 Pizza King
Peru, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele
 Here's a night shot of the Pizza
King marquee in Peru, IN. This colorful display of backlit plastic
is a real eye-catcher from the roadside.
See more Pizza King delights here at Roadside Peek's Spotlight on Pizza King Restaurants. |
 Himark Restaurant
Kokomo, IN
Photo and info courtesy Emily Steele
Check out the colorful marquee at Hi-Mark Restaurant & Lounge in Kokomo, Indiana. Seeing all of the neon glowing again is a welcome sight, and it's obvious someone put a lot of effort into bringing this classic sign back to life.
The Hi-Mark has been a longtime neighborhood gathering place, serving up pizza, burgers, and other tavern favorites while hosting karaoke, live music, and plenty of local get-togethers. It's the kind of place where the sign is just as recognizable as the business itself.
In recent years, the Hi-Mark's marquee became the center of a local debate when Kokomo adopted new regulations aimed at removing older pole signs along the Indiana 931 corridor. The colorful sign faced an uncertain future, but after strong community support, it was allowed to remain. The current sign is a carefully recreated version of the original, preserving the look that has greeted customers for years.
It's always nice to see a business realize that an old sign is worth saving. In this case, Kokomo wouldn't quite look the same without it.
UPDATE: Hi-Mark Restaurant & Lounge remains open in Kokomo, and its colorful pole sign continues to light up the property. A faithful replica of the original marquee now preserves the restaurant's classic roadside appearance. 06-26
 Little Nugget (Rem.)
Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Check out The Little Nugget in Danville, Illinois, in all its neon glory. The amount of detail and color packed into this sign made it one of the most eye-catching restaurant marquees around, especially after dark.
The Little Nugget opened in 1949 and has long been known as a favorite local steakhouse and tavern. One of its longtime traditions lets customers cook their own steaks over a large indoor grill, or leave the cooking to the kitchen if they'd rather sit back and relax. It's a fun twist that's helped make the restaurant a local favorite for generations.
For years, the real star outside was the animated neon miner perched above the entrance. Wielding a pickaxe that moved up and down, the colorful sign was one of those classic pieces of roadside advertising that was almost impossible to drive past without noticing. It even received a professional restoration in 2014, bringing the intricate neon back to life.
Unfortunately, the famous miner no longer watches over the restaurant. While the business continues to serve customers, the animated neon sign has since been removed, making photos like this an even better reminder of what once stood here.
UPDATE: The Little Nugget remains open in Danville and continues serving customers. The restaurant survives, but its iconic animated neon miner sign has been removed and no longer stands outside the building. 06-26 |
 The Barn
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Check out the neon sign at The Barn near Wisconsin Dells. Sitting high on a hillside, it was a familiar sight for travelers heading through the area and made a great place to stop for a meal after a day of sightseeing. 06-09
The restaurant opened in the 1940s inside an original 1880s barn, giving it the kind of atmosphere you just couldn't recreate today. Over the years it became a popular Wisconsin supper club, known for prime rib, a generous salad bar, and other hearty favorites that kept both locals and tourists coming back.
The colorful neon sign out front became just as recognizable as the restaurant itself, greeting visitors for decades. Sadly, that all changed in late 2018 when an arson fire destroyed the historic building. The remains eventually had to be demolished, bringing an end to one of the area's longtime landmarks.
Fortunately, the story didn't end there. The classic neon sign survived the fire and was later donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society, where it will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
UPDATE: The Barn was destroyed by an arson fire in 2018, and the building has since been demolished. The historic neon sign was saved and relocated to the Wisconsin Historical Society, where it will be preserved as part of the state's history collection. 06-26
 Jerry's Restaurant (Gone)
Richmond, IN
Photo courtesy Steve Felder
On the east side of Richmond, Indiana once stood Jerry's Restaurant, a huge place housed in one of those unmistakable early 1970s buildings with a tall pointed roof. It wasn't the kind of restaurant you'd mistake for anything else as you drove along U.S. 40.
Jerry's was part of a popular regional chain that was well known throughout the Midwest for its J-Boy hamburgers, hot fudge cakes, and family-friendly atmosphere. Like many roadside restaurants of the era, it was designed to catch the eye of passing motorists, and the dramatic roofline certainly did its job.
While the restaurant is long gone, the building itself managed to survive. Instead of being torn down, it was remodeled and put to a new use, although it's hard to imagine anyone driving by today realizing it once served burgers and milkshakes instead of insurance and travel services.
UPDATE: Jerry's Restaurant is no more.
The sign depicted above was torn down in 2002 and the building is now
a Jade House Chinese restaurant. Many thanks to Ken Bailey for update. 07-03
UPDATE: Jerry's Restaurant is gone, but the distinctive pointed-roof building still stands. It has been renovated and now serves as a local AAA office. While the restaurant has faded into history, it's nice to see at least part of the old roadside landmark still survives. 06-26
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 Wally's House of Embers
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the roadside neon sign at Wally's House of Embers in Wisconsin Dells. Open since 1959, this longtime supper club has been welcoming hungry travelers with its glowing marquee for generations. 01-09
Originally opened by Wally and Barbara Obois, the restaurant quickly became known for its hickory-smoked barbecue ribs, a recipe and smoking technique that Wally perfected when the restaurant first opened. Along with the ribs, you'll find steaks, fish, homemade cinnamon rolls, and all the other favorites you'd expect from a classic Wisconsin supper club.
Step inside and you'll find plenty of old-school charm, from the stone fireplaces and stained glass to the cozy dining rooms that have changed very little over the years. It's the kind of place where families return year after year, making it as much a tradition as a meal.
The neon sign out front is the perfect finishing touch. It's a great-looking marquee and another reminder of the days when restaurants used bright lights to catch the attention of passing motorists.
UPDATE: Wally's House of Embers remains open and continues serving customers in the Wisconsin Dells area. The classic roadside neon sign still survives and welcomes visitors today. 06-26
 Doo Drop Inn
Muskegon, MI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the neon chef showing off the sign at Doo Drop Inn in Muskegon, Michigan. With the chef, platter, and glowing lettering, this was one of those fun roadside signs that gave the restaurant plenty of personality.
The Doo Drop Inn was a longtime local restaurant serving American comfort food, from breakfasts to family-style dinners. It was also a popular stop for traveling school teams and sports fans passing through the area.
The restaurant even had a little political history. In 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy stopped here during his presidential campaign, making the Doo Drop Inn more than just another neighborhood eatery.
Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 2006, and the building was later changed for other commercial use. The neon chef sign has since been removed, and its current whereabouts couldn't be confirmed.
UPDATE: The Doo Drop Inn closed in 2006, and the neon chef sign has been removed from the building. Another fun roadside sign has disappeared from Muskegon. 06-26
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