After a months-long search for a 1920s-era piece of Vancouver Chinatown history, the owner of the neighbourhood’s historic Sai Woo restaurant had to give up on her dream of surfacing a giant neon rooster sign that once adorned the building.

At least until 1959, when the iconic signage was last spotted in a mere one-second of film reel about Chinatown. That wasn’t much to go on, but the 158 East Pender St. restaurant’s current owner, Salli Pateman, cast her net far and wide for tips — offering a $500 reward.