The State Department Store (PDT for Państwowy Dom Towarowy in Polish) was officially opened on 30 October 1948. The four-storey department store, impressive by the standards of the time, offered everything from a motorbike to a potty, according to reports in the press at the time.

The first neon sign appeared on the façade of the building on the opening day and was a small three-letter acronym enclosed in a circle. 14 years later, at the beginning of 1962, the REKLAMA State Enterprise, which at the time held the monopoly over the preparation and realisation of neon installations, presented a design and created another version of the PDT advertisement, visible in the animation presented here.

The 1970s brought a new name to the department store – PEDANT. Alongside this, the lighting elements on the façade were also replaced. The figure of Kmicic lifting his cap to encourage the purchase of men’s fashion appeared. For many older Katowice residents, it was one of the most beautiful neon signs in the city’s history.