Suzann and I actually made this trip in 2014. I'm a little late in posting this. We stopped in Austin, Texas on our way to Brackettville. I had seen a video on "Roadhouse Relics" that my good friend Craig Weeks sent me. Being the "artsy' kind of person that I am, I was intrigued. Roadhouse Relics is a small business located just south of downtown Austin on South 1st street. The owner and proprietor is Todd Sanders who makes "vintage" neon signs. I made a quick phone call and spoke with Todd, asking if we could drop by, take a walk through his business and take a few pictures. He said that he had a quick errand to run, but we were welcome to drop by in about an hour. So Suzann and I drove around the area for a bit to kill some time. We stopped by a place called "Sandy's Custard" and got some ice cream. Apparently this is a well-known spot in town and has been for over 40 years. While we were there a young man approached us and asked if we'd buy him a cone. We were more than happy to oblige. We also went to "The Broken Spoke." A famous Austin eatery and dance hall. Anybody who is anyone in country music has played there. From Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Drew Womack (Suzann's Cousin) and a host of others. The place is literally crammed full of country music memorabilia. While we were there, the owner, Jim White drove up in his big white "Caddy." He was all flash, sparkle and 100% Texas showman. We got to visit with him a bit and take his picture too. We had a bowl of his chili & hung out there for a while. then it was time to head back to Roadhouse Relics and visit Todd.
Sanders, the owner, studied graphic art in college. During a spring break trip through Austin, Todd was really taken with the city and neon art. He soon relocated to Austin and went to work for a neon sign company. After three years, in 1995, he started his own business. In 2007, he stopped building commercial signage to devote himself to his own art.
The signs that he builds are all custom designs. He provides hand-drawn designs and sends them out to fabricators who do the actual bending and shaping of the neon tubes for the signage. Todd himself paints the signs and employs a process whereby he weathers the metal to give it a vintage look, a process that he developed himself. The signs that he creates are original designs. They are not reproductions or sign restoration.
It was a real treat, not only to see some of his work, but Todd graciously invited us to walk around in his "back yard" where he has quite a collection of vintage stuff. From old bumper cars to a wide assortment of old signs, banners, gas pumps and bicycles, including a fifteen foot tall chicken with a tuxedo jacket, hat and bow tie. A mobile home trailer in the back yard serves as his office. It was all marvelous!
In a sentence, Todd says of his work, "I like to make art that, when you die, your kids will fight over."
- Mark & Suzann Smith, October - 2014
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Sanders, the owner, studied graphic art in college. During a spring break trip through Austin, Todd was really taken with the city and neon art. He soon relocated to Austin and went to work for a neon sign company. After three years, in 1995, he started his own business. In 2007, he stopped building commercial signage to devote himself to his own art.
The signs that he builds are all custom designs. He provides hand-drawn designs and sends them out to fabricators who do the actual bending and shaping of the neon tubes for the signage. Todd himself paints the signs and employs a process whereby he weathers the metal to give it a vintage look, a process that he developed himself. The signs that he creates are original designs. They are not reproductions or sign restoration.
It was a real treat, not only to see some of his work, but Todd graciously invited us to walk around in his "back yard" where he has quite a collection of vintage stuff. From old bumper cars to a wide assortment of old signs, banners, gas pumps and bicycles, including a fifteen foot tall chicken with a tuxedo jacket, hat and bow tie. A mobile home trailer in the back yard serves as his office. It was all marvelous!
In a sentence, Todd says of his work, "I like to make art that, when you die, your kids will fight over."
- Mark & Suzann Smith, October - 2014
NEXT PAGE