Iconic “Mr. Boh” Sign to be Re-Lit for Natty Boh’s 140th Anniversary

A familiar face is set to reappear on the Baltimore skyline on Sept. 25 after two years of sitting in the dark. The iconic Natty Boh “Mr. Boh” sign is going to be re-lit with new LED lights after its original neon lights fizzled out in 2022.

The local beer company’s mustachioed logo has become a de facto mascot for the city of Baltimore, and his face is a common staple of city-centric merchandise. Obrecht Commercial Real Estate, the current owners of the former National Brewing Company plant in Brewer’s Hill, commissioned the sign in 2005, but the neon lights that originally adorned the sign had a relatively short lifespan. Neon signs typically stop working after anywhere from eight to 15 years, often due to leakage.

“Neons are tough, especially with the weather in Baltimore,” explains Natty Boh brand manager Nitasha Chopra. “17 years is a really long time for a neon light to sustain itself, so we’re actually surprised that [the lights on the Mr. Boh sign] lasted that long.”

When the sign’s neon lights stopped working for good, the beer brand’s communication channels were flooded with questions about what had happened to the sign and when the lights were going to be turned back on.

As part of the preparations for the brand’s upcoming 140th anniversary in 2025, the sign’s lights have been replaced with LED lights. These are not only more environmentally-friendly and longer-lasting, but they also have new functions that the original neon lights did not have, such as changing colors. Chopra adds that Baltimoreans can expect to see Mr. Boh’s face lit up in green for St. Patrick’s Day, purple for the Baltimore Ravens or orange when the Baltimore Orioles play. The latter is especially fitting, as Natty Boh beer recently began to be sold in Orioles Stadium at Camden Yards again after a long absence.

For many Baltimoreans, Mr. Boh is more than just a sign—he’s a historic local landmark and a staple of the city’s culture.

“I heard a story from this one woman who said her grandparents were originally from Baltimore, but they moved. When they came back to see family, they would always see the big sign from the plane, and it made them feel like they were home,” Chopra says. “For a lot of people, the sign is nostalgic.”

To celebrate the re-lighting of the sign, Natty Boh is holding a small private event with some of their community and corporate partners, but they encourage Baltimore residents to keep an eye on the “Blinking Boh” for a special surprise on Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m.