Izzy’s Neon and Plastic Sign

The sign was donated to the museum by a local sign company but its original location is unknown. Nevertheless, it’s an important Cincinnati sign icon, celebrating the 100th anniversary of this well-known family business. The founder, David Kadetz, came to Cincinnati to escape the anti-semitism and economic turmoil of his native Russia, landing a job as a cook at the former Sinton-St. Nicholas Hotel on Fourth Street. He opened his own deli–possibly the first kosher restaurant west of the Alleghenies–in 1901 at Sixth and Vine. He moved to 637 Central Avenue in the late 1920s.

Following his death in December 1931, his son Isadore “Izzy” and his mother continued the business. “Izzy”, like his father was known to be a bit stubborn, however hard-working and generous, and enjoyed a good argument with customers. He and his wife, Rose, were known to yell back and forth at each other but it was all part of the theatrics. Izzy passed away in March 1983 but the business continues and now includes nine locations in the Greater Cincinnati area.

05/13/2022: changed 1 transformer & diagnose ,disassemble, make patterns for 4 broken tubes, repair 3 broken tubes from outline, remake 1 section of lettering at cost of $500.50

05/20/2022: extensive miscellaneous sign repairs at a cost of $56

10/27/2023: repair/repump bad clear red arch tube at cost of $95