Here's a fun one from Lima, Ohio. Kewpee Hamburgers has been around since the 1920s, but it's the giant Kewpee doll standing over the entrance that grabs your attention first. Between the Art Deco building and one of the more unusual restaurant mascots around, it's easy to see why this place has been photographed for years.
The Lima location became the home of Kewpee in 1928, with the current building opening in 1939. Its rounded corners, chrome trim, and porthole windows give it plenty of personality, and it's still one of the best-looking old hamburger stands around. The restaurant takes its name from the famous Kewpie dolls created by Rose O'Neill, although the business has always used the spelling "Kewpee."
The burgers have earned quite a following over the years, too. Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's, grew up eating here and later said Kewpee's fresh square hamburgers inspired Wendy's own famous patties. That's a pretty good claim to fame for a neighborhood burger stand.
UPDATE: Kewpee Hamburgers is still serving customers in downtown Lima, and the Art Deco building, rooftop sign, and giant Kewpee doll remain just as eye-catching today. 07-26
Mr. Happy Burger (Closed)
Logansport, IN Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Mr. Happy Burger was hard to miss on the west side of Logansport. Even if the restaurant happened to be closed when you stopped by, there was still plenty to see. Standing beside the building was a giant fiberglass bull wearing a chef's hat, one of those classic roadside figures that always catches your eye.
The statue immediately reminded me of similar bulls I've come across in Michigan's Irish Hills and parts of Ohio. Whether you were hungry or not, it was the kind of roadside attraction that practically begged you to pull over for a closer look. These oversized fiberglass mascots were once common sights along American highways, but every year there seem to be fewer of them. 10-10
Mr. Happy Burger itself opened at this location in 1972 as the west-side branch of the popular local chain, which got its start in Logansport in 1961. The restaurant became a longtime favorite for burgers, fries, and shakes, serving generations of local families before eventually closing its doors.
The building has since been converted into a Japanese steakhouse, but fortunately the famous bull wasn't lost. It was relocated to another business in Logansport, where it continues to greet visitors instead of ending up in a landfill. I'm always glad to see roadside icons like this find a new home rather than disappear forever.
UPDATE: Mr. Happy Burger's west-side location closed and the building now houses a Japanese steakhouse. The giant fiberglass bull was preserved and relocated to another business in Logansport, where it can still be seen today. 06-26
Kewpee Hamburgers
