The Iconic Neon Sign Returns to Caruso’s on Fourth Avenue

It was a breezy day on Wednesday, February 22 of last year and the iconic sign that stood high above Caruso’s Italian Restaurant got its bell rung. The sigh felt the force of 50+ miles per hour winds, snapping the pole at the ground. We now refer to this Wednesday as Winds-day.

You can’t keep a good sign down, though!

Thanks to the Ignite Sign Art Museum and Cook & Co. Signmakers, the sign is once again lighting up the sidewalk at 434 N. Fourth Ave., acting as a beacon of Italian food on Fourth Avenue.

“The 75-year-old sign pole broke over a year ago,” Ignite Sign Art Museum shared online. “It was removed, then repainted, and neon reworked as needed.”

In Businesses Since the ’30s

No matter what storm the restaurant faces, it’s a staple not only on Fourth Avenue but in the city of Tucson.

Nicasio “Caruso” Zagona first opened the restaurant it has remained in the family ever since. The restaurant’s interior design, lovely patio, and most of its food preparation methods were developed by Nicasio. Nicasio’s son, Salvatore Zagona Sr. took over in the early 1950s and then he passed away in 2021, passing on the legacy to his son, Salvatore Zagonan, and great niece Ande Motzkin.

Read our March 2024 article “A Story of Family and Flavors.”

Caruso’s Italian Restaurant is located at 434 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, visit carusositalian.com.

For a full guide about all there is to eat and drink on Fourth Avenue, read our article “30+ Restaurants & Bars to visit while taking a stroll down Fourth Avenue.”