Dutch Mill Cafe
Antonito, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Here's the eye-catching marquee for the Dutch Mill Cafe, located in Antonito, Colorado. The Dutch Mill features both a bar and restaurant area serving Mexican food dishes. Sitting along Main Street, the cafe has long been a familiar stop for both locals and travelers passing through town.

The restaurant occupies a historic building that originally served as a drugstore many years ago. Over time, the Dutch Mill became a local gathering place known for its combination of small-town hospitality, hearty meals, and a relaxed atmosphere. Despite the name, the menu has long featured southwestern favorites and traditional Mexican dishes. 04-09

UPDATE: The Dutch Mill Cafe is still open and serving customers in downtown Antonito. Located just a few blocks from the famous Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the cafe continues to be a popular stop for locals, tourists, and railroad visitors alike. The eye-catching marquee still stands out along Main Street and remains one of Antonito's most recognizable roadside landmarks. 06-06

Castle Cafe
Castle Rock, CO
Photo and info courtesy Larry Glass

Castle Rock, Colorado is home to another old roadside cafe. The Castle Cafe features a vintage sign mounted to a historic building on a downtown street corner.

The building originally operated as the Castle Hotel and Bar and has been part of the community since the 1890s. Over the years, the business survived the boom years, the Great Depression, and the many changes that transformed Castle Rock from a small town into a rapidly growing city. Few restaurants can trace their history back more than a century, making the Castle Cafe one of the area's true survivors. 04-09

UPDATE: The Castle Cafe is still serving customers today. More than 100 years after opening, the historic building remains a downtown landmark and continues to be a popular stop for both locals and visitors. The old sign and building are reminders of a time when places like this could be found in towns all across the West. 06-06

B&B Cafe
Castle Rock, CO
Photo and info courtesy Larry Glass

The B&B Cafe in Castle Rock, Colorado is still in business and has very good food. Located in the heart of downtown, the cafe has been a longtime gathering place for both locals and visitors. 04-09

The building dates back to the 1920s and has witnessed a great deal of local history over the years. One of the most notable events occurred in 1946 when Castle Rock Marshal Raymond Lewis was killed during a shootout inside the cafe. More than seventy years later, a bullet hole from that incident still remains in the ceiling as a reminder of that tragic day.

UPDATE: The B&B Cafe continues to serve customers today and remains one of Castle Rock's best-known local restaurants. Along with its reputation for good food, the cafe has become something of a local landmark thanks to its connection to the town's history. If you stop in for a meal, don't forget to look up at the ceiling. 06-06

Arschel's Cafe
Beaver, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Arschel's Cafe originally opened along Beaver's old main street during the 1930s by founders Arschel and Roma Hollingshead. In its early years, the building served as both the family's home and cafe, making it a true mom-and-pop roadside business.

For decades, Arschel's was a familiar stop for both local residents and travelers passing through town. The vintage sign out front became a well-known landmark along the roadway and a reminder of a time when family-owned cafes were a common sight across the West.

UPDATE: After closing for a period of time, the historic location has found new life and is once again serving customers. Today the building operates as Arshel's Loaded Burgers, giving travelers another reason to pull off the road for a burger, fries, or a cold drink. It's always good to see an old roadside landmark find a second chapter rather than disappear altogether. 07-25

Ben's Cafe (Closed)
Green River, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the signage and throwback building for Ben's Cafe. This photo dates back to 2001 and captures a classic roadside cafe that was a familiar sight along Green River's Main Street.

Like many cafes that once served travelers crossing eastern Utah, Ben's Cafe occupied a prominent location along the highway and became part of the town's roadside landscape. The vintage building and neon signs helped make it one of the more recognizable stops in town.

UPDATE: Ben's Cafe is long gone, but the building remains very much alive. Since 2010, the location has been home to La Veracruzana restaurant, which has become a popular stop of its own. In fact, during recent visits, the restaurant has appeared especially busy during breakfast hours. The historic Ben's Cafe signs were restored and now show the new name of restaurant. 07-25