Q's Pizza
Hillside, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2004
Q's Pizza has been a Hillside landmark for decades, and its spectacular neon sign is one of the best surviving examples of mid-century roadside design in the Chicago area. Mounted on a glowing boomerang-shaped backdrop, the marquee has been turning heads along Butterfield Road since the restaurant's early years. 06-07
Opened in the late 1950s, Q's has built a loyal following for its classic Chicago tavern-style thin-crust pizza. The restaurant has changed very little over the years, retaining its neighborhood bar atmosphere while serving generations of families from the western suburbs. Inside, the old-school dining room feels much like it did decades ago, making it easy to see why so many customers keep coming back.
The colorful sign remains the star of the show. Its glowing neon lettering advertising pizza, dinners, wine, and draft beer is a perfect example of the eye-catching roadside signs that once lined America's highways. Fortunately, this one continues to shine.
UPDATE: Q's Pizza remains open and family-owned. The iconic neon sign is still in place and remains one of the finest surviving boomerang-style restaurant signs in the Chicago area. 06-26
Alice's Restaurant (Gone)
Marion, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Alice's Restaurant was once a familiar stop in Marion, its bright neon sign welcoming customers for a meal before eventually disappearing from the city's roadside landscape. By the time this photo was taken, the sign had already become another reminder of the classic independent restaurants that once dotted Indiana's highways. 06-07
Like so many neighborhood diners of its era, Alice's Restaurant served the local community for years before quietly fading away. While little has surfaced about the restaurant's history, its vintage neon sign stood out as a classic example of the eye-catching roadside advertising that helped define America's dining scene during the middle of the last century.
UPDATE: Alice's Restaurant is gone, and its iconic neon sign has been removed. The ultimate fate of the sign remains unknown. 06-26
Cafe 37 (Gone)
Marion, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Cafe 37 (Removed)
Marion, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Marion was once home to several classic neon restaurants, including Cafe 37. Located along the busy bypass where State Roads 9, 15, and 37 came together, the restaurant became a favorite stop for locals looking for a late-night meal or an early morning breakfast. Sadly, both the restaurant and its neon sign are now gone. 06-07
For years, Cafe 37 was known for serving hearty diner favorites like biscuits and gravy, hot coffee, and even brain sandwiches. During its heyday, it was owned by the McClain family and earned a reputation as one of Marion's go-to late-night gathering spots.
Although the restaurant eventually closed and the building was repurposed, one piece of its history survives. The original lunch counter from Cafe 37 was saved and now lives on inside the 9th St Cafe in Marion, giving longtime residents a tangible connection to one of the city's lost roadside landmarks.
UPDATE: Cafe 37 has closed, the vintage neon sign has been removed, and the building has been repurposed for another business. 06-26
Vogel's Donuts (Gone)
Marion, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Vogel's Donuts was a longtime Marion favorite, famous for the bright blue neon arrow pointing customers toward "hot donuts." The shop began in 1947 as a Dixie Cream Donut Shop before Ralph and Maxine Vogel purchased the business, perfected their own recipes, and renamed it Vogel's Donuts. 06-07
Over the years, the family expanded to several locations throughout the Marion area, but the flagship shop at First and Washington Streets remained the best known. Generations of customers stopped in for fresh donuts, especially the bakery's famous caramel rolls and chocolate cream-filled donuts.
The original downtown shop eventually closed after more than 50 years in business, and the building was later renovated for another use. Unfortunately, the iconic blue neon arrow that once welcomed hungry customers is no longer there.
UPDATE: Vogel's Donuts has closed, the original neon sign has been removed, and the former flagship building has been repurposed. 06-26
Miller's Drive-in (Demolished)
Rushville, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Miller's Drive-in was a Rushville favorite for decades before later operating as the Southside Drive-In. Even after the name changed, the familiar neon marquee continued to light up Main Street, reminding locals of the restaurant's long history. 07-07
Dutch and Lil Miller purchased the small drive-in in 1952 and gradually expanded it over the years from a tiny seven-stool stand into a much larger restaurant. After the Miller family closed the business in 1996, the building reopened under several different owners as Southside Drive-In, Susie's Southside Drive-In, and later Buckley's Riverside Drive-In.
The restaurant closed for good by 2008, and the building was demolished a few years later. Today, the site has been redeveloped as Overlook Park, complete with a splash pad. As a tribute to the landmark, the park's entrance sign was designed to echo the look of the original Miller's Drive-In marquee.
UPDATE: The restaurant has been demolished, the neon sign is gone, and the property is now part of Overlook Park. 06-26
Hinkle Hamburgers
Madison, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Check out Hinkle Hamburgers which has been a Madison landmark since 1933. The bright blue neon sign hanging over Main Street is hard to miss and has been drawing hungry customers inside for generations. 07-07
Founded by Winfred Hinkle during the Great Depression, Hinkle's Sandwich Shop is one of Indiana's oldest continuously operating restaurants and the last remaining location from the original Hinkle restaurant chain. Inside, the classic lunch counter still serves the restaurant's famous slider-style hamburgers, grilled over onions and topped with pickles just as they have been for decades.
The restaurant has remained a favorite with both locals and Route 421 travelers, thanks to its old-fashioned atmosphere, hand-cut fries, and an incredible selection of milkshakes. It's one of those places where stepping through the front door feels like stepping back in time.
UPDATE: Hinkle Hamburgers remains open, and its iconic blue neon sign continues to light up downtown Madison. 06-26
Johnsen's Blue Top Drive-in
Highland, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Johnsen's Blue Top Drive-in is one of those places that's hard to miss when you're driving through Highland, Indiana. The towering neon marquee and dramatic roofline make it one of the state's best-looking drive-ins, and it's well worth pulling over for a closer look. 07-07
Blue Top got its start in 1936 as a small food stand founded by Danish immigrant William Johnsen. The restaurant took its name from the blue-shingled roof of the original building, but the familiar look everyone knows today dates to 1964, when a striking new Googie-style restaurant was built. The folded-plate canopy, glass walls, and nearly 30-foot neon sign gave it a futuristic look that still stands out today.
Over the years, Blue Top became a favorite stop for both locals and travelers. Actress Katharine Hepburn, boxer Joe Louis, and members of the Chicago Bears were all said to have stopped here while passing through the area. These days, the burgers, shakes, and classic carhop service continue to draw customers, along with regular cruise nights that fill the lot with vintage cars.
Johnsen's Blue Top
Hammond, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
After the restaurant closed and sat vacant for a time, it looked like this landmark might disappear. Fortunately, new ownership restored both the building and its iconic neon sign while preserving the mid-century character that makes Blue Top so memorable.
UPDATE: Johnsen's Blue Top Drive-In remains open and continues serving customers as a classic carhop drive-in. The beautifully restored Googie building and towering neon marquee are both still standing and are among Indiana's finest surviving examples of mid-century roadside architecture. 06-26
Alice's Restaurant (Gone)
Cafe 37 (Gone)
Vogel's Donuts (Gone)
