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Old Sacramento Waterfront lights up new sign — and honors restauranteur who fought for it

By Dante Motley

A new neon-inspired sign radiates over Old Sacramento after being switched on by project leaders and community members in a ceremony that had extra meaning for one family.

The project — two years in the making — was made possible by donations to the Downtown Sacramento Foundation, which recently lost prominent businessman and community leader Lloyd Harvego. Harvego helped spearhead the creation of the sign, with the ceremony acting as both a celebration of the sign and of his life.

“It was his passion to make sure that this thing got built,” Terry Harvego, the son of Lloyd Harvego and owner of the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento, said. “He worked tirelessly to do so.”

Lloyd Harvego was the owner of the Firehouse, Harvego Enterprises and Bruin Ranch. He died June 13 at the age of 83.

Terry Harvego, center, embraces his mother, Sandy Harvego, on the I Street viaduct after a ceremonial first lighting of a neon-alternative LED Old Sacramento Waterfront sign Wednesday, June 22, 2022, seen rising more than 20 feet above the California State Railroad Museum rooftop. Terry’s father, Lloyd Harvego, who died June 13, was a longtime proponent of the sign, designed by Sacramento-based Pacific Neon Company and funded by the Downtown Sacramento Foundation. “To say were grateful for Lloyd and his vision is an understatement,” said Michael Ault, standing behind them, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “I will miss him personally, and thank his family very much for the work that they did. “
Terry Harvego, center, embraces his mother, Sandy Harvego, on the I Street viaduct after a ceremonial first lighting of a neon-alternative LED Old Sacramento Waterfront sign Wednesday, June 22, 2022, seen rising more than 20 feet above the California State Railroad Museum rooftop. Terry’s father, Lloyd Harvego, who died June 13, was a longtime proponent of the sign, designed by Sacramento-based Pacific Neon Company and funded by the Downtown Sacramento Foundation. “To say were grateful for Lloyd and his vision is an understatement,” said Michael Ault, standing behind them, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “I will miss him personally, and thank his family very much for the work that they did. “ Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

Terry Harvego said his father helped start the foundation, working with other board members to ensure that Old Sacramento had something “exciting” happen when we came out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the lighting, the family was given a miniature replica of the giant switch that would be used to turn on the LED sign, along with a portrait of the sign to commemorate Lloyd Harvego and his work for the foundation.

“He was a wonderful man,” Debora Harvego, Lloyd Harvego’s daughter-in-law said. “I think the whole family is very touched by this.”

Terry Harvego and his father, Lloyd, are seen inspecting construction at 1022 Second St. in 2008. Lloyd Harvego, who had owned the Firehouse Restaurant and was a longtime advocate for Old Sacramento, died June 13, 2022.
Terry Harvego and his father, Lloyd, are seen inspecting construction at 1022 Second St. in 2008. Lloyd Harvego, who had owned the Firehouse Restaurant and was a longtime advocate for Old Sacramento, died June 13, 2022. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file

The ceremony, which was held Wednesday night, saw lively attendance as the community waited for the new sign’s inaugural lighting, including California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

Then, with a count to three, donors and project leaders flipped the oversized switch — with rooftop help from California State Parks Maintenance Supervisor Mike Newby — to illuminate the sign, visible above the historic district’s north side and from Interstate 5.

The 26-foot by 45-foot LED sign reads Old Sacramento Waterfront and glows blue, yellow and orange. The sign uses less power than a blow dryer and was designed by local business Pacific Neon Co.

It stands 20 feet above the California State Railroad Museum, welcoming Interstate 5 travelers to the area.

With train tracks depicted on the top and water depicted on the bottom, the sign aims to capture some of the allure of Old Sacramento, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District, which hasn’t allowed neon or neon-like signs since 2005.

California State Parks Maintenance Supervisor Mike Newby, who helped facilitate the first lighting of the neon-alternative LED Old Sacramento Waterfront sign, poses for colleagues under the new landmark atop the California State Railroad Museum on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Old Sacramento.
California State Parks Maintenance Supervisor Mike Newby, who helped facilitate the first lighting of the neon-alternative LED Old Sacramento Waterfront sign, poses for colleagues under the new landmark atop the California State Railroad Museum on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Old Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

This story was originally published June 23, 2022 at 12:14 PM.

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