Poblocki Sign Company, LLC began as a creator of one-of-kind movie marquees in 1932. Over eight decades, we’ve seen our industry affected by wars, economics and trends. But we’ve also seen new technologies turn dreams into realities. We’ve seen colors, lights and LED displays turn a simple sign into a landmark on a city’s landscape.

Of course, 80 years will ring in a lot of changes for any industry, but for us, the one thing that hasn’t changed is our personal attention to each customer and each project. Attention that makes a statement and makes your space or business come to an expressive life. 

We’ve built a company that has the experience, skill and creativity to produce signage that people will remember for everything from museums and airports to corporate buildings, universities and hospitals.

POBLOCKI HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1895               Ben Poblocki was born in Stevens Point, Wis., and was the only son of Polish immigrants.
 
1910               At age 15, Ben Poblocki became a railroad electrician and also played semi-professional football and baseball.
 
1917               Ben Poblocki married and during the next 14 years welcomes six children, all boys – Ed, Ray, Barney, Jerry, Jim and Bill – who would each eventually work for the company.
 
1928               Ben enters the sign business, holding the electrical license at Everbrite.
 
1932               Ben Poblocki leaves Everbrite to start his own company which he named Electrolite Signs, Inc., which was later changed to Ben Poblocki & Sons, then to Poblocki & Sons which lasted until 2005 when the name was changed to Poblocki Sign Company.
 
1932-1941    The company predominantly focuses on manufacturing theater marquees and poster cases, completing more than half of all theater jobs in Wisconsin.
 
1941               All sign manufacturing ended on Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Since all steel was allocated to the war effort, Poblocki manufactured theater chairs for the military.
 
1945               At the end of World War II the company resumed manufacturing signs. During the next five years the company expanded the theater business to include the entire Midwest.
 
1946               Plastics are introduced to the sign industry. Poblocki’s first plastic sign was for the Spin & Span dry cleaning company.
 
1947               The first sign cranes were invented, reaching heights of 35 feet. Before these, all signs were installed using the block and tackle method.
 
1951               The popularity of the television brought the theater business to a standstill. Poblocki focused on metal manufacturing, making the motor housing for the Louis-Allis Company.
 
1953               Poblocki manufactures the scoreboard for Major League Baseball team the Braves when they moved from Boston to Milwaukee.
 
1955               Poblocki once again changed directions, shifting focus from metal manufacturing back to signage. The company put all efforts into making signs for banks, saving and loans, and other financial institutions.
 
1956               Poblocki begins to fabricate signs for a new fast food chain called McDonald’s stretching from Wisconsin to Florida. McDonald’s was growing so fast that it eventually became a volume production account. Poblocki stepped away from the account in the early 1960s to focus on quality signage.
 
1958               Poblocki moved from 2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. to a larger building located on 32nd and West Pierce Streets.
 
1960               Along with manufacturing commercial signs, Poblocki did a large amount of installation business over the next 20 years; working with companies like Cummings and Plastiline, who manufactured signs for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.
 
Ben Poblocki retired from the company, leaving the daily operations and stock to each of his six sons.
 
1966               Ford introduced their new identification program.
 
1969               General Motors introduces their new identification program. Combined GM and Ford had more than 30,000 dealerships that all needed at least five new signs per location.
 
1970               Poblocki partners with Target Corporation. At the time they took the account, Target was opening four stores per year, whereas presently, they do around 100 or more.
 
1972               Poblocki begins to do large signage programs for the health care industry.
 
1981               Jerry Poblocki buys the business from his brothers. He was not ready to retire and his son Mark helped him handle sales.
 
1982               Poblocki purchases one of the first CNC routers in the country to help with the half million dollar Washington University Hospital signage project in St. Louis.
 
1985               With the new router Poblocki was able to take on larger orders and make faster deliveries. With the new technology Poblocki did sign programs for medical facilities in virtually every state.
 
1988               Poblocki enters the interior sign business and opens a separate plant located in Wauwatosa, Wis. This allowed Poblocki to be a full-service sign company and compete on the nation’s largest jobs.
 
1990               Computers were introduced to the sign industry, allowing engineers to save countless hours drafting plans.
 
1993               The company grew to a point where the South First Street location was too small and purchased property on which the company currently resides.
 
1995               Poblocki moved to the new location at 922 S. 70th St., in West Allis, Wis., combining the interior and exterior business by building a state-of-the-art 110,000 square-foot facility.
 
1999               Dave Drury became new owner/president of Poblocki & Sons.
 
2000               Poblocki.com goes live.
 
2001               Letter manufacturing machine for aluminum letters is invented, enabling faster production.
 
Poblocki manufactures its biggest project to date – Milwaukee’s Miller Park baseball stadium. The project opens doors to the sports and entertainment market.
 
2002               Poblocki manufactures the signage for the Lambeau Field renovation. Like Miller Park, the project consists of both interior and exterior signage.
 
2003               Poblocki manufactures signage for the Soldier Field renovation.
 
2004               LED lighting is introduced to the sign industry allowing for a brighter, longer-lasting illumination system.
 
2005               Poblocki takes on a new logo and new name. Poblocki Sign Company helps set the company apart from the related Poblocki Paving.
 
2007               Poblocki celebrates their 75th year in business. After overcoming nearly every type of signage challenge, the company announced its new brand efforts headlined by the slogan “Challenge Us.”
 
2012               Jerry Poblocki announces his retirement from his position as president of the Poblocki Board of Directors.