Eyes light up for Teofilo’s new neon sign honoring Route 66 in Los Lunas

LOS LUNAS — Seeking to pay homage to Route 66 and the neon signage that once was abundant on the iconic route, Teofilo’s Restauranté recently debuted a new neon sign that captivates the gazes of guests old and new.

“It literally lights up our life and brings us more happiness,” said Johnnah Torres, owner of Teofilo’s. “Customers are commenting on how beautiful it is and how it’s a piece of art.”

Torres said the harsh New Mexico sun would beat down on the old, wooden sign, causing it to be needing frequent repairs. When thinking about what to do, Torres said it dawned on her that this would be a great opportunity to make a new sign that gives homage to the original Route 66, which includes Main Street in Los Lunas where Teofilo’s resides.

“We are always trying to make our place more welcoming and thought we could really bring some light to this street,” said Torres.

Creating a quality, custom neon sign is a big ask though, and it takes a unique type of artist to bring these creations to life, which is why Torres sought out renowned neon artist Robert Randazzo, owner of Absolutely Neon in Albuquerque.

“There are not many places around that are still doing that, so we were thrilled that he, who is a master of this art, took on the job,” Torres said. “He’s been really picky about the projects he takes on, but he loves our restaurant and we’ve become really good friends. He’s truly an artist and passionate about what he does which really shows in his work.”

Randazzo, from Brooklyn, N.Y., has been designing neon signs and custom art since 1973.

“I’ve been in it my whole life since I was 23 years old,” said Randazzo. “I started out as a union electrician in New York. We used to build all the big signs on Broadway and just about every other custom electrical thing you can imagine.”

“People love it,” he continued. “They see neon and it just brings a smile to their face. I’ve watched this happen over and over again; I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Randazzo began working on the Teofilo’s sign in fall 2023 and installed it at the restaurant in mid-March. He designed it to last a long time, and is proud of how it came out.

“It is as I expected it to be,” Randazzo said. “The word ‘Teofilo’s’ is nice and bright; it has neon on both sides and it has a gold veneer background, which really helps the lighting get out there to the viewer.”

Randazzo said it’s unfortunate that the signature look of neon on Route 66 and the art form itself has seen such a decline.

“On Route 66, neon signs were the candy-colored beacons that attracted tourists to the curio shops, motels, cafes and roadside attractions. Over the years, these classic signs have become icons and achieved recognition as outstanding examples of American folk art,” the National Park Service website reads.

“However, many of these once-beautiful signs have also been torn down, replaced or gone dark. Preservationists, community leaders and others have developed resources to raise awareness about the historical significance of these signs, and to revitalize the neon and other advertising/sign heritage of Route 66.”

In the meantime, Randazzo said he hopes the new sign does what neon does best and attracts customers “because that’s what a good sign does; it makes people want to stop and in (Teofilo’s) case, have something to eat.”

“It’s a nice addition, not only for us, but the whole street,” said Torres. “I think it will be iconic for decades to come and will add to our legacy, so we’re excited.”