1952
Cassius Clay, Jr., "Bus", founded Cut Rate Signs in 1952 and changed the name to Local Neon Company, Inc. after marrying Jeanne in 1954. They drove around each evening to find 30 businesses with signs needing repair to pitch to. Local Neon expanded into a full-service provider, serving clients like House of Fabrics, City of Santa Monica, and The Gap.
1984
Local Neon is incorporated as LNI Signs as Bus' son, Scott Blakely, takes over, transitioning the company into a custom sign fabricator. LNI Sign’s clients include Disney, Santa Monica Pier, and Nike.
1995
LNI Signs becomes LNI Custom Manufacturing, Inc. as it grows nationwide. LNI's major clients included Disney, LAX, The Gap, Old Navy, and Davina Dialysis. In 1996, Bus retired, and Local Neon was dissolved, leaving Scott as LNI Custom Manufacturing's sole owner and operator.
2005
LNI's focus shifted from the sign industry to bus shelter manufacturing for municipalities. Scott's expertise in engineering and metalwork allowed LNI to excel in design/build architectural challenges. While still serving large clients like Daewoo Motors and Disney, Scott's primary focus was on winning work in the transportation augmentation industry.
2021
In the next chapter, Clay Blakely, the fifth generation, takes over LNI Custom Manufacturing, Inc. to continue the business’s legacy as Southern California’s premier transit Custom Manufacturer.
