The economy is pitiful right now. Both where I live and where I work, I'm seeing a bunch of businesses closing their doors forever.

Shuttered buildings are incredibly depressing, so I'm launching a plan to help liven up our neighborhood streets and remind everyone that economic recovery is just around the corner.

It's a contest. Create and print your own "Opening Soon" flier and tape it to the door of an empty retail, industrial or warehouse property. Email a picture and you are in the contest! Include a description of the location and hazards if you would like.

Entries will be judged on humor content and sign placement. Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT Friday, August 27th 2010.

Best picture wins a cockeyed.com t-shirt.

Update! The Contest is over. Click here to jump to the contest entries.

While I was waiting for reader contributions, I stalked around Sacramento and Rancho Cordova, placing my own "Open Soon" signs. Here they are:

On the old Paper Zone building:

The Brazillian Intimate Portaits

Soup Bouquet
Liquid Florist

On Arden Way at Watt

The Lawn Broker
Top-Grade Grass Dispensary

Elmer Brown Wedding Cakes & Pool Supplies

Please continue reading page 2 of the Open Soon Prank.