Neon Garden Opening in Mesa

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~ Mesa, AZ - The City of Mesa is set to unveil a new outdoor community space in downtown Mesa that celebrates the city's rich history. The Neon Garden, located behind The Post at 26 N. Macdonald, will feature restored neon signs from Mesa businesses dating back to the 1940s through the 1970s. The public is invited to attend the official lighting of the neon signs on Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m.

Mayor Mark Freeman expressed his excitement for the new addition to downtown Mesa, stating, "The Neon Garden is a great step towards elevating our city. As someone who has a personal connection with each of these signs, I believe they truly reflect the spirit of Mesa. This space will not only help us remember where we came from but also create new memories for future generations."

The Neon Garden will open with six restored neon signs that hold significant meaning to the city's past. These include Bill Johnsons Big Apple, Watson's Flowers, Dairy Queen, Smiley Ford, Frontier Motel and a replica of the iconic Diving Lady sign.

The western-themed restaurant sign for Bill Johnsons Big Apple stood at 950 E. Main St. from 1977 until its closure in 2018. It was donated to the Mesa Preservation Foundation as an homage to the legacy of Big Apple restaurants created by Bill and Gene Johnson.

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The 30-foot neon sign for Watson's Flowers was created by local sign maker Paul Millet and stood at their West Main Street location from the late 1950s until it collapsed during a windstorm in 2014. After being stored flat for five years, it was donated to the Mesa Preservation Foundation in 2019 by Watson's owners.

The iconic porcelain enamel neon sign for Dairy Queen was installed on top of their building when it opened at 629 E. Main St. in 1949 and operated until its closure in 2018. The sign was saved by the City of Mesa and the Mesa Preservation Foundation.

The neon Ford sign for Smiley Ford was likely installed around 1960 when the dealership moved to 256 E. Main St. After a change in ownership, it was renamed to Berge Ford.

The neon sign for Frontier Motel is believed to date back to the opening of the motel in the 1950s. During that time, there were over 60 motels along Main Street in Mesa, and the Frontier was a typical "U"-shaped layout with parking in the center. The neon sign has gone through several paint schemes over the years.

The Diving Lady replica pays homage to the original 60-foot sign that was erected in 1960 to promote a new swimming pool at Starlite Motel on E. Main St. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by a powerful microburst in October 2010. However, thanks to fundraising efforts by the Mesa Preservation Foundation, a smaller replica was relit at the Starlite Motel in April 2013 before being moved to its current location at the Neon Garden.

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Councilmember Jenn Duff expressed her enthusiasm for this unique space, stating, "The Neon Garden beautifully blends art, history and community into one fantastic gathering spot. It brings Mesa's past to life in a vibrant and fun way for both residents and visitors. I am proud to see this vision become a reality as part of our ongoing efforts to make downtown Mesa a true destination."

The Neon Garden is just one part of a larger renovation and revitalization project connected to The Post, which opened as a community event venue in November 2023. Partially funded by a City of Mesa bond approved by voters in 2018 for cultural infrastructure projects, construction on the Neon Garden began in July 2024.

City Manager Chris Brady emphasized how important it is for Mesa to preserve its past while looking towards the future, stating, "Mesa cherishes its history and is always looking towards our future. The Neon Garden is the only venue of its kind in the Valley that showcases the beauty and craftsmanship of neon signs. This project not only preserves our cultural history but also offers a unique outdoor event space as part of our downtown placemaking efforts."

The City of Mesa partnered with the non-profit Mesa Preservation Foundation to create the Neon Garden, which will host a variety of community programming. This is just the beginning for introducing historic neon signs throughout downtown Mesa, creating a special sense-of-place that will expand heritage tourism. More information about the Neon Garden can be found online.

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