The Pub (Gone)
Evansville, IN
Photo courtesy Michelle K.

The animated martini glass at The Pub gave Division Street in Evansville a colorful nighttime landmark. Neon bubbles rose from the glass, adding movement to an advertisement that was already hard to overlook. A fitting invitation to a neighborhood gathering place. 06-14

The building began as a movie theater before becoming a bar and grill in 1978. Bubbles Pollock owned it for nearly thirty years, establishing a familiar east-side stop. After a 2015 ownership change, it briefly operated as Scandals before closing in 2017.

UPDATE: Most of the building was demolished for office redevelopment, although part of the earlier theater structure was incorporated into the project. The animated martini sign was removed, and its whereabouts remain unknown. The property found another use, but its brightest roadside feature disappeared. 06-26

Bud's Liquor
IN
Photo courtesy Michelle K.

The colorful neon at Bud's Liquor makes this Indiana storefront worth a closer look. Different shapes and glowing tubes give the sign an identity beyond the ordinary liquor-store advertisement. Even without knowing much about the business, the display deserves a place in the roadside collection.

The exact town and early history remain unidentified, but the sign shows how much personality a small business could put above its entrance. Custom lettering, contrasting colors and an unusual arrangement could make a neighborhood shop memorable without an enormous advertising budget.

UPDATE: The location and current status of Bud’s Liquor remain unconfirmed, including whether this neon sign survives. The photographed display records a distinctive piece of Indiana storefront advertising, though its later story still needs filling in. 06-26

Olkie's Bar (Gone)
Ironwood, MI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The large Native American profile on the Olkie's Bar sign made this Ironwood tavern hard to overlook. Outlined in neon above the sidewalk, it gave the modest storefront an advertisement with considerably more presence than an ordinary bar sign.

Olkie’s served as a neighborhood gathering place in a town shaped by the Upper Peninsula’s mining history. The sign also echoed Ironwood’s broader use of Hiawatha imagery. For roadside visitors, its size and detailed outline supplied a reason to stop even without heading inside.

UPDATE: Olkie’s has closed, and the distinctive neon sign is gone. The building remains in downtown Ironwood, but its familiar roadside identity has changed. The tavern’s most recognizable feature no longer hangs above the sidewalk. 06-26

Steak n' Shake
Springfield, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The neon at Steak n Shake gives Springfield’s Route 66 a familiar invitation to stop for a burger. Both the rooftop marquee and tall roadside sign contribute to the restaurant’s classic appearance. After dark, the advertising is an attraction before anyone reaches the counter.

Built in 1962 at St. Louis Street and National Avenue, the restaurant retains much of its early diner character. Large windows, counter seating and a visible cookline connect the meal to its preparation. Its surviving architecture and signs helped earn National Register recognition in 2012.

UPDATE: The restaurant remains open at its historic Route 66 location. Both neon signs survive, continuing a roadside welcome more than sixty years old. It’s a chance to enjoy a familiar chain in surroundings that recall its earlier highway-dining days. 06-26

Milty Wilty Drive-in
Wautoma, WI
Photo and info courtesy Joe Koehler

The neon at Steak n Shake gives Springfield’s Route 66 a familiar invitation to stop for a burger. Both the rooftop marquee and tall roadside sign contribute to the restaurant’s classic appearance. After dark, the advertising is an attraction before anyone reaches the counter.

Built in 1962 at St. Louis Street and National Avenue, the restaurant retains much of its early diner character. Large windows, counter seating and a visible cookline connect the meal to its preparation. Its surviving architecture and signs helped earn National Register recognition in 2012.

UPDATE: The restaurant remains open at its historic Route 66 location. Both neon signs survive, continuing a roadside welcome more than sixty years old. It’s a chance to enjoy a familiar chain in surroundings that recall its earlier highway-dining days. 06-26

Mr. Weenie
Peru, IN
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The smiling hot dog above Mr. Weenie makes this Peru restaurant difficult to miss. The mascot has attracted attention since the early 1960s, giving the drive-in a cheerful roadside identity. After dark, the illuminated sign supplies another reason to look over. 03-06

Traditional carhop service remains part of the experience: pull into a space and switch on the headlights when ready to order. Hot dogs, tenderloins, burgers and the local Spanish Dog fill out the menu. The restaurant also appeared in the independent film Little Big Top, giving its familiar surroundings a little screen time.

UPDATE: Mr. Weenie remains open year-round with carhop service. Its oversized hot dog sign continues greeting motorists, preserving a combination of playful advertising and window-side dining that has become harder to find. A familiar face still watches over the parking lot. 06-26