BUTTE — Around a hundred years ago, Main Street in Uptown Butte was illuminated by neon lights, and a local business owner is now aiming to revive that tradition with modern LED lights at their storefront.
“We’re really thrilled to bring back some neon lights to Main Street. When you look at old photos of Uptown Butte, you often see these beautiful neon signs that added life and vibrancy to the area. We want to contribute to that history by installing our own modern version,” says Jon Wick, owner of 5518 Designs on Main Street.
Wick’s boutique offers a variety of products, including shoes, camping gear, jewelry, stickers, and graphic t-shirts celebrating Butte and Southwest Montana.
The store is located in the historic Chequamegon Cafe building, a 140-year-old landmark in Butte. The new LED sign on the facade adds a contemporary touch.
“We have these cool LED lights that are lightweight at around a hundred and fifty pounds,” Wick mentions.
The sign is eight-and-a-half feet tall, featuring about four dozen energy-efficient LED bulbs. It was handmade by local sign maker John Weitzel over a five-month period.
Wick acknowledges the support from Butte-Silver Bow’s Urban Revitalization Agency in bringing the sign to fruition.
“It has only been up for less than 24 hours, and I’ve already received positive feedback through messages and emails about how amazing the sign looks. That truly warms my heart because our goal is to inject excitement, vibrancy, and energy into Uptown Butte,” Wick expresses.
