The Covington Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to issue $6,800 in grant funding to Orleans Development to help them restore the historic Landwehr Hardware & Toys sign still in place outside of one of their buildings on Madison Avenue, which now plays host to apartments.
Landwehr Hardware & Toys closed in 2023, but the sign itself, which advertises gifts, paint, toys, gifts and home goods, is still in place. The apartments in the building have been dubbed the Landwehr Flats, as a nod to the historic store, which operated in Covington for over a hundred years.
A representative from Orleans Development told the board at its meeting last week that they would not be changing the wording of the sign during the restoration process.
“The plan is to completely refinish and restore this sign [and] the electrical connection,” said Patrick Duffy, Covington’s business retention and expansion manager, last Tuesday.
The city will contribute the funds as part of its small business incentive program. Orleans had previously received two $6,000 grants from the city to help restore the building’s facade. Orleans will contribute $1,700 of its own money toward the sign restoration.