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Rita Cook Colacci Byrd still resides in Boulder County and is now age 92. She was an intrinsic part of the success of Colacci's for about 38 years and filled many roles, including that of hostess. She had previously worked at the Blue Parrot and learned many of the family recipes from her mother-in-law, Mary and her father-in-law, Mike. According to her daughter, it was not unusual for Rita to let a couple enjoy their meal in peace by holding their baby for them while she moved around the restaurant, helping customers. The Colacci daughters also helped in the restaurant. Rita and Anthony Colacci divorced in 1968 and Rita is recognized as having taken over the operation of the restaurant. Waitresses who worked at Colacci's for more than 30 years included Myra Nelson, Doris Channel, and Mary Ross, according to an undated Daily Camera article. Dozens of other local residents worked at Colacci's or the Blue Parrot, or both at different times. Louisville's Pete Madonna was a manager at Colacci's for many years. The Colacci family stopped owning and operating the restaurant in 1993, and Colacci's Restaurant continued under other ownership until 2000. Colacci's Sign History According to Rita Colacci Byrd, the neon Colacci's sign was installed in 1956, the year after Colacci's opened. The Colacci family believes that it was made by the Gordon Neon Sign Company of Denver. According to a Daily Camera article (March 9, 2000) reporting that Pasquini's was submitting a plan to retain the original Colacci's sign (but with the name Pasquini's), Anthony Colacci himself designed the sign and almost every aspect of it represented something personal to him. "The sign is supported by a large number seven, which is Anthony Colacci's lucky number." The beacon, which had a lighthouse -style light on it, was said to have been put there for a relative who was in the military. Historical Museum records further indicate that the star for the dot above the "i" represented Anthony Colacci's mother, the apostrophe represented his father, Mike, and the "s" represented himself. In an impressive example of branding in this small town, the stylized, cursive red "Colacci's" name was used consistently in the restaurant's advertising for years. A slogan used frequently in the Colacci's advertising was "Look for the Beacon." The beacon above the Colacci's sign worked like a lighthouse beacon and could be seen at least as far away as Highway 287. Employees would use a switch located near the cashier's stand to turn it on at around 5 PM and would turn it off when the restaurant closed at night. A local resident has recalled that on occasions when Lafayette would lose its power, Lafayette citizens would look for the Colacci's beacon to see whether Louisville had also lost its electricity. 10