for Loma Verde Apartments, 7503 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $21,161.23
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Retrofit the double-faced pole display, add new neon, aluminum, and vinyl graphics.
The Pickleballer, 1720 Central Ave. SW
The Pickleballer site at 1720 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. April 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
The Pickle Baller neon sign rendering. (Credit: Brink Creative)
Estimated cost of improvements: $35,090
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Create a new neon sign with a marquee on the original signpost. The sign will be used to advertise the restaurant and pickleball space. It will feature neon pickleball paddles and a ball that will appear to do a volley.
Root 66 Barber, 5303 Central Ave. NW
Sign rendering for Root 66 Barber, 5303 Central Ave. NW in Albuquerque. (Credit: Jason Mock/Thunderstruck Signs)
Finished sign at Root 66 Barber, 5303 Central Ave. NW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Estimated cost of improvements: $12,405.63
Project status: Completed
Brief description of project: Thunderstruck Signs replaced an old Speedy Bucks sign with a new Root 66 Barber shop sign.
Sandia Peak Inn, 4614 Central Ave. SW
Sandia Peak Inn, 4614 Central Ave. SW. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Sandia Peak Inn sign rendering at 4614 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $25,659.95
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Repair neon, add new aluminum for logo and other parts of sign, and refinish letters.
Tewa Lodge, 5715 Central Ave. S
Sign rendering for Tewa Lodge at 5715 Central Ave. SE in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $19,372.50
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Repair lights, including neon. Repaint letters and parts of the sign.
Trade Winds Shopping Center, 5400 Central Ave. SE
Trade Winds Shopping Center sign, 5400 Central Ave. SE. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Trade Winds Shopping Center sign rendering, 5400 Central Ave. SE. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $17,220
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Needs rewiring, new paint, and a new sign layout that will feature the Route 66 logo.
Utility Shack (former site), 11035 Central Ave. NE
Sign post at the former Utility Shack location, 11035 Central Ave. NE, in Albuquerque. March 2024 (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Sign rendering for the former Utility Shack location, 11035 Central Ave. NE, in Albuquerque. March 2024 (Credit: Signplex LLC, Jacob Torrez, and James Flores for the artwork)
Estimated cost of improvements: $42,400.15
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Create a brand new sign using the original foundation, which will include new paint, LED lights, neon, and artwork from a local student. Note: The artwork in the rendering above will not be part of the finished product.
Westward Ho Motel, 7500 Central Ave. SW
Westward Ho Motel, 7500 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. September 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)
Sign rendering for Westward Ho Motel, 7500 Central Ave. SW in Albuquerque. (Credit: EPNM/Zeon Signs)
Estimated cost of improvements: $20,644
Project status: Pending
Brief description of project: Refurbish and retrofit the double-faced sign to include new paint, lettering, and neon.
To learn more about the program, click here.