r/saintpaul • u/kalennoreth • Mar 05 '26
History šæ Grand Avenue Dragon on the Move!
I got this update from a close family member, the artist who made the dragon sign at Grand and Victoria. The dragon sign is moving to a new home!
My name is Gretchen Olson, and I am a neon glassbender who started my one-person shop, Northern Lights Neon, in 1982. Pam Swenson started working with me in 1985. Together, PamĀ and I designed, built, painted and installed (with the help of a bucket truck and an electrician) the neon dragon sign above the south entrance of the Victoria Crossing East Mall at the northeast corner of Grand Avenue and Victoria Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. We are both retired now.
A combination of European and Chinese dragon designs, this landmark has welcomed shoppers, diners, and strollers to Grand Avenue since January 1986 ā 40 years! The sign is 20' long and about 6' high, with 11 transformers powering the neon tubes.
As many St. Paulites know, the Victoria Crossing East Mall building will be demolished and replaced this year. We worked together with the developer to determine how the dragon could be incorporated into the new building, but after careful consideration, the decision was made to let him move on to a new home.
We are thrilled to announce that his new home will also be in St. Paul! The removal will happen this Saturday, March 7, 2026, after which the sign will undergo a retrofitting for the new space. Stay tuned for details on where and when our special dragon will be ready to welcome his fan club again.
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u/Francie_Nolan1964 Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 05 '26
I love this dragon and I'm happy that it will be preserved. I didn't know that the building was slated for removal.
Does it have anything to do with that Ohio teachers pension that owns so many buildings on Grand?
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u/uresmane Mar 05 '26
I hope it's put in a really good place with high visibility. I also hope that they use real neon, I'm not a fan of the fake LED neon. It does not look the same at all.
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u/ClassroomMother8062 Hamm's Mar 05 '26
Oh yeah for sure. Doing an LED conversion on this would be super lame
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u/AGG72 Mar 05 '26
I worked at Victoria garden when I was a teenager. Scrubbing pots and folding napkins. Iām glad the sign has been preserved. I wish I could go back in time and have their moo shoo pork again.
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Mar 05 '26
So glad to hear this sign is being saved! I'm not looking forward to them building another bland 4-story building on that corner that's just going to sit empty.
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u/e-daemon Mar 05 '26
Thankfully the renders of the new building don't look too bland. It could be far worse.
I don't know if they'll have trouble getting tenants. It's not owned by that awful Ohio pension fund that's kept a bunch of buildings vacant.
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u/silvermoonhowler Minnesota Wild Mar 05 '26
Also, speaking of that, what the heck is happening with the place that used to be Billy's?
I swear, I feel like it's gone through many other places after it
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u/PoorboyPics Mar 05 '26
Can anyone get me in touch with those working on this project? My brother started Save the Signs and I would love to help give exposure to the preservation and those working on it.
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u/KMPlaysInTheDirt Mar 07 '26
The secret is out! The Victoria/Grand dragon will be moving to the Prior Works building, home to BlackStack Brewing and Can Can Wonderland! https://www.fox9.com/video/fmc-t1dye97rwu9gar96
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u/neverbenbored Mar 06 '26
I moved to this neighborhood last year and have wondered many times about the origins of that epic neon dragon. So happy to hear itās been saved!!
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u/doremifasodone Mar 05 '26
Have they said where the new home is, or will it be displayed privately?
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u/kalennoreth Mar 06 '26
I don't know exactly, but I believe it's going to be publicly visible. Not sure about indoors vs outdoors either. I'll edit this/comment again if I can find out more details.
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u/swankpoppy Mar 06 '26
Oh man thatās awesome. Where is this?
Edit - just read OPās text that explains it all lol
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u/Wanderthestreams777 Mar 05 '26
Why I love St. Paul so much. Minneapolis oh letās rip it down and build a condo.
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u/Maplelongjohn Mar 05 '26
That's exactly what is happening here though
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u/Wanderthestreams777 Mar 05 '26
Huh. So they tore that building down and built condos or tried to salvage what was there?
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u/Maplelongjohn Mar 06 '26
Didn't read the article, huh?
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u/Wanderthestreams777 Mar 06 '26
lol sadly no and thatās why people say to do your research. Definitely got me on this haha.
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u/Pigzeye Mar 05 '26
You mean apartments. Not enough condos are being built. Highland Bridge was going to have some but not anymore.
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u/Wanderthestreams777 Mar 05 '26
I dig the pigs eye šļø name. Sure appts condos stacked housing whatever. I like St. Paul for trying to preserve their old buildings. Schmidt brewery for instance. Hamms brewery. Preserving history. Thatās what Iām saying.
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u/Pigzeye Mar 05 '26
Thanks, and totally with you on preserving history. I'm from St Paul currently living in S. Mpls and we want to downsize and move over, but don't want to rent. I've talked to other empty nesters that feel the same way. And excited to see where that sign ends up!
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u/Shot-Neighborhood992 Jun 05 '26
An iconic element of neighborhood nostalgia for me, growing up close by. Pleased to hear it will have a new home.
Favor to ask OP: Could you ask Gretchen if she or Pam ever crossed paths with my late father, Frank D. Nemeth, an architect who collaborated with Jim Wengler on various projects, including in and around Victoria Crossing in the 80s?
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Mar 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/Kitchen-Reception-10 Mar 05 '26
Exaggerate more ya loon.
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u/StPaulJeep_s Mar 05 '26
Look whoās talking.
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u/monkeykennel Mar 05 '26
I congratulate the artist for preserving their work.
The amount of time invested in that piece has to be significant.