Western Auto was relit after going dark. It's not the first time.
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Lights, camera, action. GIF: Travis Meier/Axios
Public officials and residents of the Western Auto building gathered on the roof Tuesday night to flip the switch on a fully repaired sign after more than a year.
Why it matters: The 74-year-old sign is a city icon and a point of local pride, inspiring everything from paintings to T-shirt designs and bracelet charms.
State of play: It's the second time the bright lights have gone dark, but a new plan between the city and homeowners will keep it shining for at least another decade.
Catch up quick: The sign went dark in July 2025. Three months later, City Council voted to spend $100,000 on repairs to bulbs and neon tubing as part of its Illuminate KC initiative.
- A part of the sign — the red outline — was relit for the World Cup as repairs were underway.
Context: The glowing beacon, first installed in 1952, went dark after the building was vacated in 2000, per KC Yesterday.
- The building became luxury condos in 2002, but it wasn't until 2018 that homeowners pooled resources and the sign was relit.
What they're saying: Mayor Quinton Lucas says it's a city investment in public art and local history, adding that the sign has been part of great Kansas City moments, like the World Cup Dutch march down Grand Boulevard.
- Resident Dani Stendevach says the sign is "an important part of our history," and part of her legacy as a condo owner.
Friction point: The Western Auto Lofts Homeowners Association rejected a union bid earlier this year to fix the sign and maintain it for free, KCTV5 reports, raising questions about using public funding for the project.
- The union would have replaced the bulbs with LEDs and added its own sign for advertising, which the HOA said would have detracted from the historic look.
What's next: The HOA will fund maintenance for the next 10 years.
Fun fact: The guy who started the Western Auto Company is the same guy behind Pepperdine University in LA — Kansas native George Pepperdine.