It may not be as big or as famous as Detroit's iconic tire along I-94, but local leaders still believe the sign for Alban's restaurant on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham is worth saving.
The Woodward Avenue Action Association plans to take down the historic sign from its post along Michigan's main street just north of Maple and put it into storage until a permanent home for it can be found. The idea is to maintain the character of the national scenic byway by preserving its historic items and symbols, such as the Alban's sign.
"It's a piece of Woodward history," says Nina Butler, program manager for the Woodward Avenue Action Association. "A lot of people recognize it and want to see it preserved."
The sign's neon lights and incandescent bulbs have greeted patrons of Alban's restaurant since the 1940s. Alban's has been a staple for Metro Detroit residents and a Birmingham institution for decades until it closed about a year ago. A doctor's office is moving into the building and replacing the sign. That prompted local leaders to step in and save it.
The move is not without precedent. The Woodward Avenue Action Association recently saved the old sign for the Palms Motel in Royal Oak, another iconic symbol along Woodward. Both signs will be stored in a storage facility in Ferndale until new homes are found.
The current plan is to use the signs as part of a Woodward Welcoming Center, which the Woodward Avenue Action Association is currently studying the feasibility of building.
Source: Nina Butler, program manager for the Woodward Avenue Action Association
Writer: Jon Zemke
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