Photo by Streets of Washington.

Nearly one year ago, we reported that the future of the iconic Central Liquors sign on F Street NW was in doubt — the boozy beacon, after all, advertised a business which no longer resided in the 917 F Street NW space, above which it sat.

“Take your snaps now before it disappears,” we warned. Well, that time has now come.

The sign disappeared from its usual place this week, coming as a surprise to many for whom the sign was a Penn Quarter landmark. (Last year, the word was that Central’s new landlords at 625 E Street NW refused to install the sign because the one-story tall neon sign would blast into that building’s residential units; the management of the building at 917 F Street said that they would “figure out a way to dispose of it” if they couldn’t transfer it.) A source at the liquor store who would only comment under the condition of anonymity confirmed to DCist this morning that the sign had not been destroyed, and that management at the store would like to see it back up, but could not offer any additional information about its future.

UPDATE (12:25 p.m.): Via The Location, we learn that the sign has apparently been sold to James Alefantis, the owner of another business with a big neon sign, Comet Ping Pong. There’s no word yet on what Alefantis’ plans are for the sign, but we’re looking forward to hearing them.