Tom Brickler, known as the ‘Godfather of Neon,’ has been lighting up Chicago with his unique neon signs for 40 years. His shop, Neon Shop Fishtail, has become a staple in the city, creating custom signs for businesses and individuals alike.

A Career Spanning Decades

Brickler’s journey in the neon industry began in the 1980s, when he worked at a Boystown neon shop. He eventually launched his own shop, Fishtail, in 1986, with the goal of differentiating himself from commercial sign shops. Over the years, Brickler has worked on numerous high-profile projects, including signs for Wrigley Field, the Lacuna Artist Lofts, and various movies and TV shows.

Brickler’s shop, located in Bucktown, is a menagerie of glass, with beer signs, clocks, and business logos on display. The back and basement areas are dedicated to assembling neon signs, with a vast collection of random parts from old signs that Brickler often reuses in new commissions.

A Labor of Love

For Brickler, working with neon is not just a job, but a passion. He takes pride in his craftsmanship, often spending hours perfecting a single sign. His dedication has earned him a reputation as one of the last neon specialists in Chicago, with a loyal client base that appreciates his unique artistry.

One of Brickler’s recent hires, Yaelin Kim, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute, has fallen in love with neon work at Fishtail. Kim attributes Brickler’s longevity and success to his spontaneity and can-do attitude, which allows him to take on a wide range of projects and never run out of work.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.