Chuck A Burger
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Chuck A Burger has been a favorite stop for burger lovers and car enthusiasts since 1957. The name may look a little unusual, but that's exactly how the sign has advertised it for decades. Complete with its vintage neon marquee proclaiming itself the "Cruisin' Capitol of the Midwest," it's one of those places that immediately transports you back to the golden age of drive-ins.

While the Chuck-A-Burger chain once included several locations around St. Louis, this is the only original survivor. Better yet, it still offers classic car-hop service, bringing burgers, fries, and shakes right to your car. On cruise nights, the parking lot fills with beautifully restored classics, making it feel like the 1950s never really ended.

It's always great to find places like this that continue doing what they've always done. Between the neon sign, the car-hop service, and the steady stream of vintage cars, Chuck A Burger remains one of the Midwest's best-preserved roadside traditions.

UPDATE: Chuck A Burger remains open and continues serving customers with classic car-hop service. The historic building and neon sign both survive. 06-26

Holland's Burgers (Demolished)
Chicago, IL
Photo and info courtesy Don Gardner

Holland's Hamburgers was the kind of neighborhood burger stand that instantly caught your attention, thanks to its distinctive roadside sign featuring a Dutch windmill and the words "15¢ Hamburgers." Even after the restaurant closed, the sign remained standing on the vacant lot for years, serving as a reminder of Chicago's roadside past.

The restaurant once occupied the corner of Roosevelt and Pulaski, where it served inexpensive hamburgers during the golden age of the drive-in. By the time this photo was taken, the building had already disappeared, leaving only the weathered sign behind. Sadly, it appears the sign wasn't saved before redevelopment and was eventually hauled away for scrap.

It's always disappointing to lose a sign like this. Even after the restaurant was gone, it continued telling the story of an era when a hamburger cost just 15 cents and a colorful roadside sign was often all it took to bring in customers.

UPDATE: Holland's Hamburgers has been demolished, and the famous windmill sign no longer survives. 06-26

15 cent Burgers
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

15 Cent Burgers is one of those roadside mysteries that makes you wonder what used to stand here. By the time this photo was taken, the restaurant had already disappeared, leaving only the old sign behind to hint at what was once a busy roadside stop.

The faded marquee advertises "15 cent hamburgers," a price that instantly dates it to the golden age of roadside burger stands. Unfortunately, the identity of the restaurant itself has been lost to time. Whether it belonged to an independent drive-in or a small regional chain couldn't be verified.

It's always fun finding orphan signs like this because they leave you imagining what the place must have looked like in its heyday. Sometimes a forgotten sign can be just as interesting as the building it once advertised.

Peppy's Grill (Closed)
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Peppy's Grill was the kind of neighborhood diner that never needed to be flashy. With its compact building and even a lone table and umbrella out front, it looked like the sort of place where regulars stopped by for a burger, a cup of coffee, and a friendly conversation.

Founded in the late 1940s, Peppy's eventually grew into a small Indianapolis chain before settling into its best-known Fountain Square location. For decades, it remained a local favorite, serving classic diner fare around the clock and becoming a familiar landmark for generations of Indianapolis residents.

It's always fun finding places like this because they remind us that some of the best neighborhood restaurants were also the simplest. You didn't need a fancy dining room—just good food and a loyal customer base.

UPDATE: Peppy's Grill permanently closed in 2021 after decades of serving Indianapolis. The status of the original roadside sign could not be independently verified. 06-26

The Ku Ku
Miami, OK
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Ku Ku is one of the true survivors of roadside America. If you've ever driven Route 66 through Miami, Oklahoma, it's hard to miss the bright green sign and the quirky cuckoo bird perched above the restaurant. It's exactly the kind of place that makes you hit the brakes for a closer look.

The restaurant opened in 1965 as part of the Ku-Ku Burger chain, which once had around 200 locations across the Midwest. Today, this is the last remaining Ku-Ku restaurant still operating. After Eugene Waylan purchased it in 1973, he gradually made it his own, repainting the famous sign green and adding "Waylan's" while keeping the building's unmistakable cuckoo clock design intact.

It's always great to find places like this that have survived long after the rest of the chain disappeared. Between the colorful sign, the giant cuckoo bird, and its Route 66 location, it's one of the most memorable roadside burger stops anywhere in the country.

UPDATE: Waylan's Ku-Ku remains open in Miami and is the last operating restaurant from the original Ku-Ku Burger chain. The historic building and sign both survive. 06-26

Hamburger Place
Chicago, IL
Photo and info courtesy Dennis Dixson

Hamburger Place is one of those photos that makes you wonder what the original restaurant looked like. By the time this picture was taken, the old burger stand had already been transformed, with a newer awning advertising tacos instead.

The original name of the restaurant has been lost, but it's easy to imagine this as one of the many neighborhood hamburger joints that once served Chicago's busy streets. Even after the change in ownership, little reminders of its past could still be found. Dennis Dixson even pointed out the people waiting at the nearby bus stop, showing that this corner remained an active part of the neighborhood long after the burgers were gone.

It's always interesting to come across places like this because they remind us how roadside businesses evolve over time. One generation stops in for hamburgers, the next for tacos, while the building quietly continues serving the neighborhood.