TEXAS — Jay Gordon is the owner of Blackout Signs and Metalworks. It’s a place where handmade neon signs are making a comeback.

Every neon sign in the shop is handcrafted.

“I originally wanted to be a car customizer. Through pin striping and all that stuff led me into the sign world,” said Gordon.

He and his crew make signs for music events, bars and other businesses. Each sign starts out as a sketch on paper, and then, everything else is hands on, like painting, cutting metal and sanding. 

“Paper patterns, jigsaws, drills, rivets, lots of cutting and cussing, bleeding and getting scratched,” said Gordon.

Crew member Tara Bonds use to work in architecture. Now she’s the resident designer. 

“I left a so-called really good job at the [Texas] Historical Commission to come here and play in mud and make things with my hands. It’s probably the best job I’ve ever had,” said Bonds.

She says every sign they make is different and some even come with a few tiny flaws. That’s what makes each piece unique and what keeps Gordon and his crew in business and having fun.

“So, yeah, we’ll just keep trucking, man, as long as our bodies don’t fail us,” said Gordon.