Chuck A Burger
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Chuck A Burger has welcomed St. Louis burger lovers and car enthusiasts since 1957. Its vintage neon declares it the “Cruisin’ Capitol of the Midwest,” and cruise nights help make the case.

The only original survivor of a local chain, it still offers carhop service. Burgers, shakes and classic cars make a fitting combination beneath the old sign.

UPDATE: Chuck A Burger remains open, with its historic building, neon marquee and carhop tradition intact. 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

The compact Peppy’s Grill offered a straightforward neighborhood welcome: burgers, coffee and a familiar place to sit.

Founded in the late 1940s, Peppy’s grew into a small Indianapolis chain. Its best-known Fountain Square location served generations around the clock, proving a diner didn’t need an elaborate dining room to build a following.

UPDATE: Peppy’s permanently closed in 2021. The original sign’s fate remains unconfirmed. 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.

Opened in 1965, it belonged to a chain that once had around 200 locations. Eugene Waylan purchased it in 1973, adding his name and repainting the sign green while retaining the cuckoo-clock building.

UPDATE: Waylan’s Ku-Ku remains open along Route 66 as the original chain’s last operating restaurant. Its distinctive building and sign survive. 06-26

Hamburger Place
Chicago, IL
Photo and info courtesy Dennis Dixson

This former hamburger place in Chicago had switched to tacos by the time it was photographed. The newer awning advertised a different menu, but the building still hinted at its burger-stand past.

The original restaurant’s name remains unknown. People waiting at the nearby bus stop show a corner still busy with neighborhood activity.

One generation stopped for hamburgers, another for tacos. The menu changed, but the little building kept finding customers.