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'The city has rules that outdoor signs are not supposed to project more than 15 inches from the building or exceed a height of 20 feet - and it also said the sign was not considered historic unless it was on the national or state registry of historic places. 'We just think it's important to keep historical landmarks,' said Blackburn, 'especially now, too, with Aloha Airlines disappearing.' Stories about McCully Chop Sui poured in from all over the world, she said, with people saying they wanted the sign to stay. 'An upwelling of community support helped make it possible.

'It has value to the people in the state of Hawaii.' 'It is, indeed, historic,' Blackburn told the Star-Bulletin. Now they have obtained the right to not only keep the sign, but to light it up again - which called for a celebration yesterday evening. To the Blackburns' dismay, the city informed them that the outdoor sign, legal when the restaurant opened more than 57 years ago, was in violation of current city rules.Īlso, because the sign did not match their business name, they were in violation of city codes. 'McCully Chop Sui, a family business dating back to the 1940s, closed its doors at the end of 2006. 'We advertise 'Mauna Kea Galleries at the historic Chop Sui.' Everyone knows where it is, and that's why we took the location.' 'That was part of the charm,' said Blackburn. The history of the place was one of the reasons they chose the spot when moving their vintage art and memorabilia gallery from the Big Island to Honolulu. Mauna Kea Galleries owners Carolyn and Mark Blackburn, who took over the space formerly occupied by McCully Chop Sui at 2005 S. She is also hoping to start a movement in which other parts of the community can help keep historic signs in place - especially as more and more local landmarks become history.īy Nina McCully Chop Sui sign came to light again yesterday evening, marking the end of a yearlong battle to preserve the longtime community landmark.

Yesterday evening marked their victory following a yearlong effort to obtain a variance that allowed the sign to stay up despite being in violation of current city codes.Ĭarolyn Blackburn said community support, even from the Outdoor Circle, best known for ridding the state of billboards, helped make it happen.

Chop suey inn full#

McCully Chop Sui sign shines again Sign of old Hawaii times is rekindled STORY SUMMARY » | READ THE FULL STORYĪs the sun began to sink below the horizon, the McCully Chop Sui sign lit up again at the corner of McCully and South King streets.Ĭarolyn and Mark Blackburn - owners of Mauna Kea Galleries, which moved into the former McCully Chop Sui space early last year - had been rallying to keep the sign in its original shape and form. RICHARD WALKER / old McCully Chop Sui neon sign at the corner of South King and McCully streets was relit last night.