Kunkels Drive-in
Connersville, IN Photo and info courtesy Doug Harvey
The neon sign Kunkel's Drive-in Restaurant has been drawing hungry customers to this Connersville favorite since 1954. With its glowing script lettering and classic drive-in layout, it's easy to see why Kunkel's has remained a local tradition for generations. 09-06
Originally built on the Kunkel family farm, the drive-in still offers the experience that made places like this so popular in the 1950s. Pull into one of the covered parking stalls, order from your car, or head inside if you prefer. The menu is full of longtime favorites, including the famous Kunkel Burger, hand-breaded pork tenderloins, and seasonal strawberry pie.
Kunkel's has also become a favorite gathering place for classic car enthusiasts, hosting regular cruise-ins that fit perfectly with the restaurant's vintage atmosphere. Between the neon sign, the carhop service, and the food, it feels like a place that's never forgotten its roots.
UPDATE: Kunkel's Drive-In remains open and continues serving customers with both carhop and indoor dining. The classic neon sign still lights up Park Road. 06-26
Dairy Twist
Connersville, IN Photo and info courtesy Doug Harvey
Dairy Twist has been a summertime favorite in Connersville for generations. Housed in a classic 1950s-style stand, it's the kind of place that signals warm weather has finally arrived. 09-06
Originally built as a Dairy Queen in the 1950s, the stand became Dairy Twist in the early 1970s and has remained a local tradition ever since. Customers can order at the walk-up window, use the drive-through, or grab one of the booths inside before digging into an ice cream cone or shake.
The menu offers plenty of longtime favorites, including Coney dogs, hand-dipped waffle cones, milkshakes, and the local specialty known as a "Coolie," a frozen drink blended with soft serve that's become a favorite over the years. The vintage sign out front, repainted in 2021, still gives the stand plenty of roadside appeal.
UPDATE: Dairy Twist remains open as a seasonal favorite in Connersville. The classic sign still survives and welcomes customers each spring and summer. 06-26
Cleary's Pub
Howell, MI Photo and info 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
Pizza King Pizza
Marion, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Check out this neon shot of the Pizza King marquee at this location in Marion, IN. The neon crown really stands out from the red neon tubing spelling out the restaurant name. 06-07
Fox's Beverly Pizza Pub
Chicago, IL Photo and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2007
For generations, Fox's Beverly Pizza Pub has been one of the South Side's favorite places for pizza. The glowing neon sign along Western Avenue has welcomed hungry customers since the 1960s, and the restaurant remains a neighborhood institution. 06-07
Fox's was founded in 1964 by Tom and Therese Fox, who started with a small carryout shop before moving to the current location just a few years later. The restaurant has stayed in the family ever since, growing into one of Chicago's best-known spots for tavern-style thin crust pizza.
Beyond the pizza, the building has an interesting bit of Chicago history. The Fox family purchased their original location from Mae Maritote, Al Capone's sister, adding another layer to the story behind this longtime neighborhood favorite.
While a few suburban locations have opened over the years, the Beverly restaurant remains the original and is still the place many Chicagoans think of first when the conversation turns to great tavern-style pizza.
UPDATE: Fox's Beverly Pizza Pub remains open and continues serving its famous thin crust pizza. The neon sign still lights up Western Avenue. 06-26
Fielos Restaurant (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo and info 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
Hot Dog Johnny
Buttzville, NJ Photo and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2006
Hot Dog Johnny has been serving hungry travelers along U.S. Route 46 since 1944 and remains one of New Jersey's best-known roadside landmarks. The colorful sign featuring its famous jumping hot dog is impossible to miss, making this a favorite stop for anyone exploring the back roads of the Garden State. The restaurant celebrated its 62nd anniversary when this photo was taken in 2006. 06-07
Founded by John and Louise Kovalsky, Hot Dog Johnny's has remained in the same family for more than 80 years. The stand is known for its simple menu of hot dogs, fresh-cut fries, birch beer, and the unusual tradition of serving ice-cold buttermilk alongside your meal. Picnic tables along the nearby Pequest River make it a great place to enjoy lunch on a nice day.
The familiar roadside building and neon-trimmed marquee date from the property's mid-century expansion, when traffic along Route 46 turned the stand into a regional destination. The location sits on a sharp curve in the highway, so it's worth slowing down if approaching from the south, especially after dark.
UPDATE: Hot Dog Johnny's remains family-owned and continues to operate with its iconic roadside sign welcoming travelers to this classic New Jersey hot dog stand. 06-26
Condesa del Mar Restaurant (Gone)
Alsip, IL Photo and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 1988
Condesa del Mar was once one of Chicagoland's premier supper clubs, drawing big-name entertainers and packed crowds to suburban Alsip. When this photo was taken in 1988, the towering neon sign was already a familiar landmark along Cicero Avenue. At its peak, the complex included two restaurants and a popular supper club, making it a destination for dinner, dancing, and live entertainment. 06-07
The venue opened during the golden age of suburban supper clubs and became known for hosting nationally known performers, including Frank Sinatra, early in their careers or while touring the Midwest. As entertainment tastes changed, Condesa del Mar shifted its focus to weddings, banquets, and special events. A fire damaged part of the roof in 2001, but the complex continued operating, and a smaller replacement neon sign was installed in 2003 after the original landmark sign was retired.
The Onion Field restaurant remained open after the supper club era came to an end, but it too eventually closed. Today, the once-bustling entertainment complex is gone, leaving behind memories of an era when supper clubs and glowing neon signs were an important part of Chicago's nightlife.
UPDATE: Condesa del Mar has permanently closed, and the property has since been redeveloped. The original neon sign is gone, and the fate of the smaller replacement sign installed in 2003 is unknown. 06-26
Condesa del Mar Restaurant (Gone)
