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The Last Neon Sign Worker In Central New York The Last Neon Sign Worker In Central New York

By Zachary Nemirovsky

Camille Sleilati: God bless America, my man.

Zach Nemirovsky: Meet Camille Sleilati, a proud husband, parent, immigrant, and the only person in Central New York you can go to for neon sign making and repairs.

When Sleilati came to the U-S from Lebanon 40 years ago, he was allowed to stay because there was deman for his unique set of skills.

Sleilati: The lawyer asked me, “what you do for a living” I told him I make neon signs, theres demand for this job in this country.

Nemirovsky: When he finally became a permanent resident the judge said something to him he’ll never forget.

Sleilati: In this case – ‘these are the people we are looking for in the United States’ and he stamped my passport.

Nemirovsky: For the past 32 years Camille has worked out of this studio shop here in Syracuse, he said there used to be about four other neon sign makers scattered around upstate new york. But with the advent of the LED sign it put them all out of business.

Sleilati: The neon business slowed down after the LED, but it never died – it’s still going.

Nemirovsky: To stay in business while customers bought the cheaper LED alternative, Sleilati lowered his prices by a dollar per square foot, and didn’t make any money for the first couple of years because of this.

But as his reputation as a quality sign maker quickly grew, he became the go-to guy for sign making and repairs. Even earning a special nickname.

Sleilati: They call me the sign doctor, my license plate says NEON MD.

Nemirovsky: To him, this is the American dream.

Sleilati: God bless America, my man. It’s…. Big country, nice country, nice people. But people like us, you gotta work hard. I made good, thank goodness, and thank the America.

Nemirovsky: Zach Nemirovsky N-C-C News

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — “Everybody say you should make a movie about your story,” said Camille Sleilati who, for the past 40 years, has made and repaired neon signs in Syracuse.

Originally from Lebanon, Sleilati immigrated to the United States in 1980. Sleilati initially applied for and was denied asylum but was able to stay in the country because of his unique set of skills.

“When I applied for political asylum the judge said to me we don’t accept it because Lebanon is a friend to the United States,” Sleilati said. “But this job kept me in this country.”

At the time there was a need for skilled glass workers, specifically neon sign manufacturers, so he was granted a labor certification.

After working in the United States for 15 years and starting a family and buying a house, he applied for permanent residence.

“I looked at the judge and I thought he was going to kick me out,” Sleilati recalled. “But he looked at me and said ‘you are the people we are looking for in America,’ and stamped my passport.”

When LED signs, which offered a cheaper alternative, grew in popularity it nearly put Sleilati out of business.

To stay afloat he lowered his prices by a dollar per square foot and wasn’t making a profit for the first couple of years because of this.

“There used to be four other people who could make neon signs in [Central] New York, but they all closed because of LED signs,” said Sleilati.

As his reputation as a quality sign maker grew, Sleilati became the go-to (and soon the only) guy for sign making and repairs; even earning a special nickname.

“They call me the doctor because my license plate says ‘NEONMD’,” Sleilati said.

License plates on the wall of a neon shop
License plates on the wall of a neon shop
© Zach Nemirovsky

To Sleilati his story is the epitome of achieving the American dream.

“God bless America. It’s a big country, nice country, nice people,” Sleilati said. “But, people like us you have to work hard. I made it, thank goodness, and thank America.”

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