Celebration to include live music, food and drink, and good fun!

To benefit Casa Pacifica. Ventura Fire Foundation and Ventura Community Police Foundation
Wednesday, September 21, 2022 6:00pm to 10:00pm

The largest neon sign installation of 2022 in Ventura County will be unveiled at Tony’s Pizzaria in Ventura on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 between 6:00pm – 10:00pm. The event will also be a celebration of the Pizzaria’s 63rd anniversary, which includes entertainment by Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries (50’s tribute band).

The new sign, a throwback to the heyday of neon in the 1920s, uses six different colors of neon – 300 feet of neon glass tube was used in the making of the two-sided billboard. Originally installed in the 1940S, the old sign stopped working many years ago and the approval of a replacement sign was rejected by the city until 2017.

The design by Ventura based Chris Jensen Branding, harkens back an almost lost era of Americana art.

“Our father was a man who was loved and admired throughout Ventura. And now his name and legacy will brighten Ventura forever”, said owner Bruce Barrios.

Founder Johnny ‘Tony” Barrios was a local legend. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in France during WWII, and was the man on a horse that raced Olympic champion Jesse Owens at the Fairgrounds site in the 1950s. Tony passed in 2013 at the age of 87 but his children Bruce and Tony carry on the tradition. Like Tony always said, “Every pizza is a masterpizza!” Local pro surf champion Mary Osborne will officially flick the switch on the new sign at 8:00pm

ORDER OF EVENTS:
7:15pm – Chumash blessing
7:30pm – Ribbon cutting by Ventura Chamber of Commerce
8:00pm – Sign lighting
(Music by Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries until 10:00pm)

Check out the “new” Hawaiian shave ice at Tony’s Pizzaria in @DowntownVentura
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