JJ's Red Hots at night...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Ludwig Metals
Matt Ludwig is one of my closest friends, and also one of my oldest. I met him in 1979. As two youths growing up in Cherry Hill, NJ, we were linked alphabetically in 7th grade homeroom where we sat near each other and heaped abuse on our cranky shrew of a homeroom teacher Mrs. Harwood. Matt is a quiet dude, but he's a funny son of a bitch. We got along well and remained friends. I even married his sisters best friend. We are practically family.
Turns out, he's also a pretty talented craftsman and welder. For the most part, these talents emerged out of necessity, as he needed to protect his vintage Mustang from the crackheads in Federal Hill, Baltimore. So he picked up a welder, taught himself how to weld and built a large medieval iron gate in front of his driveway with large gothic spears on the top. I secretly believe it was his wish to wake up and find skewered crackheads on his gate one day. To my knowledge, he never did. He also built countertops and furniture for his home. People quickly began to notice and thus, his metal business was born. I remember being flabbergasted at his first few pieces. They were meticulously built, industrially sound and incredibly elegant hunks of glass, metal, gears, and other found objects. He grew his business one piece at a time, and now has more work than he can handle, creating pieces for local businesses, architects and Under Armor, headquartered in Baltimore. (More of Matt's work can be found on his website here: www.ludwigmetals.com)
Of course, when we began to build JJ's, I immediately began to earmark places for him to put his work. Given the history of the building, we settled on a drum fixture for the center of the restaurant to pay tribute to the former restaurant on the site, The Drum. Last weekend, he drove the fixture down from Baltimore and we installed it with my neighbor, Chris Jewell. (also quite a craftsman) I just stood there watching.
Here is a look at how it progressed from the first sketches I made in January. To say I am grateful is an understatement. I am very proud to showcase his work in the restaurant and I hope our customers enjoy this piece as much as we do. Thanks, Matt.
First Sketches....
The Work...
Turns out, he's also a pretty talented craftsman and welder. For the most part, these talents emerged out of necessity, as he needed to protect his vintage Mustang from the crackheads in Federal Hill, Baltimore. So he picked up a welder, taught himself how to weld and built a large medieval iron gate in front of his driveway with large gothic spears on the top. I secretly believe it was his wish to wake up and find skewered crackheads on his gate one day. To my knowledge, he never did. He also built countertops and furniture for his home. People quickly began to notice and thus, his metal business was born. I remember being flabbergasted at his first few pieces. They were meticulously built, industrially sound and incredibly elegant hunks of glass, metal, gears, and other found objects. He grew his business one piece at a time, and now has more work than he can handle, creating pieces for local businesses, architects and Under Armor, headquartered in Baltimore. (More of Matt's work can be found on his website here: www.ludwigmetals.com)
Of course, when we began to build JJ's, I immediately began to earmark places for him to put his work. Given the history of the building, we settled on a drum fixture for the center of the restaurant to pay tribute to the former restaurant on the site, The Drum. Last weekend, he drove the fixture down from Baltimore and we installed it with my neighbor, Chris Jewell. (also quite a craftsman) I just stood there watching.
Here is a look at how it progressed from the first sketches I made in January. To say I am grateful is an understatement. I am very proud to showcase his work in the restaurant and I hope our customers enjoy this piece as much as we do. Thanks, Matt.
First Sketches....
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Signage : A Milestone Incarnate
There signs were designed by Matt Stevens in collaboration with a Gastonia company, Sign Connection, who fabricated and installed them. This is the first real chance to preview what is to come at JJ's. We've been pretty stealthy to date, but with the signs, especially these, there is no hiding whatsoever. And we lined the windows with a graphic print, also designed by Stevens.
The signs were fabricated at Sign Connection and I was fortunate enough to meet the folks who built them in person. Seeing the signs in the shop unexpectedly overwhelmed me and I was taken completely by surprise by their size, shape, impact and sheer beauty. But more importantly, they were perfectly constructed with a high attention to detail. I was told they don't get a chance to work on signs like this too often and they thanked me for giving them the opportunity. It was a great experience meeting with them.
Their installation team also worked diligently do get the signs mounted perfectly. And we are only half way done...the blade sign needs to be mounted as do the two strips of neon that will run along the roofline of the building. That and some finishing work on the deck, railings and take out area should really complete the transformation. In my opinion, it will become known as a landmark that will add richness and beauty to the Dilworth neighborhood and Charlotte at large. And we think fans of the famous Drum Restaurant, originally constructed in 1948, will be pleased to see what we have done. A new history is being created, so to speak.
Special thanks to Matt Elkin, Chip and the entire crew at Sign Connection who did inspired and prideful work.
*************************
JJ's Red Hots in vintage yellow outlined in white neon. Mounted on textured red aluminum sign. check out detail in background outline and intricate neon work:
This really was poetry in motion.
Heavy Lifting Machinery:
Fits like a glove...note wrap around arrow.
This is our JJ's print designed by Matt Stevens...it will eventually be a red print and will be used on our custom printed deli paper. Really captures our fun and irreverence.
The signs were fabricated at Sign Connection and I was fortunate enough to meet the folks who built them in person. Seeing the signs in the shop unexpectedly overwhelmed me and I was taken completely by surprise by their size, shape, impact and sheer beauty. But more importantly, they were perfectly constructed with a high attention to detail. I was told they don't get a chance to work on signs like this too often and they thanked me for giving them the opportunity. It was a great experience meeting with them.
Their installation team also worked diligently do get the signs mounted perfectly. And we are only half way done...the blade sign needs to be mounted as do the two strips of neon that will run along the roofline of the building. That and some finishing work on the deck, railings and take out area should really complete the transformation. In my opinion, it will become known as a landmark that will add richness and beauty to the Dilworth neighborhood and Charlotte at large. And we think fans of the famous Drum Restaurant, originally constructed in 1948, will be pleased to see what we have done. A new history is being created, so to speak.
Special thanks to Matt Elkin, Chip and the entire crew at Sign Connection who did inspired and prideful work.
*************************
JJ's Red Hots in vintage yellow outlined in white neon. Mounted on textured red aluminum sign. check out detail in background outline and intricate neon work:
Blade sign, to go near take out area. Backlit routed aluminum with eventual neon border. Special thanks to Igor, the sign model:
Our Strategic Heartbeat is: Don't Dis' The Dog! This wraps around front of building, warning all who approach:
The 'tivoli' can lights are on the East Blvd. Side:
On Site:
This really was poetry in motion.
Heavy Lifting Machinery:
The One Timer...
Fits like a glove...note wrap around arrow.
Notice the oft imitated, never perfected 'reverse spin' technique:
Jeremy, "supervising":
These are shots of the signscape looking northwest up East Blvd. Crowded with some high pole signs, but I believe our signage is complementary to the others and really adds character to East Blvd. A great addition to the skyline, in my opinion, and we've had very favorable comments from many other retailers up and down the street. Happy to see the neighbors being so courteous.
Lebowskis, as you can see has a very high pole sign and we fit nicely underneath it.
The old Blade sign at BBillys..well above the roofline.
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