About Comet Signs by Stratus

With Comet’s continued growth the company is poised for another 60 plus years of growth and superior customer service.

Comet Signs by Stratus, originally known as Comet Neon Advertising Co., was founded in 1958 by Arthur S. Sitterle Jr. He quickly established a strong reputation for quality products, on-time performance, and personal service with national and regional accounts including: HEB Grocery Company, Church’s Fried Chicken, Stop ‘N Go, and Jim Dandy Chicken.

Company leadership passed to his son, Arthur S. “Pete” Sitterle III, in the ’90s and he continued to build the organization through manufacturing technology advancements, unparalleled customer service, and a continued focus on growth. Pete had a vision of building a sign company that could serve the entire state of Texas, and with a series of strategic acquisitions, it quickly became a reality.

In 2012, the first big growth initiative began with the acquisition of Barker Sign Company in Houston, Texas. Founded by Texas sign company legend, Jack Patterson, Barker Signs unlocked new installation capabilities for Comet Neon’s growing customer base in Houston, along with expanded customer service opportunities.

In 2013, Comet Neon Advertising Company merged with Reynolds Sign in Irving, Texas to form Comet Signs by Stratus, LLC. Reynolds Sign was founded in 1986 by George “Tommy” Reynolds and quickly built a strong franchise in custom electric signs and sports marketing signage. Within the sports industry, Tommy built lasting relationships with key customers including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Motor Speedway, and major golf tournaments. In addition to the work with various other university stadiums, Reynolds had a strong presence in digital signage, Electronic Message Centers (EMCs), and interior graphics. The marriage of Comet Neon & Reynolds Signs was a perfect fit, and the new company provided cutting edge sign manufacturing capabilities with a strong customer focus.

In the following years, Comet Signs by Stratus continued to expand through the acquisition of three signage innovators in the state of Texas. Finally, in 2022, Comet Signs by Stratus was acquired by Stratus, a leader in brand implementation. The acquisition allowed customers to take advantage of an expanded footprint and additional product offerings, while still partnering with the Comet team they have grown to trust.

State Sign

In March of 2015, Comet Signs by Stratus expanded again by purchasing State Sign Company in Houston, TX. Founded in 1957 by Danny Zoch, State Sign had been a major player throughout Houston and the Gulf Coast region – providing electrical, on-premise sign manufacturing, installation, and maintenance services. Some of their clients included major retail customers, developers, general contractors, and installations for national sign companies. State Sign has a strong history of creative sign design success as a multi-year winner of the Texas Sign Association Frank Page Award- given annually to the company with the overall best sign design, manufacturing, and installation. Operating as State Sign, A Comet Signs by Stratus Company, the Houston group continues to flourish under the Comet Signs by Stratus umbrella.

Design Center Signs (DCS)

In November 2017 Comet expanded into the East Texas market through the purchase of Design Center Signs (DCS) in Tyler, Texas. Supported by a strong project management team and Comet’s proprietary workflow management program, Job Command, our growing customer base now included major banks, hospital systems, and universities. Design Center Signs’ founders, Paul and Nita Ingle, continue to provide executive and sales leadership as the company provides electrical sign manufacturing, installation, and maintenance services throughout East Texas and Louisiana.

Custom Sign Creations (CSC)

In 2018, Comet expanded into Austin, Texas. The purchase of Custom Sign Creations (CSC) added coverage of Central Texas with a company known for vibrant and creative sign designs. CSC’s strong sales team and manufacturing expertise enhanced Comet’s ability to serve customers across the state of Texas. Company founders Jamie Mitol and Andy Leffler continue to lead the company’s Austin operations as Comet’s growth into a new geography is focused on providing a better customer experience to current and future customers through local knowledge and experience.

Stratus

In December 2022, Comet was acquired by Stratus, headquartered out of Mentor, OH. Stratus, a nationwide brand implementation company, serves some of the largest industries in the country. With multiple locations and more than 1,000 employees throughout the U.S., the acquisition offers our customers a one-stop-shop for all their branding needs. Additional offerings now include refresh & remodel, facilities maintenance, brand implementation, and energy services.

Comet Signs by Stratus operates on a national basis and is supported by five Texas locations, three of which house over 250,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing space. Headquartered in San Antonio with a 180,000 square foot manufacturing facility, Comet provides program and custom sign fabrication – serving customers of all sizes. With 26 installation crews based across Texas and access to over 4,000 Stratus’ field partners across the nation, the Comet Signs by Stratus team welcomes the opportunity to serve you!

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SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

The Comet Process

Step 1

Design & Consultation

Comet Signs by Stratus projects always begin with our professional, in-house designers preparing drawings including dimensions and building material details.

Step 2

Sign Manufacturing

With over 60 years of sign manufacturing experience, if you can dream it, we can build it.

Step 3

Sign Installation

With 24 installation crews based across America, we have the resources to handle all sizes of sign installations.