Business Sign Opinions

[BLAKE]

Why ban neon signs?

Mostly busy body city council types who think they're tacky. You, me and I would hazard a guess that most people would disagree, but civic weenies are making those decisions.

This was news to me until recently. One of our clients is a glass blowing school and apparently neon is banned in Fort Worth, so they can't do their sign in neon, which is double-dumb for a glass studio.

[GhostTX]

Game room(s)? Arcade machines, wack-a-mole, air hockey? It's a family restaurant, right?

[BLAKE]

Those rooms are dying to be changed into karaoke rooms, but that would require some pricey equipment and they may not be too popular if you don't serve alcohol.

[Unicorn Jeff]

"Massage" rooms

And yogurt room

[fordracing19]

Blake, any insight with interior, exterior, name change to help with the sign?

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[LANTIRN]

Game room(s)? Arcade machines, wack-a-mole, air hockey? It's a family restaurant, right?

Good idea here. I love going to places with the kid that have food and a few arcade machines.

[LANTIRN]

OP, have you considered a name change to the resturaunt, just get rid of Woolf and Den and go with something new?

[fordracing19]

OP, have you considered a name change to the resturaunt, just get rid of Woolf and Den and go with something new?

I haven't really and don't think dad wants to but anything is possible.

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[BLAKE]

Blake, any insight with interior, exterior, name change to help with the sign?

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I think others in the thread have made some good points.

On one hand, it kind of feels like a bar, and it sounds like it's had a bit of a scattered message in the past (family dining and internet cafe). On the other hand, I think the reason to have "Den" in there is a function of the play on words with "Woolf". If you're considering a change from the inclusion of "Den", and there's not a strong family connection to "Woolf", then it may be an opportunity for a fresh start with the name. That said, if you have a loyal customer base, it's surely not insurmountable. Having "family dining" on the sign does enough for clarification in my opinion.

As far as interior/exterior, it comes down to two main things: Color and texture.

As someone mentioned, the mauve kind of color is a bit dated, and if you go to a restaurant that's been built in the last few years, you'll find that the real heroes are things like glass, tile, leather, wood... the textures that make a place feel well thought out.

If you want to chat about this stuff, I'd be more than happy to jump on the phone.

[Unicorn Jeff]

If you want some sweepstakes machines in there I'll be happy to put some in

[fordracing19]

If you want to chat about this stuff, I'd be more than happy to jump on the phone.

Left you a vm on your cell.

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[KWClutch]

Want to open it up into a cigar lounge with a whiskey/scotch tasting specialty?

[46Tbird]

The name "The Woolf Den" conjures an after hours place for adults. The Fonzy wolf character on the sign only adds to that. You should ask your clientele if their first experience was a bit of a surprise, when they found out it's a family restaurant (and internet café... and tanning room).

If you're considering a change from the inclusion of "Den", and there's not a strong family connection to "Woolf", then it may be an opportunity for a fresh start with the name. That said, if you have a loyal customer base, it's surely not insurmountable. Having "family dining" on the sign does enough for clarification in my opinion.

What about keeping the name, and slightly altering the business model? An after hours adult dining / social establishment that IS NOT A BAR might be kind of cool. Low volume mood music, no smoking, and beer and wine sales along with the food you're already known for. No karaoke. God damn - NO KARAOKE. I'd go! And then the name would suit it perfectly.

[GhostTX]

The name "The Woolf Den" conjures an after hours place for adults. The Fonzy wolf character on the sign only adds to that. You should ask your clientele if their first experience was a bit of a surprise, when they found out it's a family restaurant (and internet café... and tanning room).



What about keeping the name, and slightly altering the business model? An after hours adult dining / social establishment that IS NOT A BAR might be kind of cool. Low volume mood music, no smoking, and beer and wine sales along with the food you're already known for. No karaoke. God damn - NO KARAOKE. I'd go! And then the name would suit it perfectly.

Nothing like solid VOC to figure out where you are and where you want to go. OP said 90% local, so why not create a survey and ping them on what they like and don't like. And include the name ideas and multiple concepts of the sign.

[Treybiz]

Mostly busy body city council types who think they're tacky. You, me and I would hazard a guess that most people would disagree, but civic weenies are making those decisions.

This was news to me until recently. One of our clients is a glass blowing school and apparently neon is banned in Fort Worth, so they can't do their sign in neon, which is double-dumb for a glass studio.

Fort Worth Doesn't allow shit anymore and don't get me started on sign codes there or dallas. I have to go to variance meetings fairly often to battle bored, crotchety, completely out of touch city council members that are sticking to sign codes that were written 20 years ago... Zero common sense and the inability to comprehend the evolution of design is maddening. Old mother fuckers need to get with the times.

OP, given your location the sign code might be pretty lienient and/or non-existant... I don't do much for restaurants but I could probably look up code. Or just google sign code in Gainsville...