We had the opportunity to work with McCorkle Signs on their restoration of the Krispy Kreme monument sign at the corner of Peace and Person streets in Raleigh, NC. This incredible, double sided sign features backlit logos (converted from fluorescent to LED backlighting) along with some truly spectacular neon lettering and border elements.
Each individual letter is about 24” tall, and features 90º penetrating electrodes; the border sections are alternating zig-zag shapes overlaid atop one another to create a diamond pattern, with a third layer of green border tubing on top.
We replaced about a dozen pieces on this sign, including creating a new letter “G” where the former one was completely missing; we also made a number of border tube sections to fit into the original glass housings, to restore the original appearance of the neon on the sign.
To recreate the green border tube sections, we had to dip into our supply of discontinued 15mm green tubing, the phosphors to create that particular shade of green are no longer being mined or produced, and creating replacement tubes out of the modern equivalent would have led to a color mismatch on the sign. We do keep a small quantity of old glass on hand for repairs just like this one.
The result is a sign that’s once again a blazing icon on the side of the road in Raleigh, and should continue to glow like this for years to come!
Seen at the corner of Peace and Person streets in Raleigh, this incredible monument sign comes to life in the evening as the sun starts to set, casting its green, red and white glow onto the sidewalks and inviting passing drivers and pedestrians to stop in for a bite.
Featuring double-stroke channel letters and green and clear neon border tubes, this icon is one of only two remaining, neon-illuminated Krispy Kreme monument signs in North Carolina (the other is in High Point, and was standing as of 2023).
The bottom right corner of the sign had sustained damage, and some of the original neon had been replaced with ill-fitting tubes. McCorkle straightened out the damaged metal, and we provided new neon tubes that were made to fit the existing housings, eliminating the need for unsightly jumper wires or off-center tubes.
This comparison photo shows the Krispy Kreme sign in 2022 (left) and after restoration in 2025 (right).
The "G" in DOUGHNUTS on the north face of the sign was completely missing, so we used the existing, south-facing G to create a pattern and bend a new replacement.
See this sign in person at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 549 N. Person Street, Raleigh NC, 27604