"Whatever Was Done on the Original, We Want Exactly That"
When asked what he wanted for the new location's sign, the owner's direction was simple and absolute: match the original exactly. The original DTLA sign is a genuine Los Angeles icon, a piece of neon history that's been part of the store's identity for years. Neon Flamingo previously had the honor of restoring that original sign, so recreating it for the new location came with a real sense of responsibility to get every detail right.
Aged Sign Painting, Done by Hand
Matching the original meant replicating age, not just shape and glow. For that we brought in Alicja Polachek, a sign painter and glass gilder whose traditional hand-lettering and gold leaf work brought exactly the right touch to the project. Together, the team used traditional aged sign painting techniques to recreate the exact look of the original piece: the wear, the patina, the specific character that decades of visibility have given the downtown sign. It was slow, meticulous work, with every detail checked against the original until the new sign looked like it had been hanging for years, not weeks.
A Hidden Easter Egg: The Book Tunnel, Reimagined
The DTLA flagship is probably best known for its book tunnel, a passageway built entirely from books and one of the most photographed spots in Los Angeles retail. The Studio City location has no room for the real thing, so we nodded to it instead. On the back of the new sign, facing into the store, sits a hand-painted recreation of the tunnel lit with warm golden neon so it glows like a portal. Most customers will never know to look for it. Anyone who knows the original store will catch it right away.
Why This Project Matters
An exact replica request turns into real craft fast: matching decades of wear by hand, then finding a way to carry over a beloved feature that could not physically travel. This is the kind of client relationship the studio values most, built on trust, history, and the small details that make a place feel like itself. It was an honor to build, and we hope it glows on Lankershim for decades.
Client: The Last Bookstore
Owners: Josh Spencer and Jenna Spencer
Location: Studio City / North Hollywood, CA (4437 Lankershim Blvd.)
Collaborator: Alicja Polachek, aged sign painting and gold leaf
Scope: Exact recreation of the original DTLA sign, hand-painted aging techniques, hidden golden neon book tunnel detail on reverse side
This piece was hand-bent using the same custom glass neon fabrication process we use for every commission.
