Historic Yoken's Sign Coming Back Home to Portsmouth

The historic Yoken's sign is on its way back home.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment earlier this month approved the return of the revamped sign to its former home on Route 1.

The sign marked the location of the former Yoken's restaurant, which operated from 1947 to 2004. The sign features a whale with the exclamation, "Thar she blows!"

The sign was taken down in the spring. 4 Amigos—the developers of the site—and Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, which is building a branch there, are paying about $40,000 to revamp the sign and reinstall it.

"It's our intention to keep the sign exactly as it was when I was a kid," said Scott Mitchell, of 4 Amigos. "It's such an icon."

Board members agreed.

"We have the opportunity to retain the history of Portsmouth," said board member David Rheaume.

The board's approval came with a condition that the group get the approval of the Planning Board for any landscaping around the sign.

In addition to the bank, a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant is being built at the Yoken's site. A Rite Aid also opened there in August.

A schematic of the revamped sign can be found in the photo section above.