Candle Lite Restaurant (Gone)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The glowing neon candle at Candle Lite Restaurant made this Fort Wayne eatery easy to recognize after dark. Its bright flame gave the building a memorable finishing touch, showing how a simple image could make a restaurant stand out. You didn’t need an elaborate marquee when a giant candle could do the job. 12-07

City directories place a Candle-Lite Restaurant in Fort Wayne as early as 1939, although details about its ownership and operating history remain limited. Vintage matchbooks also carry the names Candle Lite Restaurant and Candle Lite Cafe, preserving another small piece of its past. Along with photographs, these souvenirs help document a business whose story has otherwise become difficult to trace.

UPDATE: Candle Lite Restaurant is no longer operating. The original building’s current status remains unconfirmed, and the neon candle is believed to have been removed. Its whereabouts are unknown, leaving this photograph as a reminder of one of Fort Wayne’s distinctive restaurant signs. 06-26

Hollywood Restaurant (Gone)
Hamlet, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Hollywood Restaurant brought a little neon glamour to U.S. Route 30 in Hamlet, Indiana. Its name and glowing roadside sign made an appealing combination for travelers looking for somewhere to eat. It may have been a long way from California, but this Hollywood had its own following among northern Indiana motorists. 12-07

Operated for decades by the Fifer family, Hollywood Restaurant & Lounge became a familiar stop for locals and highway travelers. Its signature Hollywood burger was a favorite, while the relaxed atmosphere made it a comfortable place to meet friends or take a break from the road. The restaurant and lounge offered the kind of independent roadside dining experience that once helped give highways like U.S. 30 their character.

UPDATE: Hollywood Restaurant has permanently closed, and its neon sign has been removed. The current condition and use of the original building remain unconfirmed. Photographs preserve the colorful welcome that once greeted travelers passing through Hamlet. 06-26

Olympic Flame Restaurant (Closed)
Highland, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon marquee at Olympic Flame Restaurant gave this Highland eatery plenty of presence after dark. Bright lettering and a distinctive design made it the kind of sign worth slowing down to admire. Even without stepping inside, you could appreciate the effort that went into giving the restaurant a recognizable roadside appearance. 01-08

Olympic Flame served the community for years as a traditional family restaurant, although its opening date and ownership history remain poorly documented. The photograph offers a clearer record of its advertising: a colorful neon display that helped distinguish the business from its neighbors. Signs like this often became familiar landmarks through everyday repetition, noticed on the way to work or while heading out for dinner.

UPDATE: Olympic Flame Restaurant is permanently closed. The original building’s current status has not been confirmed, and the neon marquee no longer appears to remain at the site. Whether the sign was preserved elsewhere is unknown. 06-26

Skyline Restaurant (Demolished)
Muncie, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon marquee at Skyline Restaurant advertised steaks, chops, barbecue ribs, and drive-in service along South Madison Street in Muncie. It was quite an invitation after dark, with enough glowing lettering to make you wonder what was cooking inside. The sign captured the personality of a restaurant that combined dinner, drinks, and entertainment. 01-08

Dating to the World War II era, Skyline became a popular restaurant and cocktail lounge during the 1960s and 1970s. Longtime owner Jimmy Carter, a local entertainer, performed on keyboard and organ while customers enjoyed their meals. After the restaurant closed, the building remained vacant for years and gradually deteriorated, eventually becoming unsafe.

UPDATE: Skyline Restaurant was demolished in 2017 following its long vacancy. The building and roadside display no longer stand at the property, although the marquee’s ultimate fate remains unknown. This photograph preserves its bright menu of promises from the days when dinner at Skyline could also include a little live music. 06-26

Bright Spot Restaurant (Gone)
Hobart, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Across the street from Abbott’s Restaurant, Bright Spot Restaurant offered another familiar dining stop in Hobart. Its marquee advertised breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day, leaving little doubt that hungry customers would find something to eat. The straightforward sign suited a neighborhood restaurant that built its following on familiar food and friendly service. 10-08

For more than 40 years, owner George Fitusis welcomed customers for generous breakfasts and classic American comfort food. Bright Spot became part of the daily routine for regulars who returned for a meal and conversation. In 2024, George decided to retire, bringing the restaurant’s four-decade run to a close and giving longtime customers a final chance to say goodbye.

UPDATE: Bright Spot Restaurant permanently closed in 2024 following its owner’s retirement. The familiar roadside marquee has also been removed. While the restaurant is gone, photographs preserve the sign that once promised Hobart customers a meal, whatever time of day they stopped by. 06-26