Carrying on a legacy: Sign Arts celebrates 40th anniversary in San Marcos

Sign Arts, a sign-making shop located at 205 Cheatham St. in San Marcos, business will celebrate its 40th anniversary in July. The shop reopened May 11 with a new owner, Celeste Manz, after former owner John Diaz died from sustaining an unrecoverable brain injury in 2021.

Manz aims to carry on Diaz's legacy.

Diaz first opened Sign Arts back in 1983 and was a highly involved member of the community. He served on the dais as a City Council member and was selected as mayor pro tem. He was also involved with the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

"Over the years he was very dedicated to the community, to nonprofits and to charities," Manz said.

Manz, a native San Martian, became an employee at Sign Arts at age 16 and worked with Diaz for 10 years prior to his death. She studied accounting at Texas State University, and recalled learning about different business topics and bringing ideas back.

"In our last conversation, he was like, 'I know you went to school to study accounting, but you were perfect here,'" she said.

Sign Arts offers logo creation, lighted signs, vinyl lettering and other promotional products. The shop is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. 512-396-4140.