Balyeat's Coffee Shop (Gone)
Van Wert, OH Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The red neon at Balyeat's Coffee Shop made this Van Wert favorite easy to spot. Opened in 1924, it welcomed generations beneath the promise of “Young Fried Chicken Day and Night.” 02-09
The Lincoln Highway restaurant served home-style meals and fresh pies. Its marquee was reportedly the city’s first neon sign.In the 1970s, officials encouraged replacing the old-fashioned display. The owner couldn’t afford it, so the sign stayed. Sometimes a tight budget helps preserve the roadside.
UPDATE: Balyeat’s has closed, and the building houses 133 Bistro. The historic neon remains outside, keeping its familiar name above the sidewalk. 06-26
Texas Corral
Highland, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
If you're driving down Indianapolis Boulevard after dark, it's hard to miss Texas Corral. Between the brightly lit building and the huge neon roadside sign, this place practically glows against the night sky. It's one of those restaurants that's just as fun to photograph as it is to stop and eat at. 10-08
The Highland location is one of the flagship restaurants in the regional Texas Corral chain and has become a familiar landmark along this busy commercial strip. The Western theme carries throughout the property, but it's the neon that steals the show. The colorful pole sign and glowing trim around the building make it one of the more eye-catching modern roadside restaurants in northwest Indiana.
Texas Corral
Highland, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
Inside you'll find a menu centered around steaks, ribs, burgers, chicken, and other hearty favorites, along with a full-service saloon. While the food brings people in, the exterior is what caught my attention. It's nice to see a newer business embrace neon at a time when so many restaurants have switched to plain backlit signs.
UPDATE: Texas Corral remains open in Highland. The restaurant and its colorful neon sign continue to light up Indianapolis Boulevard each evening. 06-26
Abbott's Restaurant (Gone)
Hobart, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
Downtown Hobart once had a great old sign at Abbott's Restaurant, complete with neon and chase lights. Unfortunately, the sign was no longer working when it caught the wrong kind of attention. After it was declared an eyesore and ordered removed, a local person stepped in and offered to take it down for free just to keep it from being lost. Many thanks to Kevin Heggi for info. 10-08
The Main Street restaurant’s early history remains unclear, but the sign had plenty of personality. It reportedly entered private storage rather than the scrap pile, leaving hope for another chapter.
UPDATE: Abbott’s has closed, and Cafe 339 occupies the building. The removed marquee was reportedly preserved, though its whereabouts remain unknown. 06-26
Palm's Krystal Bar and Restaurant
Port Huron, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Port Huron, MI is home to this local favorite. Featuring the famous "chicken in the rough", the Palm's Krystal Bar and Restaurant is known for its great chicken and atmosphere. 11-08
If you're passing through Port Huron and have a craving for fried chicken, Palms Krystal Bar and Restaurant is well worth a stop. Open since 1936, this longtime local favorite is famous for its "Chicken in the Rough," a meal that's become just as much a part of the restaurant's identity as the building itself. 11-08
The signature platter features a half fried chicken served with shoestring potatoes, a hot biscuit, and honey. It's a recipe that's been drawing customers here for generations and is one of the last places in the country still serving the original Chicken in the Rough meal.
Palm's Krystal Bar and Restaurant
Port Huron, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Step inside and you'll find a place that hasn't forgotten its past. The vintage bar, retro décor, and glowing Chicken in the Rough neon clock all help create an atmosphere that's every bit as memorable as the food. It's the kind of restaurant where you can imagine generations of families sitting down for the same meal over the years.
One reason the chicken has remained so popular is the consistency. Much of that reputation was built by longtime cook Hattie Dunlap, who prepared the restaurant's famous fried chicken for 35 years. Even after changes in ownership, the menu, recipes, and classic interior have been carefully preserved.
UPDATE: Palms Krystal Bar & Grill remains open and continues serving its famous Chicken in the Rough in the same historic building. The vintage atmosphere and classic signage both survive. 06-26
Elco Tap (Gone)
Fort Wayne, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
By 2008, Elco Tap was closed and offered for sale. The shuttered factory across the street suggested how much the surrounding neighborhood had changed—and where many former customers had worked. 12-08
Opened in 1952, the tavern served generations of industrial workers stopping after their shifts. Cold drinks and familiar faces made it part of the neighborhood routine.
As factory jobs disappeared, so did much of that dependable trade. Economic pressures helped bring more than fifty years of business to an end. The building found another use, though its earlier identity disappeared from the exterior.
UPDATE: Elco Tap closed around 2008. The property survives as a restaurant, but its original tavern signs have been removed. 06-26
Uptown Cafe
Noblesville, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Uptown Cafe neon fits comfortably among downtown Noblesville’s historic storefronts. Its familiar glow has welcomed generations looking for a hometown meal. 12-08
Established in 1932, the cafe retains counter seating, booths and an open kitchen. Giant cinnamon rolls and homemade corned beef hash helped build its following, while the vintage sign supplied a colorful introduction.
UPDATE: Uptown remains open for breakfast and lunch at its longtime location. The classic neon continues lighting Conner Street. 06-26
Texas Corral
Texas Corral
Abbott's Restaurant (Gone)
Uptown Cafe
