There are plenty of ways to know you’ve arrived in Kansas City. Maybe it’s the skyline coming into view on the highway. Maybe its Union Station. Maybe it’s the unmistakable silhouette of the Bartle Hall pylons. Or maybe it’s a giant red arrow glowing above downtown KC.
For more than 70 years, the sign has overlooked downtown, outlasting the company it originally advertised and becoming one of the city’s most enduring landmarks. Its story is tied to the rise of the automobile, the growth of Kansas City as a transportation hub and the preservation of one of downtown’s most distinctive buildings. Today, it stands as a symbol of the city.
A Company with Kansas City Roots
The Western Auto Supply Company was founded in Kansas City in 1909 by a 23-year-old entrepreneur George Pepperdine. At a time when automobiles were becoming a bigger part of everyday life, Western Auto sold tires, tools and accessories to drivers across the country. What started with “just $5.00 and an idea” grew into one of America’s largest automotive retailers.
In 1951, Western Auto moved into the distinctive wedge-shaped building at 2107 Grand Boulevard, a structure originally built for Coca-Cola in 1915. The building itself was already a familiar part of the cityscape, but in 1952, Western Auto added the feature that would cement its place in Kansas City history.
The massive sign measures roughly 70 feet tall by 73 feet wide was installed atop the building. Featuring the words Western Auto inside a giant red arrow, the sign was illuminated by nearly 2,500 light bulbs and more than 1,000 feet of neon tubing. The sign wasn’t subtle and that was the goal. Visible for miles, the sign quickly became one of the defining features of the Kansas City skyline.
From Corporate Headquarters to Historic Landmark
The Western Auto company faced challenges into the 1980s as the retail landscape changed. Eventually, the building was vacated in 2000. The famous sign went dark the same year.
The building itself, however, remained an important part of Kansas City’s architectural history. It was named to the National Register of Historic in 1988 with the original sign still sitting dark atop the building.
In 2002, the former Western Auto building was converted into residential lofts, helping to preserve one of downtown Kansas City’s most recognizable structures. Then, after years of restoration work and fundraising efforts, the sign was relit in 2018.
The importance of the Western Auto sign is less about the company that once occupied the building and more about what the sign represents within the Kansas City skyline.
The sign tells a story of a Kansas City company that grew into a national brand. It serves as a visible connection to Kansas City’s industrial past and its entrepreneurial roots.
Looking Up Today
Today visitors exploring Crown Center, Union Station, the Crossroads Arts District, or downtown Kansas City are likely to spot the unmistakable red arrow rising above Grand Boulevard.
More than seven decades after it was installed, the Western Auto sign remains a prominent feature of the skyline and a reminder of the city’s connection to one of its most historic homegrown companies. From its beginnings as an advertisement to its status as a historic landmark.
Its continued presence has required ongoing preservation and restoration efforts. After going dark in 2000, the sign was restored and relit in 2018. In 2025, it went dark again after a significant number of bulbs burned out, prompting another restoration effort. The City of Kansas City partnered with the Western Auto Lofts Homeowners Association to repair the sign, replacing or restoring approximately 3,000 bulbs and sockets, repairing the neon elements and upgrading the lighting system for improved reliability.
In August 2026, the sign was officially relit once again as part of Kansas City’s Illuminate KC initiative, returning one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks to the skyline more than 70 years after its installation in 1952.
Sources: kcyesterday, kcmo
