Kunkels Drive-in
Connersville, IN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

The glowing script at Kunkel's Drive-in Restaurant gives Connersville motorists a familiar invitation to stop. Opened in 1954, the restaurant combines a classic sign with covered parking and the kind of window-side dining that makes an old drive-in worth seeking out. 09-06

Originally built on the Kunkel family farm, the business became known for Kunkel Burgers, hand-breaded pork tenderloins and seasonal strawberry pie. Customers can order from their cars or choose indoor seating. Cruise-ins bring classic automobiles into surroundings that suit them nicely, adding another attraction beyond the menu.

UPDATE: Kunkel’s remains open with carhop service and indoor dining. Its neon continues lighting Park Road, preserving a familiar part of the restaurant’s roadside identity. More than seventy years after opening, the old drive-in routine still has a place in Connersville. 06-26

Dairy Twist
Connersville, IN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

The Dairy Twist stand in Connersville looks ready for another summer of cones and shakes. Its compact, 1950s-style building and familiar sign recall the neighborhood ice cream stops that once seemed to announce the arrival of warmer weather. 09-06

Originally a Dairy Queen in the 1950s, it became Dairy Twist in the early 1970s. Walk-up windows, a drive-through and indoor booths offer several ways to order. Coney dogs, waffle cones and milkshakes share the menu with the Coolie, a frozen drink blended with soft serve. The sign received fresh paint in 2021.

UPDATE: Dairy Twist continues operating seasonally. Its classic sign survives, welcoming customers back for another round of warm-weather treats. The name has changed since the building’s earliest days, but the little stand remains part of Connersville’s summer routine. 06-26

Cleary's Pub
Howell, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Located in the heart of downtown Howell, Cleary's Pub has been a local favorite since 1987. Its glowing green neon sign is hard to miss and fits perfectly with the pub's welcoming Irish atmosphere. We stopped in a couple of times during our visit and would definitely recommend it. 03-07

Housed in one of Howell's historic downtown buildings, Cleary's combines old brick walls, large storefront windows, and a comfortable neighborhood feel. The family-owned pub is known for traditional Irish fare alongside American favorites, with menu highlights including shepherd's pie, fish and chips, French onion soup, and burgers. Live music and community events have also helped make it a gathering place for locals over the years.

The neon sign out front has become a familiar part of Grand River Avenue and adds a nice splash of color to downtown after dark. It's one of those places that feels right at home in an older business district.

UPDATE: Cleary's Pub remains open and continues serving customers in downtown Howell. The green neon sign still lights up Grand River Avenue. 06-26

Fielos Restaurant (Demolished)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 1990

Back in 1990, Fielos Restaurant had one of the most impressive signs along Chicago's South Side. The towering marquee on Western Avenue featured a blinking starburst, a large neon arrow, and fins advertising "Snacks," "Steaks," "Prime Rib," and "Cocktails." Even with a few dark sections, it was still a real attention-getter and a familiar landmark in the Beverly neighborhood. 06-07

Located near 104th Street and Western Avenue, Fielo's was a longtime neighborhood restaurant and a popular gathering place, especially during the annual South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade when crowds lined Western Avenue. The restaurant changed hands over the years, but the unforgettable sign remained one of the area's best-known pieces of roadside neon.

Sadly, both the restaurant and its spectacular marquee disappeared around 1990. The sign's distinctive starburst and arrow are now just memories, but for those who remember driving down Western Avenue, it was one of the South Side's classic neon landmarks.

UPDATE: Fielo's Restaurant and its iconic neon sign have been demolished and no longer survive. 06-26

Fox's Beverly Pizza Pub
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2007

The neon at Fox's Beverly Pizza Pub gives Western Avenue a bright introduction to a longtime South Side favorite. The familiar sign fits a neighborhood restaurant where generations have returned for thin-crust pizza and an evening with family or friends. 06-07

Tom and Therese Fox founded the business in 1964, beginning with a small carryout shop before moving to the present location a few years later. The original property came from Mae Maritote, Al Capone’s sister, adding an unexpected Chicago connection. Family ownership continued as Fox’s expanded into suburban locations.

UPDATE: The Beverly restaurant remains open, serving the tavern-style pizza that built its following. Its neon still lights Western Avenue, keeping a familiar roadside welcome above the entrance. Other locations have carried the name farther afield, but this remains the original neighborhood connection. 06-26

Hot Dog Johnny
Buttzville, NJ
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2006

The jumping hot dog at Hot Dog Johnny’s makes a cheerful introduction along U.S. 46 in Buttzville. The restaurant was celebrating its sixty-second anniversary when this 2006 view was taken, with the familiar sign already a landmark for generations of New Jersey travelers. 06-07

John and Louise Kovalsky founded the stand in 1944. Hot dogs, fries, birch beer and ice-cold buttermilk kept the menu simple, while picnic tables beside the Pequest River invited customers to linger. The highway curves sharply near the entrance, so the approach deserves attention before anyone starts admiring the sign.

UPDATE: Johnny’s remains family owned, continuing more than eighty years of roadside dining. Its familiar building and colorful sign survive, giving travelers another reason to stop beside the river. A modest menu and memorable mascot have proved a lasting combination. 06-26

Condesa del Mar Restaurant (Gone)
Alsip, IL
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 1988

The towering Condesa del Mar sign gave Cicero Avenue in Alsip an unmistakable entertainment landmark. This 1988 view recalls the years when the complex offered restaurants, a supper club and a destination for dinner and dancing. The neon made sure passing motorists noticed. 06-07

As supper-club entertainment gave way to other formats, weddings, banquets and special events became increasingly important. A 2001 roof fire brought another setback, though operations continued. The original marquee was retired, and a smaller neon replacement arrived in 2003. The Onion Field restaurant also carried on beyond the earlier supper-club years.

UPDATE: Condesa del Mar has permanently closed, and the property has been redeveloped. The original sign is gone, while the smaller replacement’s fate remains unknown. Another busy Chicagoland evening destination has disappeared, taking its familiar glow from the roadside. 06-26