Sign, Advertising
Object number2021.55.1
Date1960-2022
MediumMetal; Paint; Glass; Neon; Plastic; Rubber
Credit LineGift of Simon Family
DescriptionOval metal restaurant sign with neon text and decoration. Front has painted white background with painted red border and sides; border is overlaid with oval of red neon. Center of sign has red and blue painted restaurant name overland with matching-color neon. Reverse is silver metal and is recessed.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 48.25 x 60 x 7 in. (122.6 x 152.4 x 17.8 cm)InscriptionsFront has red and blue painted text with overlaid matching-color neon: "Original / HOT DOG / SHOP".
Historical NotesThis neon sign is from the Plum location of The Original Hot Dog Shop. Donor Terry Campasano owned the restaurant along with her brother Bruce Simon. The original restaurant opened in 1960 and was located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. It closed in April 2020. At one point there were locations in Plum, Monroeville, Penn Hills, the South Side, Carnegie Mellon University (1996-2006,) and Falls Church, Virginia. “The O” was an Oakland institution best known for their fries cooked in peanut oil. Several food documentaries and lists featured the O for their famous hot dogs and fries. They closed the doors to the original shop in April of 2020 after 60 years. Sitting at the corner of Forbes and South Bouquet Streets, "The O" opened in 1960 by brothers Sydney and Morris Simon. Sydney eventually took over as sole owner until his passing in 2009. His children Terry and Bruce then took over.
Related institution
The Original Hot Dog Shop
(1960 - 2020)
Related institution
Carnegie Mellon University
Previous owner
Terry Campasano
Previous owner
Bruce Simon
Related person
Sydney Simon
(died 2009)
Related person
Morris Simon
On View
Not on view
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