Himark Restaurant
Kokomo, IN
Photo 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.

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.)
Danville, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Check out The Little Nugget in Danville, Illinois, in all its neon glory. Its animated miner swung a pickaxe above the entrance, packing plenty of color and movement into one roadside advertisement. This fellow certainly worked hard to attract attention after dark.

Opened in 1949, the steakhouse and tavern became known for letting customers cook their own steaks over an indoor grill—or leave the work to the kitchen. Outside, the neon miner received a professional restoration in 2014, bringing its intricate lighting back to life. Dinner came with a little roadside entertainment before anyone reached the table.

UPDATE: The Little Nugget remains open, continuing its longtime dining tradition. The animated miner sign has been removed, leaving the restaurant without its most memorable roadside greeting. Customers can still come for a steak, but the colorful worker outside has finished his shift. 06-26

The Barn
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The neon at The Barn greeted Wisconsin Dells travelers from a hillside location. It made a colorful invitation to stop for dinner after a day of sightseeing, with an appearance as memorable as the old building behind it. 06-09

Opened in the 1940s inside an 1880s barn, the supper club became known for prime rib, a generous salad bar and historic surroundings. Generations of locals and vacationers returned for hearty meals in a setting that newer restaurants couldn’t easily duplicate. An arson fire destroyed the building in late 2018, bringing that long chapter to an abrupt end.

UPDATE: The building’s remains were demolished, but the surviving neon sign was donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The supper club is gone, though its colorful advertisement escaped the fire and was saved for preservation. Fortunately, one familiar piece of the hillside welcome survived. 06-26

Jerry's Restaurant (Gone)
Richmond, IN
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

The tall pointed roof at Jerry’s Restaurant made this Richmond stop easy to recognize along U.S. 40. Its early-1970s appearance supplied plenty of roadside character, giving motorists a clear landmark to watch for when looking for a meal.

Part of a regional chain known for J-Boy hamburgers and hot fudge cakes, Jerry’s combined family dining with an attention-getting building. The restaurant eventually closed, but the structure proved useful beyond its original menu. Its sign was removed in 2002, and Jade House Chinese restaurant later occupied the space.

UPDATE: The pointed-roof building survives in renovated form as a local AAA office. Burgers and milkshakes have given way to insurance and travel services, though the unusual roof still hints at its earlier life. It takes a little imagination now to picture the dinner crowd pulling in from the highway. 06-26

Wally's House of Embers
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The neon at Wally’s House of Embers has welcomed Wisconsin Dells diners since 1959. Its glowing marquee makes a fitting introduction to a classic supper club and a worthwhile roadside sight before heading inside. 01-09

Wally and Barbara Obois established the restaurant, earning a following for hickory-smoked ribs prepared using the technique Wally developed. Steaks, fish and homemade cinnamon rolls added more reasons to return. Stone fireplaces, stained glass and cozy dining rooms completed the setting, making dinner here part of the vacation routine for many families.

UPDATE: House of Embers remains open, with its familiar neon sign still welcoming visitors. The longtime supper-club surroundings continue offering a place to settle in after a busy day in the Dells. It’s nice to find a restaurant where both the meal and the roadside introduction remain part of the tradition. 06-26

Doo Drop Inn
Muskegon, MI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The neon chef at Doo Drop Inn gave this Muskegon restaurant a cheerful roadside introduction. With a platter and glowing lettering, he made the sign worth a closer look. Apparently, the kitchen had someone outside helping bring in the dinner crowd.

The longtime restaurant served breakfasts and comfort-food dinners, attracting neighborhood regulars, visiting school teams and sports fans. Senator John F. Kennedy also stopped during his 1960 presidential campaign, adding an unexpected chapter to its history. For a modest local eatery, the Doo Drop had welcomed quite a variety of customers.

UPDATE: Doo Drop Inn closed in 2006, and the building was adapted for other commercial use. The neon chef was removed, and his whereabouts remain unconfirmed. Another playful roadside greeter has disappeared from view, leaving memories of the meals—and the bright invitation that once brought people inside. 06-26