The wind was sure blowin’ last week, wasn’t it? At one point, the wind speeds were at 35 to 45 miles per hour and even up to 60 miles per hour in the lower elevations.
So, aside from the occasional speedster or random four-wheeler that rushes down Fourth Avenue, Caruso’s Italian Restaurant isn’t used to such wind gusts. The iconic sign got its bell rung last week, so to speak.
On Winds-day, February 22, the sign, which is about 70 years old, felt the force of 50+ miles per hour winds, snapping the pole right at the ground. Luckily, the neon sign of an Italian chef stringing up some spaghetti didn’t harm anyone below when it fell over.
The sign had four cables attached to it, too, which allowed it to rest safely against the awning.
“Cook & Company Signmakers and five neon sign specialists rushed over to bring it to the ground safely,” Ignite Sign Art Museum shared about the catastrophe.
So, are they going to fix it? You gust correctly if you’re thinking “yes.”
“The plan is to repaint the sign, update the wiring, and reinstall the neon masterpiece,” the Fourth Avenue Coalition shared on Instagram. “We can’t wait to have it back where it belongs.”
The Italian staple on Fourth Avenue is still open while the sign gets repaired. The current hours of operation are 4 – 9 p.m. on Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday – Sunday, and closed on Monday.
Caruso’s Italian Restaurant is located at 434 N. Fourth Avenue. 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.”
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
