Morgan & York's landmark sign

May's I Spy

by Sally Bjork

posted 6/4/2012

It's "the old Big Ten Party Store sign now in front of Morgan & York at 1928 Packard," spies Tess Roth. "Way too easy for any townie!" writes Beth Berenter, voicing the disappointment of many. But Eriva Vienna "was DELIGHTED ... that I instantly knew the answer." It's "one of the few cool classic neon signs the city allows us to still enjoy," quips Judy Sorensen. "Truly a 'landmark.'"

Louisa Griffes points out that the sign and storefront are from 1940, but Big Ten--"the only place in town where you could get international anything" in the sixties, notes Cendra Lynn--has been Morgan and York since 2001. Matt Morgan and Tommy York's appeal to the city, armed with nearly 700 petition signatures, saved the sign from destruction by city ordinance.

"We called [the store] 'cheese, cheese, cheese'" for years due to the sign, writes Jason Kahn. Now "our daughter loves to go to 'Morgan New York,' as she calls it, for chocolate balls." Bob DeBona won our random drawing from among fifty-nine entries. He will enjoy his $25 gift certificate at the Blue Tractor.

To enter this month's contest, use the photo and clue on the Back Page of the June issue to identify the scene, then follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.   

[Originally published in June, 2012.]