From Main Street Apopka, Staff Reports and ChatGPT
Downtown Apopka is about to welcome a striking new landmark—and the public is invited to celebrate its arrival. On Friday, August 22nd at 1 p.m., Main Street Apopka will unveil The Downtown Mural, a bold, colorful public art installation gracing the west wall of Domino’s Pizza at 2 East Main Street. Guests can meet the artist, Apopka’s own Ridge Bonnick, enjoy free pizza, and snap photos in front of what’s expected to become an iconic downtown backdrop.
Related: The Downtown Mural will bring bold new art to the heart of Apopka.
While the reveal will be a single afternoon, the project’s story has been unfolding for months.
The mural began with Main Street Apopka’s mission to revitalize the city’s historic downtown through the Main Street America Four-Point Approach. Leaders identified a highly visible wall at one of the district’s busiest intersections—a structure that has stood for decades, first as a gas station and now as a Domino’s franchise—and envisioned it as a creative gateway to downtown. With guidance from Apopka Murals, Ridge was chosen to transform the blank wall into a vibrant celebration of the city’s character.
The art is more than decoration—it’s a strategic investment.
The Domino’s building recently received a Facade Renovation Grant through the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), with work by local contractor Oscar Painter Home Improvement. Franchise owner Nelson Diaz called the project “a way to draw customers and contribute to the vibrancy of our downtown area.”
For Ridge, a self-taught artist whose work has appeared from Orlando to the Daytona coast, the mural is both personal and communal. “Art has always been my outlet,” he said. “Every piece I create is about connecting what’s inside us to the world around us.” His design aims to reflect Apopka’s unique identity while inviting visitors—from day-trippers headed to the springs to longtime residents—to pause, take a photo, and explore the nearby cafes, restaurants, and shops.
The mural joins a growing collection of public artworks in Apopka’s downtown, part of a broader effort to enhance the district’s visual appeal, promote its history and culture, and strengthen the local economy. As the final brushstrokes go up, the unveiling promises not just a first look at a new piece of art, but a tangible marker of the city’s creative and economic resurgence.
Downtown Apopka boasts several murals, which can be discovered through a self-guided Art Tour. This tour highlights historic sites, local favorite hotspots, and iconic buildings in the community, so residents and visitors can explore downtown like they’ve never seen it before. Visit www.mainstreetapopka.com/art for a complete list of mural sites!
