Jerry's Restaurant (Demolished)
Jeffersonville, IN Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey
Back when Jerry's Restaurants were scattered across Kentucky and southern Indiana, Jerry's Restaurant in Jeffersonville was one of the best-known locations. The classic neon sign made it hard to miss, especially after dark, and the restaurant was well known for its J-Boy hamburgers. If you've ever been to a Big Boy or Denny's, you'll have a pretty good idea of the kind of place this was. 04-08
This location had been serving Jeffersonville for decades and became a favorite stop for families looking for a good burger or a slice of the restaurant's homemade strawberry pie. The neon sign out front was every bit as memorable as the food and was one of the reasons I stopped to photograph it.
Jerry's Restaurant (Demolished)
Jeffersonville, IN Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey
Unfortunately, a kitchen fire in 2013 forced Jerry's to close for good. The building was demolished later that year, ending a run of about 50 years under the same family ownership. Today, only photos remain of one of southern Indiana's classic roadside restaurants.
UPDATE: Jerry's Restaurant permanently closed after a 2013 fire and was demolished later that year. The restaurant and its classic neon sign are both gone and Jerry's is now just a memory. 06-26
Coney Island Wiener Stand
Fort Wayne, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The neon sign at Coney Island Wiener Stand points hungry visitors toward one of downtown Fort Wayne’s longest-running food traditions. The business dates to 1914, and its familiar storefront remains a welcome sight along Main Street. If you’re exploring downtown, it’s an inviting place to stop for a couple of Coney dogs. 12-08
Inside, the pressed-tin ceiling, long lunch counter, swivel stools, and vintage décor preserve much of the old lunchroom atmosphere. The signature dogs come on steamed buns with chili sauce, mustard, and chopped onions, a simple combination that has kept generations returning. Nearby Parkview Field, which opened in 2009, added another reason to visit, with TinCaps fans stopping in before or after a game.
UPDATE: Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island remains open at its original Main Street location. The historic interior and classic neon sign survive, keeping this downtown institution recognizable more than a century after its first customers stepped through the door. 06-26
Seven Dwarfs Restaurant
Wheaton, IL Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
The classic neon sign at Seven Dwarfs Restaurant makes this Wheaton diner hard to overlook along Roosevelt Road. With its Disney-inspired characters and glowing soda fountain lettering, the marquee has been catching motorists’ attention for decades. It’s the kind of cheerful roadside display that gives you a reason to stop, even before you’ve seen the menu. 10-08
Serving the area since the 1950s, Seven Dwarfs has kept its neighborhood diner atmosphere. Breakfast draws plenty of regulars, while burgers, sandwiches, Greek dishes, and comfort food round out the menu. Inside, colorful Seven Dwarfs murals carry the theme into the dining room. Local lore also says a young John Belushi worked here before becoming famous, adding a little show-business history to the restaurant’s story.
UPDATE: Seven Dwarfs remains open in Wheaton. Its familiar neon sign and character-filled dining room survive, continuing to welcome customers to a restaurant that has been part of Roosevelt Road for generations. 06-26
Johnny's Tap
Munster
, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
The glowing lettering and flashing arrow at Johnny's Tap make this Munster tavern easy to spot after dark. The neon has the kind of personality that once made neighborhood bars stand out on almost every commercial street. Here, it still points the way toward a gathering place with roots stretching back to the 1950s. 10-08
Opened in 1956, Johnny’s has remained a local favorite through several ownership changes. The menu has expanded to include burgers, sandwiches, wings, and tacos, while the atmosphere retains its corner-bar character. There’s more neon inside, too, including the memorable “Mr. Fun is Here” window sign. Between that cheerful announcement and the arrow outside, Johnny’s certainly knows how to make an introduction.
UPDATE: Johnny’s Tap remains open in Munster. Both the roadside neon marquee and the vintage “Mr. Fun is Here” sign survive, preserving two colorful pieces of the tavern’s longtime character. They’re welcome sights for anyone who appreciates a neighborhood bar with a little neon flair. 06-26
Romano's Pizza (Gone)
Griffith, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
The lettering at Romano's Pizza in Griffith caught the eye of hungry motorists on this evening. It wasn’t quite the neon spectacle found at the Highland location, but the sign still made its point. Sometimes the promise of a good pizza is enough to get you through the door. 10-08
Romano’s traces its history to 1953 and is recognized as northwest Indiana’s first pizzeria. Through several locations, it built a following for pizza and its Original Ham Hoagie, which the restaurant claims to have invented. Roman Burgers and fried cheese cubes became favorites, too, giving longtime customers plenty of reasons to return beyond a familiar slice.
UPDATE: The Griffith location pictured here has closed, and its sign has been replaced. Romano’s continues operating at a newer location in Griffith, carrying on more than 70 years of restaurant history. While this particular storefront is gone, the name and longtime menu favorites remain part of the Region’s dining traditions. 06-26
Romano's Pizza (Gone)
Highland, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
The neon at Romano's Pizza in Highland, IN was impossible to miss. Between the colorful marquee, glowing pizza slice, and matching neon outlining the building, this was one of the more eye-catching pizza places in northwest Indiana. 10-08
One thing that makes one smile was the "Drive-In Pizza" wording on the sign. It's because the restaurant offers carhop service. Customers could pull into a parking space, order from their car, and have pizzas delivered on window trays—something you don't usually associate with a pizza restaurant.
Romano's opened in 1953 and became the first pizzeria in northwest Indiana. Along with its thin-crust pizzas, it built a loyal following for its Original Ham Hoagie, Roman Burger, and fried cheese cubes. It was one of those places that locals seemed to grow up with.
Romano's Pizza (Gone)
Highland, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
Unfortunately, this Highland location is gone today, and so is the neon sign that made it such a great roadside stop. The good news is that Romano's is still in business at its newer Griffith location, keeping the recipes and tradition alive.
UPDATE: The Highland Romano's has closed, and the building no longer operates as a restaurant. The Griffith location is gone as well. 06-26
