Carytown’s neon sign coming down to fix lighting issues

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The neon art-deco sign that greets visitors to Richmond's Carytown, which has recently read "RYTOWN" due to yet another lighting issue, is coming down so repairs can be made.

The two-sided, $100,000 "CARYTOWN" sign lit up for the first time in October 2024. The Carytown Merchants Association was the force behind making it a reality, both leading and funding the project. Those funding dollars came from the American Rescue Plan, a fund to help businesses after COVID-19.

Unfortunately, the sign has since experienced both apparent vandalism and mechanical issues. The first incident came within a month of its lighting, when the "C" and the "A" went out, leaving the sign to welcome visitors to "RYTOWN," instead. The association said a vandal threw an object, possibly a rock, at the sign.

While that damage was quickly repaired, more issues cropped up in both May and September. In May, the sign was reduced to "CARY" by some "unhappy internal parts." In September, technical issues left the sign to again read "RYTOWN." Additionally, the lighting on the right edge was also knocked out.

Carytown's art-deco sign with the "C" and "A" no longer illuminated, making it "RYTOWN," in November 2024. (Photo: Baker Gooss)

The Carytown neon sign with "TOWN" not illuminated, making it read "CARY," in May 2025. (Photo: 8News)

Carytown's art-deco sign with the "C" and "A" no longer illuminated, making it "RYTOWN," in September 2025. The right edge is also unlit. (Photo: Sahara Sriraman, 8News)

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Carytown Merchants Association provided 8News with a statement saying that the sign is coming down to fix the root of the lighting problem. It reads as follows:

"The retro Carytown sign is being temporarily removed for repairs and general annual maintenance. Despite being used in multiple other signs, the manufacturer is having a transformer overheating issue that is impacting the bands at the end and the "CA" of Carytown. They are bringing it back to the shop for a new transformer vendor replacement and then will be proudly lit up again at the entrance to Carytown."

An exact date for the sign's restoration was not provided -- but, as the association said, this temporary downtime should allow for a more permanent repair to be made.