Ann Arbor Signs - Original Prints by Veronica Ortolan

Year

2024

Six prints of old Ann Arbor business signs

"While I work in many artistic mediums ranging from digital to traditional, I have a special love for the very unique and tactile process of blockprinting. Therefore for representing these historical signs, I thought it would only be appropriate to use blockprint, a medium which itself has historical roots going back to older forms of printing like woodcut and letterpress. Each sign was handcarved then handprinted, with each color being printed individually from the same carved block for a layered effect of what is essentially 3 unique prints on the same paper. For the offsetting of the colors, I was also inspired by the slight, flawed offset of colors that was often seen in printing at the time these signs would have been up, resulting in bright colors popping out at the edges of designs unintentionally. This misregistration made it so even commercial pieces which were meant to be identical had slight unique qualities to them, a trait that every blockprint shares as well.

Researching each business and imagining the people who patronized them when they were still open was a delight. From restaurants to bookshops, each sign has a different personality to it, and different challenges involved with carving and printing them. I hope through this series I have been able to bring back a bit of the love these businesses must have had in their lifetime, and possibly remind someone of a good memory they had at them."

-Veronica Ortolan, Printmaker

		Steve's Lunch Steve's Lunch was a classic 1960s lunch counter diner opened at 1313 S University Ave by Greek immigrant Steve Vaniadis. Around 1972 Steve sold the business to an outgoing Korean couple, known to customers as Mr. and Mrs. Lee. They kept the diner’s name and the no frills location grew into a cultural institution with fantastic Korean food. Steve’s Lunch was a hangout for townies and students alike, and one of the first Ann Arbor restaurants to offer standards like Japchae and Bibimbap. In the late 1970s, the Lee family sold the business, much to the dismay of devoted regulars.
The Cracked Crab Located at 112 W Washington St, The Cracked Crab was a tiny restaurant with a big reputation. Opened in 1971, it became a celebrated local landmark for consuming some of Ann Arbor’s best seafood. Although the restaurant closed in 1991, many townies still fondly remember the exceptional Dungeness crab and the funky nautical decor.
		Del Rio Opened in 1970, Del Rio was a cooperatively run Ann Arbor bar, featuring management by consensus, with owners and employees having equal say. Some would call it a bohemian sanctuary, others simply a hippie bar. On the corner of West Washington and Ashley Streets, at 122 W Washington, this dimly lit space served up the legendary Det Burger (a cheeseburger soaked in beer then topped with mushrooms and black olives), an eclectic music selection from a collection of over 1,000 cassette tapes, indifferent customer service, and the best bathroom graffiti in the city. Following a last-night celebration, it closed in the early morning hours of January 1, 2004.
Bimbo's Perfect thin-crust pizza cut into squares, peanut shells on the floor, singing along with the band, and pitchers of beer and red pop were all staples of the legendary Bimbo's at 114 E Washington St in Ann Arbor. Matt "Bimbo" Chutich opened this mecca for families in 1962, where parents and children could both enjoy themselves. The fun lasted until the restaurant closed in 1983. Chutich owned/operated a chain of Bimbo’s restaurants all across the country, with locations in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Minnesota, as well as many other Michigan locations, including another in Ann Arbor known as Bimbo's on the Hill.
		Blue Frogge The basement space at 611 Church St, near South University Ave, once housed a restaurant, bar, and disco known as Blue Frogge. Opened in July 1976, it offered "DISCO Dancing 7 Nights A Week" during the height of disco mania. It lasted two years until it was remodeled as Don Cisco’s Mexican Restaurant & Disco in July 1978. Despite its brief existence, Madonna once mentioned frequenting Blue Frogge to a Rolling Stone interviewer, sealing its status as an iconic Ann Arbor nightclub hangout. In July 1979 it transformed into Rick’s American Cafe, which university students still frequent today.
Shaman Drum Bookshop Shaman Drum Bookshop was an independent Ann Arbor bookstore originally located at 313 S State St. Opened in 1980 by Karl Pohrt, it took over the upstairs space occupied by Paideia Books. In 1994 the beloved store expanded down into two, large, street level storefronts and was frequented by fiercely loyal customers until it closed in June 2009.