The Couple Behind the Neon Garage
Dennis Dehn and his wife, Charmaine, think of their luxury garage at Garages of America in Carrollton as a vacation home right here in town. Appropriately named the “Neon Garage,” the space is hard to miss with an impressive collection of vintage neon signs illuminating the walls.
Nearly every corner of Dennis and Charmaine’s garage tells a story. They appreciate the time and dedication it takes to collect and invest in unique pieces that make the space their own. Their gorgeous back bar came all the way from North Carolina, and Dennis even had his hand in restoring it to pristine condition. Other pieces throughout their garage have been discovered everywhere from Dallas to Tennessee to online estate sales. Even one of their tables once belonged to a retired Major League Baseball player.
It is hard to miss the couple’s vintage car collection, which includes vehicles from a range of different eras. Dennis has always had a love for cars, particularly hot rods, and today his collection includes a 1932 Ford Roadster, a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe, and other classic cars that date back to his teenage years.
Charmaine also shares his love for cars and collecting. Her vintage Volkswagen Squareback’s trunk is filled with antique treasures passed down from her mom and fellow family members, including shoes, statement hats and luggage.
Not only do Dennis and Charmaine have their eye for life-size cars, Charmaine has built a collection of more than 400 Hot Wheels cars, often searching for Hot Wheels cars that match the vehicles on display during Garages of America’s monthly Garages & Gearheads event. Each month, she enjoys connecting with curious young car enthusiasts at this event who stop by, passing out a handful of Hot Wheels for them to take home.
Beyond vintage cars and neon signs, the garage gives Dennis plenty of space to spend time doing what he enjoys most: building and creating. A lifelong hobbyist, his entire upstairs veranda is filled with his creations of model cars, trains and airplanes, some of which have even earned recognition in competitions.
This fall, Dennis entered a model car replica of his full-size 1932 Ford Highboy hot rod in the State Fair of Texas competition, earning third place. The model was approximately 250 individual pieces, including custom 3-D printed additions designed to match the exact details of his vehicle. Dennis estimates he spent nearly 200 total hours assembling the model. This marked his first entry in the State Fair competition since 2014, when he was awarded second place for a model replica of an Enzo Ferari.
Dennis’ passion for building and creating has been a theme throughout his whole life. Long before he and Charmaine invested in their space at Garages of America, he built an impressive career in the automotive industry, specifically automotive reconditioning. One of his proudest accomplishments was taking part in the development of the Tornador, and helping secure the trademark and patent.
The Tornador, an air-compressed cleaning tool, was designed to save car detailers time and money. Tornador was acquired by a major chemical automotive reconditioning manufacturer, and to this day, continues to have a very strong presence in the automotive reconditioning industry.
Most importantly, the Neon Garage has become a place of community. Since moving into their space in Carrollton, they have met fellow garage owners who have become true neighbors and friends. From birthdays to Fourth of July celebrations to Halloween parties, their garage has become a space that invites community and good times.
Looking back at the very beginning of their Garages of America journey, Dennis and Charmaine credit their dear late friend, Jack Griffin, with encouraging them to take the leap. The couple remembers standing on the dirt lot with Jack where their garage would one day be built, imagining what the space could become. His support and excitement helped the couple decide this was the right next step on their retirement path. They remain forever thankful for Jack Griffin, a one-of-kind individual who made a lasting impact on everyone he came in contact with and will always be remembered as their dear friend who dreamed big.
What initially began as a search for a warehouse space while Dennis and Charmaine were winding down their professional careers turned into something much more. Their investment in the Neon Garage has given them a space to connect with others and enjoy the hobbies they’ve spent a lifetime building.
