Olympic Signs Celebrates 35 Years

CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When you're looking for a Chicago style hot dog or roast beef sandwich, Portillo's is the place to go. And finding one in your area is getting easier and easier with ongoing expansion. Just like the consistency of the food you order, the relationship between Portillo's owner Dick Portillo and Olympic Signs co-owner Rob Whitehead has been going strong since 1981.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151019/278375
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151019/278376

The businessmen get together at the various locations and brainstorm ideas for each uniquely themed location.

One of Whitehead's all-time favorites includes the Oak Lawn location. "Dick Portillo suggested that we make a billowing smokestack, in Oak Lawn. We incorporated a smoke machine in the sign design but soon received calls that the restaurant looked like it was on fire. Needless to say, the smoke stack idea went up in smoke after a year," said Whitehead.

It wasn't easy for Whitehead to get his foot in the door with Portillo's. Young Whitehead saw Portillo at the DuPage Racquet Club in Addison gym many years ago where Dick worked out everyday. He tried giving him his business card, but Portillo explained that he had a sign guy already. Whiteheads persistence and drive is what ultimately got him his first sign job with Portillo. "Service was most important along with the desire to please the customer. If a sign went out, Rob and Olympic Signs was on it immediately, whereas another company would have taken a week to fix it," said Portillo.

There's many ways to come up with an idea, but who knew Portillo's signs were drawn up on napkins in the early days? "In the Elmhurst conceptual design meeting, I started to draw on a napkin as Dick presented his idea of a juke box with a rotating record turntable on the roof, which you walked under to get into the restaurant. Dick picked up the napkin and said: 'This is what I want. All of you work together and make it happen'," said Whitehead. Later, that sign won first place in a Signs of the Times contest and Portillo still owns the napkin with the design.

This is a special year for Olympic Signs, who is celebrating 35 years in business. Whitehead's business partner Bill Pyter was operating out of a two car garage in Addison, IL in the early days. Now they have a fleet of Olympic trucks for installations and service, along with an experienced, driven team that helps as the company expands but still puts customer service as a top priority.

Olympic Signs has created many signs you've likely seen including the Chicago Tribune, The Drake Hotel, Boeing, and Prudential, as well as several suburban outlet mall signage and electronic LED displays. Their portfolio also includes high profile Chicago restaurant signage for Rosebud, Gibson's and Connie's Pizza. Olympic Signs establishes relationships that go beyond business as usual with company owners such as Portillo's.

Olympic Signs is located at 1130 N. Garfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148. For more information, you can call 888-851-0832 or Email.

Media Contact:
Christine Bachman
312-399-5822

SOURCE Olympic Signs