NYC DOT Releases Limited Batch of ‘Welcome to Queens’ Signs to Celebrate the World’s Borough

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2025 Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov

NYC DOT Releases Limited Batch of 'Welcome to Queens' Signs to Celebrate the World's Borough

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced a limited number of authentic street signs honoring Queens, the city's most diverse borough. Today's release is part of the agency's monthly 'sign drops', pulled from the wide range of hand-made signs from the NYC DOT Sign Shop, which produces over 70,000 signs each year, and the second one dedicated to a specific borough. NYC DOT launched its 'sign drop' sales in June 2024.

"New York's greatest strength is its diversity, and no borough better reflects this diversity than Queens," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Queens truly is the World's Borough, home to residents from more than 120 countries across the globe."

"The DCAS CityStore is proud to offer these iconic 'Welcome to Queens' signs, made by hand in the World's Borough, and featured on the newly redesigned CityStore website," said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. "As the most diverse place on the planet with a rich history that goes back centuries, these signs give New Yorkers a chance to take home a piece of that story-their story-while supporting the city they love."

Queens was founded in 1683 as one of the original 12 counties of the Province of New York, an early predecessor of New York State. With over 47 percent of its inhabitants reportedly foreign born, Queens residents speak more than one hundred languages and represent diverse cultures from all over the world. Queens is also home to both LaGuardia and JFK airports, Aqueduct Racetrack, the New York Mets, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open. Queens, fittingly, hosted the New York World's Fair in both 1939 and 1964.

A limited release of 50 signs will be sold online for $100 each and are available one per customer. All signs will be sold via the CityStore, the Official Store of the City of New York, and proceeds will benefit the city's general fund. This signage offers a bit of nostalgia and a literal piece of the city's infrastructure.

Monthly sign drops from NYC DOT feature signs for iconic New York City streets, commemorations of famous New Yorkers, celebrations of special occasions, and other custom releases. NYC DOT began its monthly drops in June 2024, with the release of Christopher Street/Stonewall Place street signs to commemorate Pride Month.

Other recent sign drops include:

• Gay Street in recognition of Pride Month
• Wall Street
• Leaving Brooklyn: Fughgeddaboudit
• East 161st Street and Shea Road in honor of baseball's opening day
• Love Lane to recognize Valentine's Day
• Broadway in celebration of Broadway Week
• Cornelia Street to honor the street's prominence among pop music fans

About the NYC DOT Sign Shop

The New York City DOT Sign Shop is in Maspeth, Queens and manufactures over 70,000 signs each year. A team of 32 Sign Shop employees hand-make street signs, highway signs, directional signs, parking signs, and more. There are about one million NYC DOT signs in use across the 6,000 miles of streets in New York City.

The monthly sign drops are the latest iteration of sales that have historically been available from the Sign Shop.

About the CityStore

CityStore is the Official store of the City of New York. CityStore is operated by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. 100% of sales benefit the City of New York.

CityStore is similar to a museum store, which complements the museum by highlighting the treasures within while serving as a stand-alone retail entity for wonderful gifts, collectables and research materials. A museum store is a revenue source for the museum and reinforces and protects the integrity of the museum brand. CityStore is the 'museum store' for the entire City of New York.