A neon sign that for decades was a landmark on Riverside’s University Avenue is back in place.
Owners of the former Farm House Motel had the sign from the 1953 motor court remounted Tuesday, Sept .10 as they prepare to reopen the property as a shopping center called the Farm House Collective.
The sign has been in storage near John W. North High School in recent years while it was being repaired, said Beverly Bailey of Stronghold Engineering, which bought the derelict motel from the city in 2018 and has been adapting it for retail and dining.
The sign depicts a red barn, and its tip is 18 feet from the ground. It is a few feet west from where it originally stood.
While the sign is up, its neon lighting is yet to be installed. Raul Romero is working on the renovation, said Alyssa Bailey, director of business development for the family company.
The Baileys hope to open the Farm House Collective in November.
As the date nears, the Baileys say another familiar sight at the motel will be put on display. It is the statue of a horse hitched to a wagon.
Information. farmhousecollective.com
