Restoring Downtown Pocatello’s Luminous Legacy
The Chopstick Café’s iconic neon sign will be relit during the second annual Neon Fest, bringing another piece of Pocatello’s commercial heritage back to life in Historic Downtown. The celebration is scheduled for July 10 and 11, featuring the permanent restoration of the vintage sign affixed to the North Building in the 100 block of South Arthur Avenue.
The Relight the Night initiative, active since 2013, has systematically restored and relit historic neon signs throughout Pocatello. The Chopstick Café sign represents the latest chapter in a decade-long effort to preserve the visual character of the city’s downtown corridor. The renovation was made possible through funding from the Idaho Heritage Trust, which covered half the project cost, with the remainder raised through community fundraising. Denis and Kathleen Clijsters, owners of the North Building, backed the restoration.
Years of Nocturnal Landmarks Reclaimed
The Chopstick Café sign joins a growing roster of restored neon fixtures. The Chief Theater sign in the 200 block of North Main Street was the initiative’s first completed project. The Greyhound sign near the Union Pacific rail yard was relit in 2015, followed by the Paris sign at West Center Street and Main Street in 2017.
Later restorations included the Yellowstone Hotel sign, which received its first full repair and illumination in November 2018 after more than 35 years of darkness. Fred’s Photo sign at the Old Town Pavilion was relit in April 2019, and the Rexall Drug sign at Downtown Center (435 W. Center Street) returned to glow in October that same year. The Buster Brown Shoes sign was relit in November 2020. The inaugural Neon Fest in July 2025 featured the relighting of the Idaho Motel sign.
Fest Activities and Community Engagement
The July 10 relighting ceremony at the Chief Theater will begin at 8 p.m., with walking tours led by neon experts scheduled to follow. Local artist Nick Hottmann will apply fresh paint to the Chief Theater sign during the week before the festival.
Children ages 8 to 12 can participate in a coloring sheet contest with entries available at participating downtown merchants. A winner selected on July 8 will earn a ride on the lift with Hottmann during the July 10 evening activities.
The festival extends into July 11, when the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market and Crafters Market will operate at Station Square, providing additional community gathering and shopping opportunities.
According to the Historic Downtown Pocatello press release, “These artistic lights of the night remind our community of beloved events, places and people. They create the magic of the night, and add a burst of color during even the grayest of days.”
What Comes Next
The Neon Fest represents both a celebration of Pocatello’s commercial past and an ongoing commitment to downtown revitalization. Future editions of the festival may spotlight additional vintage signs awaiting restoration, continuing the Relight the Night momentum that has defined downtown preservation efforts for over a decade. Community members interested in the project or future sign nominations can connect with the Historic Downtown Pocatello organization for details on participation and sponsorship opportunities.
The event follows Bannock County’s America’s 250th celebration with symphony, parade, and time capsule activities, and continues Pocatello’s robust summer event calendar alongside festivals like Pocatello’s Mystic Realms Fantasy Fair.