73 Princess Street
Before the Exchange was the place we know it as today the boys at the The Neon Factory took the risk of trying out a new location in what was once a derelict area. They relocated in 1991 at 73 Princess Street which in the end proved to be a very good decision. Not only did this benefit the Neon Factory but the community of the Exchange District as well! It brought life to the streets of down town while allowing lots of room for growth for the Neon Factory.
As time went by Mike bought out his partners and took the business in to his own hands. With all the room this location had to offer his collection only got bigger as he rescued more and more abandoned signs and put them on display for the world to remember and enjoy. His brother Joe (his right hand man) the glass bender became very involved and eventually moved his own glass studio 'Garson Neon' in to the 73 Princess Street shop! It was now becoming a much more family orientated place as the Wolchock boys both spent a good amount of there days at the shop with all their kids. It was a blast. I remember Saturday lunches of Tenderloin corned beef, chips and soda with all 6 kids and Joe and Mike....oh and the cats. One of the kids set up her own little shop with in the shop selling painted rocks and art wile the others created there own work areas and art projects. It was defiantly a place of creativity! People would come in not knowing what we were some days...are you a day care? ....are you a bar? are you a ....it goes on and on...in the end it was all-round amazing! I guess when you have as many random sings as Mike and Joe have its easy to mistake one business for another, lol. You couldn't duplicate an atmosphere like the Neon Factory, it's quite amazing There were art studios in the basement. A work space and a great play area for the kids up stairs...which even had a train room! But once again it was time to take it up a notch as leasing was becoming expensive and the collection was once again out growing its space. So back to Main Street they traveled, continuing North to end up between Alexander and Logan to purchase for once and for a permanent home for The Neon factory.
As time went by Mike bought out his partners and took the business in to his own hands. With all the room this location had to offer his collection only got bigger as he rescued more and more abandoned signs and put them on display for the world to remember and enjoy. His brother Joe (his right hand man) the glass bender became very involved and eventually moved his own glass studio 'Garson Neon' in to the 73 Princess Street shop! It was now becoming a much more family orientated place as the Wolchock boys both spent a good amount of there days at the shop with all their kids. It was a blast. I remember Saturday lunches of Tenderloin corned beef, chips and soda with all 6 kids and Joe and Mike....oh and the cats. One of the kids set up her own little shop with in the shop selling painted rocks and art wile the others created there own work areas and art projects. It was defiantly a place of creativity! People would come in not knowing what we were some days...are you a day care? ....are you a bar? are you a ....it goes on and on...in the end it was all-round amazing! I guess when you have as many random sings as Mike and Joe have its easy to mistake one business for another, lol. You couldn't duplicate an atmosphere like the Neon Factory, it's quite amazing There were art studios in the basement. A work space and a great play area for the kids up stairs...which even had a train room! But once again it was time to take it up a notch as leasing was becoming expensive and the collection was once again out growing its space. So back to Main Street they traveled, continuing North to end up between Alexander and Logan to purchase for once and for a permanent home for The Neon factory.
