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In early June, Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa, in San Diego, was contacted by representatives of Cartoon Network to explore the possibility of transforming Ciro’s Pizzeria, a local pizza restaurant, into the Cartoon Network Cafe for the annual Comic-Con Convention in mid July. Comic-Con is the largest convention in San Diego, bringing over 130,000 attendees and exhibitors.The concept was to cover all areas available with Cartoon Network Branding. Designing and printing all the large format digital printing progressed to an on time completion by Friday July 16th and installation was scheduled for Tuesday July 20th. That is when the clock started ticking. Cartoon Network, a Turner Broadcasting Company, took possession of the restaurant for a week, beginning at midnight Monday July 19th. The plan was to open as Cartoon Network Cafe by ten o’clock Wednesday morning. The four man Sign-A-Rama installation crew arrived at 6:00 AM Tuesday morning, to find that stage lighting had been installed along the walls, hanging five feet down from the ceiling in front of the wall areas that needed to have graphics applied. As part of the crew began installation on the exterior facade, lead installer, Rob Brewer, discussed with CN representatives ideas for installing around the obstacles. A plan of action was quickly agreed upon and the application of over four thousand square foot of specialty digital media began. Working around the stage lighting, ventilation duct-work, recessed walls and existing fixtures created new challenges with every roll of print. Late afternoon brought additional challenges, as delays in the installation conflicted with delivery and set up of furniture and more displays. By 10:00 PM small details were being completed and all smiles were seen on the CN VIPs, as well as four exhausted installers.
On Monday July 26th installers from Sign-A-Rama returned to remove all graphics and displays and return the restaurant into better condition that it was found, seven days prior. All Ciro’s displays, photos and fixtures were reinstalled, using photos taken before removal. By the evening, Ciro’s Pizzeria, was Ciro’s Pizzeria again.
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Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego
