The Kahiki (Demolished)
Columbus, OH Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Once upon a time a site (and sight!) to see in Columbus, OH is the Kahiki.
A fantastic tiki joint, the Kahiki was demolished to make way for a Walgreen's.
Fine Food Restaurant (Demolished)
Greenville, IL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
If you're passing through Greenville, IL, the Fine Food Restaurant was once a good place to stop for a bite to eat. What really made it stand out, though, was the huge roadside marquee with its bright, saturated colors welcoming travelers along old U.S. Route 40.
The sign did exactly what it was supposed to do. Long before interstate exits were lined with national chains, a colorful marquee like this was often all it took to convince motorists to pull off the highway and give a local restaurant a try.
Fine Food was one of several restaurants that served travelers along Route 40 during the highway's busiest years. Unfortunately, like many roadside businesses, traffic declined after Interstate 70 bypassed the area, and the restaurant eventually closed.
Both the restaurant and its colorful sign are gone today, but it's easy to imagine how this one must have looked when the neon was glowing and Route 40 was filled with cross-country traffic.
UPDATE: Fine Food Restaurant has been demolished, and its large roadside marquee has been removed. 07-26
The Country School
Rochelle, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Country School Restaurant in Rochelle, IL is one of those places that lets you know what it's all about before you even walk through the door. Serving hamburgers, chicken dinners, and other comfort food favorites, the restaurant features a roadside sign that looks just like... well... a school.
The school theme carries over to the building itself, complete with a red schoolhouse-style exterior and a bell mounted on the roof. It's a fun concept that has helped make the restaurant a familiar sight along Route 251 for decades.
While fried chicken is the house specialty, the menu also includes burgers, hot dogs, gyros, Italian beef, and even sixteen flavors of ice cream. It's the kind of neighborhood place with something for just about everyone.
Fortunately, both the restaurant and its unique schoolhouse sign are still around. It's always nice to see a business keep the same fun roadside personality year after year.
UPDATE: Country School Restaurant remains open in Rochelle, and its distinctive schoolhouse-themed sign and building continue to welcome customers. 07-26
Horwath's (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier
Horwath's advertised its good food, but it probably should have advertised its great marquee, too. Horwath's was hard to miss thanks to its large roadside sign, complete with the slogan "Where Friends Meet." It was one of those classic supper club signs that looked right at home along Harlem Avenue.
The restaurant opened in the early 1930s, beginning life as a Prohibition-era speakeasy before becoming a well-known restaurant and lounge. Over the years, Horwath's earned a reputation for its prime rib, Salisbury steak, and complimentary bowls of cheddar cheese spread that many longtime customers still remember.
The restaurant also developed a colorful history, becoming a favorite gathering place for members of the Chicago Outfit through the years. One of the more infamous chapters came in 1985 when mobster Charles "Chuckie" English was killed in the restaurant's parking lot.
Unfortunately, Horwath's closed in 2004 and the building was later demolished. The famous marquee disappeared along with it, bringing an end to one of the Chicago area's more recognizable roadside restaurant signs.
UPDATE: Horwath's closed in 2004 and the building has since been demolished. The vintage roadside marquee was removed, and its fate is unknown. 07-26
Johnny's (Gone)
Toledo, OH Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Check out the marquee for Johnny's in Toledo, OH. According to the sign, you could grab a bite to eat any time of the day or night, as the restaurant proudly advertised that it was open 24 hours. 01-01
The sign was the real attraction here. With its stacked design and bold lettering, it did exactly what a good roadside marquee was supposed to do—catch the attention of hungry motorists looking for a quick meal. Restaurants that stayed open around the clock were a welcome sight for travelers, night-shift workers, and just about anyone else who found themselves hungry after everyone else had gone home.
Johnny's served the kind of diner food people expected from a place like this, including breakfast, burgers, and Coney-style hot dogs. It wasn't fancy, but that's part of what made places like this so appealing.
Unfortunately, Johnny's eventually closed and the old marquee disappeared along with it. That's a shame, because it was a great-looking sign and another reminder of the days when every diner tried to outdo the one down the road.
UPDATE: Johnny's has permanently closed, and the vintage roadside marquee has been removed. 07-26
Doo Drop Inn (Gone)
Muskegon, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Do drop in to the Doo
Drop Inn in Muskegon, MI. Even though the name sounds like it belongs on an old roadside motel, this was actually a longtime restaurant. The real eye catcher was the large neon sign out front, complete with a smiling chef holding up a platter to welcome hungry customers.
The Doo Drop Inn served Muskegon for decades, offering the kind of comfort food people expected from a neighborhood restaurant, including breakfast, fish dinners, and other American favorites. In 1960, the restaurant even received a visit from then-Senator John F. Kennedy during a campaign stop before he became president.
As memorable as the food may have been, the sign is what really stood out. Between the bright neon lettering and the cheerful chef, it was the kind of roadside advertising that's hard to imagine being built today.
UPDATE: The Doo Drop Inn closed in 2006 and the original neon chef sign has been removed. The building has since been repurposed. 07-26
Orbit Restaurant (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Chicago, IL was once home to the Orbit Restaurant, a place with a long, colorful marquee that was hard to miss along Milwaukee Avenue. Stretching across the front of the building, the sign was every bit as impressive as the restaurant itself and made a real impact from the street.
Orbit was much more than just a neighborhood restaurant. It was known for its home-style Polish cooking, serving favorites like pierogis, stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, and mushroom soup, while also offering plenty of American classics. Over the years, the business expanded to include a cocktail lounge, bakery, delicatessen, and a banquet hall known as the Royal Dining Room.
The marquee was the perfect fit for a restaurant of this size. It gave the building a strong roadside presence and became a familiar sight for anyone traveling through the neighborhood.
UPDATE: Orbit Restaurant has been demolished and replaced by a commercial development. The vintage roadside marquee has been removed. 07-26
Stevens Charbroiled Steaks (Demolished)
Elmhurst, IL Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
Hungry travelers stopping at Stevens Charbroiled Steaks were treated to more than just a good meal. The restaurant featured a terrific vintage neon sign along with a stylish mid-century building that made it one of Elmhurst's more recognizable roadside restaurants.
The building had an interesting history of its own, originally serving as a Greyhound bus station before being transformed into a steakhouse in 1958. For nearly 50 years, Stevens became a popular place for charcoal-broiled steaks, seafood, cocktails, and live entertainment, making it a favorite spot for special occasions.
Out front, the towering neon sign welcomed customers from busy York Street and was just as memorable as the restaurant itself. It was one of those classic steakhouse signs that looked right at home in the middle of the automobile age.
UPDATE: Stevens Charbroiled Steaks is gone, and both the restaurant and its vintage neon sign have been demolished. The site is now occupied by a Thorntons gas station. 07-26
Fine Food Restaurant (Demolished)
The Country School
Horwath's (Demolished)
Johnny's (Gone)
Orbit Restaurant (Gone)
Stevens Charbroiled Steaks (Demolished)
