Fat Man's Fish Fry
Grand Rapids, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Here's a great mid-century roadside sign from Grand Rapids, MI. Fat Man's Fish Fry still sports its classic colors, bold lettering, and distinctive shape, making it a fun reminder of the days when restaurants weren't afraid to advertise with a little personality.

The restaurant has been serving fried seafood since 1953 and continues to draw customers looking for old-fashioned favorites like ocean perch, catfish, smelt, hush puppies, and steak fries. One interesting detail is that each type of food is cooked in its own fryer, helping preserve the flavor of every item on the menu.

While the restaurant is still going strong, the sign has changed a bit over the years. Originally lit with neon, the old tubes were eventually removed and replaced with back-lit panels. Fortunately, whoever updated it kept the original design, colors, and lettering, so it still has much of the same mid-century look that first caught motorists' attention decades ago.

UPDATE: Fat Man's Fish Fry remains open and continues serving customers in Grand Rapids. Its vintage roadside sign survives, although the original neon has been replaced with back-lit panels. 07-26

Arby's
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Here's one of the classic Arby's "hat" signs with the neon still working. Found along the roadside in Indianapolis, this giant cowboy hat is a great survivor from the days when fast food restaurants competed just as much with their signs as they did with their sandwiches.

Arby's introduced these oversized hat signs during the chain's early years, and they quickly became one of the most recognizable corporate signs in America. Today, very few are left, making this one an especially nice find. Better yet, the neon is still lit and the chasing bulbs around the edge continue to give it that unmistakable vintage look.

While the restaurant itself has been updated over the years, the old hat remains standing out front, welcoming customers just as it has for decades. It's always nice to see a chain restaurant preserve a piece of its history instead of replacing it with another standard corporate sign.

UPDATE: This Arby's location remains open, and the vintage giant hat sign continues to stand along Franklin Road with its neon and chasing lights still in operation. 07-26

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Uncle Nick's
Rockford, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan

Here's a local favorite from Rockford, IL. Uncle Nick's has built quite a following over the years for its gyros and other late-night eats. Housed in a former gas station on a small triangular lot, it's one of those places that's easy to recognize once you've seen it. 07-11

The building is tiny, with just enough room for customers to place an order and wait while their food is handed through the counter opening. It's strictly a carry-out operation, but that hasn't stopped people from lining up, especially after the bars close. Staying open until 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning has made Uncle Nick's a longtime stop for late-night cravings.

Gyros are what most people come for, but the menu also includes favorites like Italian beef, Philly cheesesteaks, pizza puffs, and pitas. The restaurant has become popular enough over the years to expand with a second location on the east side of Rockford.

Sometimes it's the small neighborhood places that leave the biggest impression. Uncle Nick's may not be fancy, but it has carved out its own little corner of Rockford and has been serving hungry customers for decades.

UPDATE: Uncle Nick's remains open at its original downtown Rockford location, and a second location continues to operate on the city's east side. 07-26