Reynolds working on redesigning Melody Mill sign

Melody Mill restaurant in Aniwa is currently going through a remastering.

Aniwa resident, Tyler Reynolds is working on updating the Melody Mill sign located on state Highway 52. The original sign consisted of an Texaco sign and was redesigned in 1980 by Reynolds’ father, Mark.

Reynolds said he got involved in updating the sign from knowing the owners and helping to update Melody Mill’s menus.

“I thought that it would be a cool thing to do, updating their menus,” Reynolds said. “I wanted to expand my art to the highway. I talked to the owners and bugged them for two years, and they let me work on it.”

According to Reynolds, as storms came through the area over recent years, the paint on the sign was starting to chip away, resulting in the old Texaco sign being visible.

“The sign was decrepit, it was old, you could start to see the old Texaco logo with all of the paint chipping off,” said Reynolds. “Then I thought oh my god, that is an eyesore, let me help you.”

After getting clearance from the owners to start working on the sign, Reynolds bought paint, weatherproofed the sign and got to work on it. He started working on it at the start of summer in June.

“They said that they wanted to stay true to their original logo and feeling,” said Reynolds. “I think that is important for any business, you can grow but stay true to your roots.”

He said he has heard positive reviews so far as he continues to paint and develop the sign.

“I have put a lot of pictures out on Facebook and the internet, and people having been saying it’s cool,” said Reynolds. “I have had some people drive by while I am working on it and beep their horn.”

Reynolds hopes that as the sign is finishing that it attracts more people to come into the restaurant to enjoy music and drinks.

“For the people around here that know the place, they will always go there,” said Reynolds. “Sometimes when I am out there working, I will see people that look like they are going to drive by, but end up turning and stopping. I hope that the sign acts like a gatekeeper to get people in.”

Trying to balance his life, with work, family and the environment, Reynolds is anticipating that the sign project will be completed by early August.

“I have the vinyl graphics in my garage and will be putting them up soon,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds said that Melody Mill is a place that has been close to him for his whole life.

“Melody Mill is a place like ‘Cheers,’” said Reynolds. “Every time that I go in there, I run into someone. I feel like when I walk in, I don’t know anybody, but when I walk out I am saying goodbye to like 10 different people.”

Reynolds said that he is excited and honored to do work on a restaurant that he has had a connection to during the early part of his life.

He finished saying that updating the sign to Melody Mill is the first step to helping Aniwa grow as a town.

“Art is always changing and it will get people’s attention, if they like it or not,” said Reynolds. “When you do it on a local level, you are helping local businesses grow and succeed. I think it will start attracting people. It is small, but it is a good start.”

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com