Iconic Knoxville Neon Sign – Mac Auto Loans
Since the spring of 2025, I’d seen the Mac Auto Loans neon sign sitting in a sign yard which I drove by often. Seeing it off in the distance as I zipped by for the last year is what prompted me to learn about the business and location of where it originally stood.
This past weekend (February 2025) I finally drove by the sign yard to get a better look at it.
When I started researching the sign online, it quickly became clear that it was a beloved local icon that was infused with the flavor of a Knoxville many people didn’t want to lose. I certainly don’t blame people for feeling that way. It’s a wonderful sign. And it’s one of those local culture touchstones that makes a place feel unique.
The building at 200 W. 5th Ave. where this sign stood was demolished in 2023. According to online sources, the sign was preserved to potentially be reincorporated into the design of the new MAC on 5th development that would replace the build that’d been taken down. The MAC on 5th project had originally been slated to be completed in 2024.
Knox News chronicled the 2023 building demolition.
If you load Google Maps streetview in just the right position you can still get a 2017 view of the sign when it was still in place before the building was demolished. I don’t know how long this will remain available on Gmaps, but here is is:
From WATE.com:
“We’ve got to work with the city to get a variance in order to accommodate the size, the location, and the neon use of the sign. So, we’re working really hard to keep it and incorporate it into our new design,” Harris said.
The MAC on 5th site developer offers the following on their website regarding the project alongside some wonderful photos of the old building and sign:
“an anticipated completion date of Q’4 2026. ~ Blue Dog Cap
Perhaps we’ll soon see the Mac sign blazing in town once more! #fingerscrossed
