Museum of Neon Art finalizes deal to leave L.A.

The Museum of Neon Art isn't moving far — to the heart of Glendale's Carusoland — but it will be the end of an era. The museum has occupied several temporary Downtown locations, most recently on 4th Street next to the "old bank" for which the loft district is named. The plan is for MONA to continue operating the popular Neon Cruise from Downtown, but to give up its 4th Street space late this summer and open in a bigger, permanent space on Glendale's Brand Boulevard next year. From an email to members:

After 2 ½ years of negotiations with the City of Glendale, we have some exciting news to share with you! Last night, MONA signed the lease with the City of Glendale for a permanent home directly across Brand Boulevard from the Americana commercial center.

The new 10,000 square foot museum site will open in 2012 and include permanent and rotating exhibition spaces, a neon fabricating facility, as well as a café and gift shop. Most importantly it creates a permanent home for the Museum of Neon Art to fulfill its mission of "preserving, collecting, exhibiting and interpreting neon art," under one roof.

[skip]

MONA will serve as the arts anchor for Glendale's new Cultural Arts District that spans from Colorado Blvd. to the south and the Alex Theater to the north.

With the added space, the museum will finally be able to display some of the historic Los Angeles neon it owns, such as an original Brown Derby sign and the dragons from Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Rendering: Museum of Neon Art

Previously on LA Observed:
MONA looking to Glendale
Neon cruise on 'Off-Ramp'
Tough times for neon museum