Want to make your mark on Long Beach’s musical history?
Residents can contribute to the design of a new public space to display the restored VIP Records sign via a series of community workshops, hosted by the City of Long Beach.
Through the VIP Records Sign Restoration Project, the Department of Public Works will restore and relocate the iconic landmark to the southwest corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
Since its move to Long Beach in 1978, VIP Records has become a Long Beach mainstay and a vital part of West Coast hip-hop heritage.
In 2017, Long Beach City Council instructed then-City Manager Patrick H. West to form an agreement with World Famous VIP, LLC for the removal, restoration and temporary storage of the VIP Records sign. The following year, VIP Records, and its sign, were designated as a historic landmark by the City Council.
The first workshop is set for Aug. 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center (1950 Lemon Ave.). Attendees are invited to share personal stories, memories and community history centered on VIP Records as well as feedback on early concept design elements for the site through interactive activities.
A second workshop is expected to be held in the fall, where the City will showcase conceptual designs for the space and encourage additional community feedback before the project enters the final design phase.
The restored sign’s final placement within the new space and site features will be shaped by the public input received. Following the community engagement process, a refinement and celebration will be held to present the final design.
Nonprofit community development and design organization Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) will lead the design and engagement process for the project. Alongside the City, KDI will conduct community outreach activities and advance site design efforts.
Construction on the VIP Records Sign Restoration Project is expected to begin in spring 2027 and conclude by fall 2027.
The project includes $735,000 in General Fund and Measure A funds and is one of roughly 200 projects that are part of the Elevate ‘28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, aimed at improving Long Beach’s parks, community facilities accessibility and multimodal transportation.
To learn more about the VIP Records Sign Restoration Project and to sign up for updates, visit lbcity.info/VIPRecordsProject. For more information about Elevate ‘28, visit lbelevate28.com.
