Flying Boots Cafe
Tacoma, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The rooftop sign at Flying Boots
Cafe is one of those roadside creations that's impossible to forget. A cowboy boot with flapping neon wings isn't something you expect to see, and that's exactly what makes it such a memorable Tacoma landmark.
The cafe dates back to 1930 and became a longtime neighborhood gathering place. During a 1955 expansion, the famous winged boot sign was added, using flashing neon to create the illusion that the wings were actually in flight. It's the kind of imaginative sign that reminds you how creative roadside advertising once was.
Although the original cafe closed in 2013, the building found new life under new ownership the following year. Today it continues as Flying Boots & Wings, and thankfully the animated neon boot still welcomes visitors just as it has for decades.
UPDATE: The Flying Boots remains open as Flying Boots & Wings, and its wonderful winged neon sign continues to light up South Tacoma. 07-26
Harvey's Tavern
Seattle, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
You don't expect to find a giant smiling rabbit welcoming you to a neighborhood tavern, but that's exactly what makes Harvey's
Tavern such a memorable stop along old Highway 99 in Edmonds. One look at the glowing bunny and you know this isn't just another roadside bar.
Harvey's traces its roots back to the old roadhouse era before eventually becoming the neighborhood tavern generations of locals came to know. The cheerful rabbit sign is believed to have been inspired by the classic James Stewart film Harvey, and years ago the neon was even animated, with the bunny's ears rocking back and forth to catch the attention of passing motorists.
UPDATE: The neon bunny still looks glowing and friendly at Harvey's Lounge in Seattle. Harvey's used to be called Harvey's Tavern instead of "lounge". 01-09
Harvey's Lounge
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Like many longtime taverns, Harvey's has weathered plenty of changes. The business closed briefly during the pandemic, but new owners brought it back while wisely preserving the landmark sign that has greeted Highway 99 travelers for so many years.
UPDATE: Harvey's Tavern is once again serving customers, and the famous neon rabbit continues to smile down on motorists traveling Highway 99. 07-26
Republic Cafe
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Don Gardner
For generations, the neon marquee at Republic Cafe has watched over Portland's Chinatown, drawing hungry diners and curious travelers from blocks away. Even today, with much of the neon no longer glowing, it's still one of the neighborhood's most recognizable landmarks.
Republic Cafe has been serving Chinese food for more than a century, making it one of Portland's oldest continuously operating restaurants. Along with the historic Ming Lounge next door, it has outlasted nearly every other Chinese restaurant that once filled these streets. Through changing times, the marquee has remained a familiar sight, reminding visitors of an era when downtown restaurant signs competed to be brighter and bolder than the one down the block.
UPDATE: Republic Cafe remains open today. Although much of the neon no longer lights, the landmark marquee continues to overlook Chinatown as one of Portland's surviving vintage restaurant signs. 07-26
Dick's Hamburgers
Seattle , WA Photo courtesy Mike
Here's Dick's Hamburgers still fits
the bill for instant service near downtown Seattle. The first Dick's Drive-in opened in 1954, and now there are five locations.
The original Wallingford location opened in 1954 and quickly became a Seattle institution. Inspired by the new fast-food concepts taking shape in California, Dick's focused on simple food, quick service, and prices that kept people coming back. While the menu has changed very little over the years, the familiar sign has remained one of the city's best-known roadside landmarks.
UPDATE: Dick Spady, the co-founder and namesake of the Dick's chain died in 2016 at the age of 92. Spady was known for offering the highest pay in the industry as well as 100% health coverage to employee. For more information, see the Seattle Times. 04-17
UPDATE: Dick's Drive-In continues to serve generations of loyal customers from its original Wallingford location, and the classic neon sign still shines over 45th Street. 07-26
The Alibi Tiki Lounge
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
A glowing neon sign and a thatched roof aren't exactly what you'd expect to find along North Interstate Avenue, but that's what makes The Alibi Tiki Lounge such a fun surprise. After dark, the tropical neon lights up the street while the building looks ready to transport you somewhere far warmer than Portland.
Step inside and the Polynesian theme continues with bamboo, carved wood, and a huge hula mural covering one wall. The Alibi opened as a tiki lounge in 1947 and is considered one of the country's oldest surviving original tiki bars. It's also been home to Portland karaoke for decades, giving visitors one more reason to stop in after admiring the neon outside.
UPDATE: The Alibi Tiki Lounge is still serving tropical drinks beneath its classic neon sign, and the vintage island atmosphere remains very much intact. 07-26
Two Parrots
Vancouver, B.C. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Those two bright neon parrots are hard to miss cruising down Granville Street. Two Parrots brings a splash of the tropics to downtown Vancouver with colorful birds perched high above the entrance, inviting everyone inside.
The island theme carries through the interior with palm trees, tropical decor, and plenty of lively atmosphere. The building itself dates back to 1890, giving this modern neon sign an older backdrop than you might expect. Whether you're stopping in for a meal or just admiring the sign from the sidewalk, it's one of the more memorable nighttime sights along Granville.
UPDATE: The Two Parrots Bar & Grill is still open, and the pair of neon parrots continue lighting up Granville Street. 07-26
Two Parrots
