Launching Pad restaurant in Wilmington gets new signage

WILMINGTON – The Launching Pad restaurant in Wilmington announced Tuesday it replaced its sign on the building.

Co-owner Holly Barker, who, with her partner Tully Garrett, bought the Launching Pad and the Gemini Giant last year, said Friendly Signs from Kankakee approached them to donate the new sign. The old one was made out of plywood was falling apart. A Facebook post said the sign was a replica in every way.

“Tears are rolling down our face as we type this for the beautiful gesture and gratitude from this amazing sign company,” the post read.

Barker said she and Garrett are planning on a partial opening with a Route 66 welcome center and gift shop to start raising funds to eventually reopen the actual restaurant.

She said they did not have a specific time table for when the restaurant will start serving food, but they’ll start perhaps sometime over the summer selling hot dogs and ice cream. They plan to open the restaurant in 2019.