Another bright sign appears for Summer Avenue’s future (Excerpt)
About a half-century has gone by since such a sign crowned the triangular marquee of the structure built as a movie theater 82 years ago.
“We know they were gone since ’75,” William “Bill” Townsend said of the two sets of letters, one facing westbound traffic and the other eastbound traffic.
“That’s 46 years, but we think they may have been taken down 10 years earlier when it was a nightclub,” the real estate investor and developer who bought the building that last housed an adult entertainment business. . .
Frank Balton Sign Company installers Francisco Patino (kneeling) and his daughters Esmeralda Patino (orange shirt) and Michelle Patino install the newly made “Luciann” sign atop the marquee on Wednesday, Sept. 15. (Tom Bailey/Daily Memphian)
Gone from the porcelain marquee is the previous message — “Paris Adult Entertainment XXX Center XXX” — as well the shelves of adult sex products and small adult-video booths that operated inside before Townsend bought the building in January 2020. . .
“We’ve emptied out the building,” he said. “The space is incredible and beautiful. … We’re in the early stages of developing a plan for development of that and other properties on Summer Avenue.” . . .
Now the leading possibility for filling the Luciann is an event center and music venue, he said.