About this Project

Designing exterior signs on both the building and at the road needed to reflect the Italian marketplace. The design was settled and illuminated signs were installed with push-through acrylic, creating a soft glow around the name at night and a matching design for the sign on Niagara Falls Blvd. The road sign was designed for future growth in mind and is capable of adding tenant spaces.

Once they were opened and settled, we began discussing the interior of the store and reflecting the family history to customers. Many hours were spent with Paul and Chris, sorting through old family images and choosing the right ones that would depict the business history as well as the family history.

Each photo was enhanced by our design team and we presented a concept that used a combination of historical and recent imagery. Many of the images we used prompt questions from customers which Paul is happy to tell the story behind the photo. The photos were digitally printed, laminated, and mixed with graphics- then applied directly to the walls in every department. We captured the essence of the family, their commitment to their craft and to their customers.

The year is 1953 and Dominic and Mariangela barely had enough money to get their family across the pond to start a new life in America. Fortunately, they managed to do so, unfortunately, this was only the first obstacle in the family’s journey to build a new life. Dominic and his wife shared a small house with their 9 children. This was the environment that made Paul Pellicano who he is today.

After graduating, Dominic’s son Paul entered the grocery business. He found employment at local supermarkets and worked his way up to district manager. This period of Paul’s life is where he honed his skills as a butcher. It soon became clear that it was time to move onto bigger and better things, so Paul took the leap and bought a franchise. He eventually came to own three stores, but the franchise business wasn’t what he was passionate about. It would not allow him to create the personal, traditional grocery environment he always envisioned. After leaving the franchise business, the family fell on hard times. Yet, it wouldn’t take long for Paul to get back on his feet and back to doing what he does best, being an entrepreneur.

Paul’s son Mario was thriving in the manufacturing business. Mario ran with the family sauce recipe and brought it to the masses. Paul loved the grocery business and with help from a friend, Paul opened his own store adjacent to his son’s manufacturing plant. The community fell in love with the store and with Paul’s generous and engaging personality. As he grew his business, his son Chris was following his own path. Chris and his new wife were looking to relocate so she could find work as a teacher. During that time, Paul’s business grew exponentially, and he needed help so he asked Chris to come work with him. Luckily, Chris and his wife decided to stay.

Chris brought more modernization to the old-style business. He focused on traditional values of business like knowing customers by name, anticipating needs, and exceptional service, yet, infused modern technology, tools, and products. Chris also realized that social media could be one of their biggest assets for advertising. He’s implemented an organic digital marketing strategy using social media that has gained thousands of followers and raving fans.

After the addition of Chris, the business literally exploded, growing year after year. With growth like this, upscaling is the natural next step. It was hard for Chris and Paul to find a property, but they eventually did and began designing their new store. In April of 2019, shovels hit the ground and the new build was finally in the works. Today, the new location is thriving and the customers are loving the additional space and new look.

About this Project

Even though The Lodge is located on the property with Shawnee Golf Course, make no mistake that this is much more than your typical burger and finger food restaurant. It happens to be on the property of the golf course, but serves delicious brunch, lunch, and dinner. After meeting with the owners, I realized the sign design needed to be rustic, but project the upscale interior design and expansive menu.

After creating three conceptual drawings, the owners chose the fully sculpted Foamcraft monument and building sign with custom dimensional metal embellishments. Foamcraft signs have a lightweight, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam core and are sprayed with an exclusive Poly-Armor™ hard coat that makes the signage impervious to rot, termites and moisture.

The versatility of the EPS foam allows the sign to have both intricate design elements and faux stone all in one structure. Our design incorporated the use of custom cast aluminum letters and “trellis” design, which are treated with an anodized bronze finish to give a more rustic, warm appearance. They are stud mounted to the foam structure with a spacer to produce a floating affect. The combination of mixed materials and finishes produce a finished sign that is both eye-catching and durable.

About this Project

As Calamar Construction celebrated its 30-year Anniversary, it was important that they mark the occasion with a full wall timeline display of their company’s history.

Cooper Sign worked directly with the owner to develop a design concept that best displayed the company’s history and image. The project grew to encompass much more; a Family Tribute wall and Founder’s wall were added, the Timeline wall became two walls, allowing room for the timeline to grow as the company expands.

The Timeline wall and Tribute wall feature many different materials and processes, which combined achieve museum quality results.  Cooper Sign recommended the paint color for the wall to be a neutral background gray and Calamar green stripe was added to the length of the wall. Running parallel to the stripe, specialty 3M Di-Noc vinyl was installed (over 35 ft in one piece). The slight wave and glimmer in the pattern gives the viewer a sense of movement and direction to the wall.

The company name and logo are dimensional flat cut acrylic painted to match the company’s brand standards and mounted directly to the wall.  Each of the panels that mark the year is a solid 1” thick painted backers with flat cut brushed ¼” aluminum numbers.

All the photos and descriptions are printed on clear acrylic panels after Cooper Sign Company checked the photo quality to ensure a clear and crisp end result. The prints are on the back of the acrylic (second surface) which allows them to be easily cleaned and less likely to be damaged.  To mark the anniversary’s, the 25^th is composed of a brushed aluminum backer with two layers of flat cut black and white acrylic and the 30^th is a larger white acrylic backer with reverse cut acrylic painted to match the Calamar green. Black aluminum standoffs were used to mount the photos and anniversary panels to differentiate them from the other components.

The Family Tribute wall has a floor to ceiling digital print wall mural of a historical map of Niagara County and using existing framed family photos and memorabilia Cooper Sign Company designed where each piece would be mounted.  Images were reframed to give them a more contemporary aesthetic. As we worked on this project, you could definitely feel the impact a grandfather had on his grandson when they started the business together.

The Founders wall features charcoal portraits of each founder along with a nameplate. Each nameplate has a layered backer of brushed aluminum and painted acrylic, then a clear acrylic panel with direct digital print and mounted with standoffs to tie into the design of the Timeline wall.  Each of the Founder’s photos are a statement of the hard work and vision to grown the company into what it is today.

It was a great project with a happy customer who referred to our work as “museum quality”, which it is.  The key to success on this type of project is listening to the customer tell the story of company from start to finish and remembering our mission statement to exceed our customers’ expectations for the design and manufacture of signs.

About this Project

There are projects that require attention to the smallest detail and the Display Wall for the Rochester Central School District, Flower City School 54, located in Rochester, NY, was one of those projects. 

Cooper Sign Company was contracted to provide the interior and exterior signage for this project, which included this feature wall using beautiful flat cut aluminum letters, painted to match the finish of the dimensional flower shaped tile that had a pearl white finish. 

So how do you install letters to an uneven surface and have the letters all project so they are level and all project to the same measurement? 

• First, a sample of the tile was sent to us so we could test different drill bits to drill the holes in the tile to insert the studs, which hold the letters to the wall.
• Secondly, we made a pattern using a clear piece of acrylic so we could see the back side and mark the placement of the holes. 

We arrived on site knowing we would be working very slowly.  The holes were drilled and the letters were set one by one measuring and double checking with each letter. 

The project was finished with success and I credit my installation team for their patience and skill to avoid any damage to the tile during the installation.  The architects concept on paper became a beautiful reality in Rochester, New York.

About this Project

The lobby of the new Amtrak, Exchange Street Station located in Buffalo, New York, is an example of the diversity of the products we offer.

The lobby features aluminum dimensional letters, carved HDU New York State seal, Acrylic Taste of New York Sign and a custom awning for the Taste of New York kiosk.

About this Project

In honor of the Niagara Falls coach, Art Calandrelli, his family commissioned this stadium gateway sign. John Teeto the son in law of Art Calandrelli has a sign business in Florida and reached out to Cooper for the fabrication.  The timeline for the project was short, but Cooper knew we could handle the fabrication. 

A basic design was sent to us by the family and from there we were able to create structural drawings which were approved by a structural engineer and production began.

 The gateway sign features a photo of Art Calandrelli digitally printed and laminated with a laminate that resists graffiti and fading from the sun as well as dimensional cast letters and fabricated dimensional accents to create a dimensional sign instead of a flat static sign face.  

The family came to Cooper Sign because of our 99-year history in Niagara Falls and wanted the sign to be provided by a Niagara Falls firm.

Over the weekend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the gateway sign was covered by channel 2, 4 and 7 with the family on hand to honor Art Calandrelli.

About this Project

Jennifer Cooper, our CEO is a NCCC alum, so this project was close to the heart. Niagara Community College decided it’s Athletic Wall of Fame needed a redesign.  Here is the old Wall of Fame

Cooper did the conceptual design, fabrication and installation.  The new  design  (pictured right) gives a visual of the history of the athletic department with name changes and logo changes. 

The products used were digital 3M vinyl wall graphics with a second layer of frosted acrylic panels that note the name, sport, and year of the honoree and using a stainless cable display system to suspend the plaques away from
the wall.

About this Project

Cooper Sign was referred by National Fuel to Reliant Capital Solutions when they decided to expand their operations in Buffalo.  We were able to leverage an existing  granite carved monument and design a modification for the them. 

Why is this project special? We take great pride helping businesses expand in our area.  Our team gets really excited knowing we are part of the growth in WNY.  The expansion will employ 150 individuals. 

A big THANK YOU to Reliant Capital Solutions for investing in WNY!  Learn more about the expansion here. 

Reliant Capital Solutions is located at 6363 Main St. in Williamsville.

About this Project

Lobby renovations at Roswell  The hospital lobby is being rennovated, including new tile flooring and an Information/Valet area near the main entrance.  We were really excited to be part of this. The Cooper family has a soft spot for this hospital.  Our father and mother were both stricken with cancer and treated here. We can’t say enough about the compassion, care and expertise they provided our family during two very difficult times in our lives. 

The project is expected to be completed in November 2019. 

About this Project

The Falcon  Wall of Fame  was instituted to honor the dedication and achievement of the Niagara Wheatfield alumni and staff.

This project had special meaning to Cooper Sign President, Jennifer Masters-Cooper who is a Niagara Wheatfield graduate and a forever Falcon!

The display is composed of acrylic plaques with a direct digital print, suspended on an aluminum cable system. The cable system gives the owner the ability to change or add to the display over time and the transparent panels allow the on looker to view the display, and still enjoy
the beauty of the courtyard.

• Acrylic Plaques
• Direct Digital Print
• Cable System
• Transparent Panels

The Falcon  Wall of Fame  honorees 

2017 Falcon Wall of Fame Award Recipients 

• Fred Barone – 1957-1991
• Dr. Tim Carlisle – Class of 1966
• Charles Clark – 1937-1970
• Ronald Corsaro – 1961-1993
• Ruth Foster – 1943-1970
• Rev. Wayne Jagow – Class of 1961
• Admiral Carl Lahti – Class of 1985
• Charles Pelcin – 1958-1995
• William Ross – 1956-2003
• Joseph Rotella – 1950-1979