No more wondering what’s behind that tinted storefront glass – the name is finally up on the door!

Part of the delay was computer-related. First I had to reassemble my little computer network in the new location. (Network = two old desktops with data that I can’t seem to transfer and don’t want to lose, connected by router to my laptop.) Then, the original design that was scraped off the old front door had to be updated to reflect the bistro’s coming addition.

Finally, I had to find a company to produce the design in vinyl letters.

An agent from a Tulsa company happened to be working on a neighbor’s window and made a proposal before I was ready. I wanted to use the old-time-y style letters that are on the business cards but couldn’t provide them until I had the computers hooked up. She provided a near-match in a huge graphic that would have spanned several panes of the front glass. It might have been a real eye-grabber, but I wasn’t sure about the idea of having the letters interrupted where the panes of glass were joined. At any rate, she didn’t get to the price, which I’m sure was going to be another eye-grabber.

The company that had done the outdoor sign on the previous location told me by telephone they’d be happy to look over my newly-designed graphic if I’d send it over. They never replied to my email with attached graphic file.

Finally, Tulsa Signs (actually in Broken Arrow at 61st and Aspen, next to the McDonald’s at the BA Expressway) provided a price quote that was cheaper than an internet graphics firm that was going to tack on an additional ten dollars to ship the lettering by UPS. I was happy to do business locally.

They did a one-day turnaround and even gave me a quick installation demonstration and application squeegee to get me up to speed.

Naturally, I was outside taping the thing to the front door in the midst of near gale-force winds this afternoon. Since I don’t have a third arm, I had to hold the edge of the backing in my teeth as I slowly worked the other edge loose. It’s a little nerve-racking, realizing there is just one shot, and if it goes bad the letters have to be scraped off and re-ordered.

In the midst of that tension, I apparently bit off the corner of the backing and the adhesive sheet stuck to my lower lip – unbeknownst to me. When it got a little more manageable and I reached up to take the corner from my mouth, I ripped off skin.

Yikes!

The fellow at Tulsa Signs forgot to mention that little installer’s cautionary tip.

At any rate, the letters are on the door and I believe it will help those people who have been pressing their hands and noses to the glass to peer through to know what’s inside.

Maybe I need one of those red “Come In!” signs for hesitant door-openers.