Lightning Concepts was established in 1989 following Jim Benkowski's graduation from the prestigious American School Of Neon located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite his busy schedule, Jim found time to go back and share his expertise by substitute teaching at the school through 1996.

Jim became a member of the board of directors for the Minnesota Sign Association in 1999 and became it's president in 2001-2004.

Today Lightning Concepts has grown to include Lightning Concepts Glass Works, Benkor Innovation and Design, Jim Benkowski Contemporary Fine Art and Jim Benkowski Drummer.

The neon shop offers a full service facility catering to wholesale and retail customers, as well as repairs for individuals. Some of our specialties include window signs, neon sculpture, refurbishing of antique & beverage signs, channel letters, and architectural border neon. We are also expert in both european & domestic stained glass.

We use only finest quality materials available as well as superior pumping techniques to ensure the brightest and longest lasting signs. This results in a less than 1% tube failure rate. That means your sign will last a long time.

In 2001 Jim added Lampworked Glass Beads to his list of services. We offer custom formed glass beads for jewelry, collectable marbles, decorative pins, and glass doodads.  

Some projects that we have worked on are:

Minneapolis Target Center exterior.

Minneapolis Convention Center.

Children's Museum Duluth.

Grand Portage Casino.

Children's Museum Milwaukee.

Over 200 Holiday Station Stores in the upper Midwest.

When we needed a sign quick Jim at Lightning Concepts was the only one to go to. He was able to produce the sign in time and his eye for detail made for very happy customers.

Katheren Jones, St. Elmos Inc.

Many of our jobs are very unique and not your ordinary type of signage. Jim and Lightning Concepts always adds to our jobs and enhances the signs.

Brad Jirka, Boehemia Werks

With the creation of the internet, we find the world a very big place full of unsuspecting buyers and unscrupulous sellers. Be careful when buying; just because it lights up does NOT mean it is good. Many of the cheap signs out there use inferior materials and non UL approved materials. Here is a photo of the real brewery licensed sign on the left and knockoff on the right.

"There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man’s lawful prey."

John Ruskin
1819 – 1900

For all your NEON needs.

Jim Benkowski

Lightning Concepts

612-866-9605

mrneon@lightningconcepts.com