Fresh Look for St. Paul Staple

Midway Used & Rare Books sits at the busy intersection of University and Snelling Avenues, “midway” between St. Paul and Minneapolis and right along the LRT green line. Established in 1965, the store serves readers, collectors, scholars, educators and more. The current owners, Tom and Kathy Stransky, have always loved books and jumped at the opportunity to purchase Midway Books in 1980. The store celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015 and recently decided it was time to freshen up the exterior of their beloved store.

The Streamline Moderne building has long featured sign bands and valances advertising the store and it’s offerings along both the University and Snelling facades. Over many years the awning canvas began to wear and many of the valances tore or started to fray. While the lettering was still visible, the overall look took on a rather shabby appearance.

BEFORE:

Acme Awning was hired to provide the revived look Tom and Kathy were seeking. We worked closely with Midway Books to ensure that each logo, word and phrase were placed at the right location(s) and were the right size for the sign bands. The faded old canvas sign bands and valances were then removed and replaced with dark blue canvas featuring white letters and graphics. Today, the storefront has a crisp and clean feel, with signs that are eye-catching and easy to read. Acme Awning was happy to be a part of providing an updated look for this St. Paul staple.

AFTER: