News

Since the 1980s, a Board of Directors has overseen the theater’s operation. Unfortunately, the previous Board allowed its neon marquee to go dark over the past six years. Inspired by my long association with the Panida as an employee and volunteer, I initiated an effort to save the marquee. My endeavor was aided by Randy Dixon of the Idaho Heritage Trust, who had restored neon signage in Pocatello.

I contacted the YESCO Electric Sign Company located in Post Falls, Idaho, one of the region’s last remaining neon fabricators. They provided an estimate, as did a second sign company. The Board selected YESCO after the fundraising chairperson, Foster Cline, cultivated numerous donations and grants for the funding. My job was coordinating the work and obtaining permits and an estimate for the restoration of the marquee.

Work began in August 2021, as YESCO crews removed all internal and external neon and replaced the interior lighting behind all white plexiglass panels with cost-efficient LED elements. Throughout the summer, I set up ladders and coordinated a boom truck to clean, repair, prime, and repaint the entire structure and resurfaced its roofing along with Panida’s facility manager, Bill Lewis. I also rehabbed and hand-lettered the original mounted PANIDA dimensional letters on the marquee’s mast. Later that month, YESCO completed the neon tubing installation on time and close to budget...

Read the full article written by Doug Jones at sca-roadside.org

LAS VEGAS – As the six finalists in “The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway” prepare to cook for the judges, beginning on April 5, each group will test their dishes at Vegas Test Kitchen in Downtown Las Vegas when they cook sample menu items for the general public.  YESCO is proud to partner with Dapper Industries and will provide a sign to the winner.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

• Random Act Diner (Chef Khai Vu, Luis De Santos, Dia Young, Freddie Paloma)
  • April 1: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  • April 2:  2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Savage Fine Diner & Tavern (Christopher Jones, Chuck Fromer, Glen Rogers)
  • April 8: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • April 9: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• The Tipsy Buffalo (Kevin Kwan, Richie Liu)
  • April 15:  11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • April 16:  11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Dinette (Nick A. Della Penna, Trent Jones, Jerad Howard)
  • April 22:  10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • April 23:  10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Simple Diner (Chef Stacey Dougan, Uniquea Taylor, Maribel Alvarez, Jen Falcione, Jenn Tramaglino)
  • April 29:  9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • April 30:  9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

• Winnie & Ethels Downtown Diner (Aaron Lee, Mallory Gott)
  • May 6:  12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • May 7:  12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Each team will be able to change up their menus to help test various items and determine which selections they want to serve to the judges the following Tuesday after their public events. Full responsibilities and expectations for using VTK will be provided by Founder, Jolene Mannina. Additional information and reservations can be found at https://vegastestkitchen.com/events. Reservations can be made on the website, however walk-ins are more than welcome at all events. Guests will be charged prices set by each individual team, with 10% of their proceeds donated to Vegas Test Kitchen.

Judging for each team will take place the Tuesday following their public event. Judges include   J Dapper, Cory Harwell (Carson Kitchen, Butcher & Thief), John Simmons (Firefly, Tacos & Beer, Graze) and Marc Marrone (Nice Hospitality --Graffiti Bao, skinnyFATS).

Located in the historic Huntridge Shopping Center on Charleston Blvd (1120 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89104) in Downtown Las Vegas, Dapper Companies is turning over to one lucky chef or restaurateur, a brand new nearly 3,000-square-foot custom-designed restaurant fully built out with furniture, fixtures and equipment, branding, signage and marketing plan, making it ready to open for business. The estimate to build out and brand the endeavor is more than $950,000 in goods and services.

The winning restaurant will be designed, built, furnished and equipped with goods and services from incredibly dedicated partners who are the tops in their industry. Partners include: Dapper Companies, YESCO, Hydro Studios, AAA Restaurant Supply, Meadows Bank, RAD Studio, National Technology Associates, Ava Rose Agency, Design Concepts, The Humblewood Company, Dollar Loan Center, Core Advisory Partners, Sysco, Signature Management and VVCard Merchant Services, Signature Management, Misko Art, Vegas Chamber and Emser Tile, with more coming onboard.

For additional information, please visit https://lasvegascoffeeshopcontest.com/

OGDEN — The distinctive signage arching over Washington Boulevard near the Ogden River that serves as a symbol of Ogden is getting a facelift. The original sign was built by YESCO in 1936.

Crews this week started taking down the words spelling “Ogden” on either side of the steel truss arch and other signage so it can be replaced. The old neon lighting will be replaced with more energy-efficient LED lighting, though the overall look will stay the same

“It’s been getting increasingly hard to get people to do repairs on that light,” said Jay Lowder, Ogden’s public services director. “We’re changing it to technology we can support.”

The look will be the same, he said. Wording on either side of “Ogden” on the north side of the arch reads, “Home of Weber State University” and “Pioneer Days Week July 24th.” On the south side, the wording on either side of “Ogden” reads, “It pays to live in” and “Home of Weber State University.” That won’t change.

The new lights, though, might be brighter, Lowder said. Moreover, the color of the new lighting will be changeable. Around July 4 (Independence Day) and July 24 (Pioneer Day), for instance, the lighting on the sign might be red, white and blue, he said...

Read the full article written by Tim Vandenack at standard.net

Performance Outdoor Advertising sells key assets

March 15, 2022

Pocatello, ID - Performance Outdoor Advertising announced today the divestiture of its twelve digital outdoor advertising displays in eastern Idaho to YESCO Outdoor Media.

YESCO Outdoor Media has extensive coverage throughout the mountain west, and these locations will supplement their expansive presence in eastern Idaho. Drachman M&A Co. represented Performance Outdoor Advertising in the transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

YESCO Outdoor Media President Pat O’Donnell said the purchase was a strategic addition to their holdings that serves the company’s growth goals as the national economy continues to rebound.

“We believe this acquisition will allow us to better serve our customers as we continue to grow and improve our network,” O’Donnell said. “Performance’s displays are in desirable locations in growing markets. We look forward to folding them into our infrastructure and continuing their momentum.”

Performance founder Greg Suttner said the sale was motivated by a desire to work on new ventures, adding his company’s customer base will be in great hands with YESCO Outdoor Media.

“This was a great match, and everyone in the industry knows YESCO Outdoor Media is a first-class owner and operator. We are looking forward to seeing what they do with these assets,” Suttner said.

Drachman M&A Co. CEO Max Drachman said the sale was further proof that western states are top-of-mind for companies in growth mode.

“Few states have benefited more by post-pandemic consumer dynamics than Idaho.” Drachman said. “Consumers are relocating to the mountain west in record numbers, and advertisers are eager to get in front of them. Digital OOH assets are the premier media for advertisers interested in reaching consumers in markets like Pocatello.”

About Drachman M&A Co.
Drachman M&A Co. is a boutique firm focused on Mergers and Acquisitions of Outdoor Advertising and Tower assets. We provide guidance and strategic advice from a position of total transparency and complete alignment with the goals of our clients. Drachman M&A Co. is built on a foundation of trust, confidentiality, and integrity coupled with a reputation for persistence and delivering results for clients. drachmanco.com 

Lighting Up Las Vegas: YESCO Marks a Glittering Century

On display February 3 – March 23, 2022

Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), founded in 1920, has played a significant role in creating Las Vegas’ reputation as a city of neon. From its early use of neon on Fremont Street in the 1930s, to the Strip “spectaculars” of the 1950s and 1960s, to the cutting-edge technologies of today, YESCO has helped mold the image of Las Vegas as it is understood around the world. Its iconic signs have come to be recognized as works of art and their significance transcends their function as mere advertisements.

 In celebration of YESCO’s 100th anniversary in 2020, this exhibition is curated jointly by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) Las Vegas News Bureau Archive and The Neon Museum and examines the history and impact of YESCO on Las Vegas. The exhibition follows the intertwined stories of the company, the city, the technology, and the men and women who made it all possible. While this display was slated to open in 2020 to mark YESCO’s centennial, it was delayed due to the COVID pandemic. We are now thrilled to bring this exhibit to the public in 2022 on the 102nd anniversary of YESCO.

Lighting Up Las Vegas: YESCO Marks a Glittering Century will be on display at the Nevada Humanities Program Gallery until March 23, 2022, and may be viewed by appointment Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 to 4 pm and until 9 pm the first Friday of the month for First Friday events. Masks are required and numbers are limited to accommodate social distancing. Contact Bobbie Ann Howell at bahowell@nevadahumanities.org or call 702.800.4670 to make an in-person viewing appointment.

Visit nevadahumanities.org to learn more.