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Holy Cannoli

Contributed by André Mora on Jan 16th, 2013.
    The front door.
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    The front door.

    To be honest, this stopped me because I thought it was Zamenhof — turns out to be Polarband. I like the touch of Creamy Script. It’s a great example of why there’s no excuse for using free scripts or recycling familiar styles. Sure, it’s merely two words, but this use adds a hit of originality. Unfortunately, it’s not used on their street sign.

    Polarband has three styles, including a Back (solid) style that was used for the small HC. Its boldness (small apertures) most likely prevented it from being used within the banners.

    Note the “CANNOLI” inside the store. I think that was written on a chalkboard. Oh, and I can’t yet verify if their delicacies are legit. I’ll report back.

    Walking on 3rd Ave in Belltown, this caught my attention from a block away.
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    Walking on 3rd Ave in Belltown, this caught my attention from a block away.

    Typefaces

    • Polarband
    • Creamy Script
    • Gotham

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    2 Comments on “Holy Cannoli”

    1. I haven’t seen this spot yet. I think we should visit there pronto, though.

      Also, perhaps this is one of those situations that one of them came first but the other portions of their branding/support posters/signs hadn’t been updated, or were to expensive to update to support the new look, etc. If you get my meaning.

      This is sometimes acceptable, given that remaking support signage can be cost prohibitive for smallish businesses, in some cases.

      But this is in contrast to my qualms related to branding within the movie industry where each peice of advertising gets a different treatment and a different typeface when obviously the entire individual movie franchise can benefit from one look. For example, I saw an advertisement for Lost in Translation some years ago and the typeface was Trajan (old reliably bland but popular in this space).

      I’d love to talk to this shop’s owner to hear how the signage system was developed, history behind it, if the designer was the same as the letterer, etc., etc.

    2. Wow! Thanks for ackknowledging the font/logo that was done by the talented Molly Leonard.

      Molly and I spent quite some time trying to find what we thought was a good representation of Holy Cannoli as a brand and what we thought would be a classic/timeless logo. Both the font on the door and the outside sign are the same. The original sign was a little smaller but we’ve since added a larger more readable sign. Building and city codes delayed this process, so you may have seen the sign in its earlier format.

      The chalkboard inside the store was done “free hand” from the talented E. Glenn Ballungay at EGB Designs. Using a copy of the logo, Glenn stenciled by hand the logo onto the chalkboard, just in a much larger version, and although it isn’t a “perfect” match, it turned out awesome!

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