Magic Wand Restaurant
Churubusco, IN Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Magic Wand Restaurant is hard to miss thanks to its colorful roadside sign topped with a glowing neon star. It's exactly the kind of marquee that catches your eye and makes you wonder what's waiting inside. 03-06
The family-owned restaurant has been serving Churubusco since 1964 and is best known for its signature Magic Burger, hand-breaded pork tenderloins, and soft-serve ice cream. Step through the front door and you'll discover something you probably weren't expecting—a dining room filled with an extensive collection of clown memorabilia that has become almost as famous as the food itself.
It's always fun finding places like this because they have so much personality. Between the vintage sign out front and the one-of-a-kind interior, the Magic Wand has remained a memorable stop for generations of travelers passing through northern Indiana.
UPDATE: Magic Wand Restaurant remains open in Churubusco. The vintage roadside sign with its distinctive neon star continues to welcome visitors. 06-26
Hinkle Sandwich Shop
Madison, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Madison, IN is home to this head stopper of a neon sign. Hinkle Sandwich Shop is one of those places that's impossible to miss, thanks to its beautiful vintage neon sign glowing over Main Street. It's been stopping hungry travelers for generations and remains one of Madison's best-known landmarks. 07-07
The restaurant opened in 1933 and is the last surviving location from the original Hinkle's chain. During the Great Depression, its five-cent hamburgers offered an affordable meal for local families, and nearly a century later, the restaurant is still serving burgers, fries, and milkshakes from the same downtown location. Inside, you can choose between the classic counter with its row of stools or a separate dining room, both full of old-fashioned diner charm.
It's always great to find places like this that have remained true to their roots. Between the glowing neon sign and nearly a century of history, Hinkle's is exactly the kind of roadside stop that's worth slowing down for.
UPDATE: Hinkle's Sandwich Shop remains open in downtown Madison. Its historic neon sign continues to light up Main Street. 06-26
White Tower (Closed)
Toledo, OH Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
White Tower was one of Toledo's best-known roadside landmarks and dated back to 1929, when it became the first White Tower restaurant built in Ohio. By the time this photo was taken, the little diner had already been sitting vacant for several years, and a notice in the window hinted that its days at this location were numbered.
The compact building served hamburgers for nearly 75 years before closing in 2004. Although it had been expanded and updated over the decades, it still retained the character that made White Tower restaurants such recognizable roadside stops. Rather than being demolished outright, the historic building was carefully dismantled after this photo was taken and sold for just one dollar in hopes that it could be rebuilt elsewhere.08-08
UPDATE: According to this Ohio Preservation Alliance site, the White Tower Restaurant needs to be relocated due to an expansion project by the YWCA. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for update. 08-08
UPDATE: The original Jefferson Avenue White Tower no longer stands at its original location. The building was dismantled in 2008, but whether it was ever rebuilt elsewhere could not be independently verified. 06-26
Little Brothers Burgers
Royal Oak, MI Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Little Brothers Burgers may be one of the smallest burger joints you'll ever come across. Tucked into a tiny triangular building in downtown Royal Oak, the unusual shape is the result of the Grand Trunk Western railroad running diagonally behind the property. There's only enough room inside for about eight counter stools, making it one of the coziest places you'll ever grab a burger.
The building was formerly home to Cozy Coney before becoming Little Bros. Burgers. When Richard Weiss visited, he found it so small that photographing the interior was nearly impossible. He did manage to squeeze in a three-burger combo with fries and a drink for just six dollars—not a bad deal at all. Since then, the restaurant has added an outdoor seating area, giving customers a little more room to enjoy their meal.
It's always great to find places like this that make the most of a unique location. Sometimes the smallest roadside restaurants end up being the most memorable. 09-08
UPDATE: Little Brothers Burgers remains open in downtown Royal Oak. The tiny triangular building continues serving customers, now with the addition of outdoor seating. 06-26
Little Brothers Burgers
Royal Oak, MI Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
City Castle Hamburgers (Gone)
Gary, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
City Castle Hamburgers was one of those little burger stands that couldn't help but bring White Castle to mind. Between the name, the compact building, and the castle-style signage, it definitely had that familiar roadside slider look. 10-08
The Gary restaurant originally opened as King Kastle before later becoming City Castle Hamburgers. Along with hamburgers, the sign also advertised pancakes, making it a breakfast stop as well as a place to grab a quick burger. Its location at 11th and Broadway put it right along one of Gary's busy downtown corridors.
It's always interesting finding places like this because they show how much influence the early burger chains had on small independent stands. Whether you were stopping for sliders or pancakes, that sign was made to catch your eye from the road.
UPDATE: City Castle Hamburgers is gone. The building and roadside sign have both been removed. 06-26
Magic Wand Restaurant
White Tower (Closed)
UPDATE
Little Brothers Burgers
City Castle Hamburgers (Gone)
