From the windows of The Pabst and The Riverside Theaters to the Milwaukee Art Museum and even the East Side offices of OnMilwaukee.com, Grand Central Graphics has made its mark on Milwaukee. Maybe you don't know them by name, but the small firm has created graphics that can't be missed in downtown Milwaukee.
Grand Central Graphics, Inc. has provided color-accurate digital inkjet printing since 1996, according to president Robert Pape.
"We quickly found a ready market for our graphics, advertising specialties, labels and colorful graphic reproductions on banners, vehicles, site signs, windows and other applications," says Pape.
The services Grand Central provides vary widely, and Milwaukee is dotted with colorful and eye-catching examples. Maybe it's the bus completely coated with color; maybe it's the banners adding contrast to the city's streets; maybe it's David Byrne's face staring at you as you drive down Water Street.
Surprisingly, Pape says that the printer the company uses is much like a bubblejet printer anyone can use with their computer.
"Ours uses durable ink, and can print up to five feet wide on a variety of materials," he says.
But if you'd like to print something smaller, he says that the vast majority of Grand Central's work is poster-sized. The company is also up for the challenge when it comes to printing, because it's tackled many different graphics.
"Some of the more common are wide-format digital inkjet printing for trade show, display, meetings and other corporate purposes; process color reproduction for builders/developers and architects, as well as advertising and promotional signs or banners for shows and events," Pape says. "We have done art reproduction, full-coverage vehicle graphics, donor recognition signage for events and a host of other specialty applications such as motion, 3-D lenticular panels and mesh window decorations."
For Milwaukee, the colorful and prominent mesh window decorations and promotional signs and banners may be the most familiar -- such as the ones hanging from light posts lining streets around MAM and the Milwaukee Area Technical College.
The windows and doors of The Pabst and The Riverside that advertise upcoming shows are the mesh window decorations Pape talks about. When outside of either location, the window coverings are in full color, but from inside, the view remains unaltered and people still have a clear view of what is happening outside.
"For us, the mesh signs raise awareness of our shows. The signs are there at least two months before the show, and it is something people see everyday when they are downtown," says Jason Gierl, a graphic designer for both the Pabst and the Riverside. "They work out great."
Most projects brought to Grand Central are routine and everything starts with an idea.
"A client typically brings in a concept: Poster, banner, display, vehicle wrap and the artwork they wish to use," Pape says. "We produce the piece. Sometimes a little collaborative brain-storming helps nail down the best approach to the solution."
Pape says that it's all about working with the customer.
"We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate what truly high quality client service is like. We 'partner' with our customers to ensure their work is produced as they need it, when they need it, with as little effort on their part as possible."
Grand Central not only does work in Milwaukee, but in other states, as well.
We have shipped work all over the country, usually when the job originates in Milwaukee or environs or from a Chicago client or agency," Pape says. "Doing jobs for clients out of state presents unique challenges, but if they have faith and confidence in our work it can be accomplished seamlessly."
The company is proud of the work it does.
"The vast diversity of clients we work with is very rewarding. Each brings unique needs and personalities and add to our experience and capabilities," Pape says. "Every customer who calls is one we would love to work with."
Grand Central Graphics is located at 302 E. Florida St. Its Web site is grandcentralgraphics.com
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
