The permanently closed White Cross Market sits at 1700 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Vickie's Diner, housed inside, remains open. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1700 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Vickie Kelesis
Sign details: This location opened ca. 1950 as White Cross Pharmacy and remained opened until around 2013. This location transitioned in between 2013-2015 into the White Cross Market. The Diner attached to Market has been open since 1952. This is considered one of the oldest standing diners in Las Vegas. The Diner was originally named Tiffanys Diner , but in 2014 it changed ownership from Pete Kelesis to his Daughter Vickie Kelesis who Renamed it Vickies Diner.
Sign condition: 3-4- has had some fading and weathering over the years
Sign form: Pylon and building sign.
Sign-specific description: Blue lettering on a white background on the Building. Pylon has a white cross topping the sign, as well as blue lettering and white plastic back lit sign as the background. There are lights down lighting the building and pylon sign.
Sign - type of display: Plastic back lit sign and down lighting
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: No neon was seen on the sign, and was mostly spotlit
Sign environment: This location is a few blocks north of the Stratosphere on Las Vegas Blvd. as well as a few blocks south of where Dino's Lounge is. This is located in between the Strip and the Downtown area.
Sign - date of installation: The owner stated that the signage on the building as remained nearly unchanged since circa-1955.
Sign - date of redesign/move: The plastic back lit portion of the pylon has changed a few times.
Sign - thematic influences: Since the signage for the White Cross Market is still up even though the company has shut down shows the importance of this property for its history and admiration from the community.
Survey - research locations: Visit to Vickies Diner and discussion with the owner. Las Vegas Weekly https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2014/nov/19/tiffanys-cafe-now-vickies-diner-downtown-landmark/, assessors, and recorders office.
Survey - research notes: From the discussion with the owner: The diner has been open for 65 years, making it the oldest diner in Las Vegas. Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and many more celebrities would frequent the Pharmacy and the diner. The Pharmacy was first 24/7 pharmacy in Las Vegas.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Building-front design; Pole sign; Back to back; Roof Sign