Jerry's Restaurant (Demolished)
Jeffersonville, IN Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey
Here are a few shots of Jerry's Restaurant in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Best known for its J-Boy hamburgers, Jerry's was a lot like Denny's or Big Boy and was part of a regional chain based in Kentucky with a handful of locations in neighboring states. 04-08
This Jeffersonville location had been serving customers since the early 1960s and remained in the same family for 50 years. Along with the famous J-Boy, it became a favorite stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it a familiar sight for generations of local residents.
Unfortunately, a fire heavily damaged the restaurant in 2013. Although there was hope the building could be saved, the damage proved too extensive, and it was demolished later that year.
UPDATE: Jerry's Restaurant was demolished in 2013 following a devastating fire. The building and its classic roadside sign are gone. 07-26
Jerry's Restaurant
Jeffersonville, IN Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey
Randy's Bar-B-Que
Irish Hills, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's Randy's Bar-B-Que in the Irish Hills of Michigan. You can't miss the giant pig hanging off the marquee out front. It's the kind of roadside attraction that's almost guaranteed to make passing drivers take a second look. 05-08
Randy's opened in 1999 along U.S. 12 and has become a popular stop for barbecue lovers traveling through the Irish Hills. The menu features slow-smoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and other barbecue favorites, all served in a relaxed roadside setting with picnic tables and a large smoker out front.
The pig may be what gets your attention, but it's exactly the kind of fun roadside advertising that makes places like this memorable.
UPDATE: Randy's Bar-B-Que is still open and serving customers. The giant pig and roadside sign continue to welcome travelers along U.S. 12. 07-26
Golden Nugget (Gone)
Irish Hills, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
This is the Golden Nugget in Michigan's Irish Hills. With its western-style look, it fit right in with the roadside attractions that once made this stretch of U.S. 12 such a popular destination for travelers. 05-08
The restaurant was closely tied to Stagecoach Stop USA across the road and became a popular place to stop for a steak dinner after a day of exploring the area. It operated for more than 30 years before declining tourism and the struggling economy eventually caught up with it.
Like many businesses in the Irish Hills, the Golden Nugget was a reminder of a time when family attractions lined the highway and road trips were a big part of the vacation experience.
UPDATE: The Golden Nugget closed in 2008. The property has since been incorporated into a seasonal entertainment attraction, and the fate of the original roadside sign couldn't be confirmed. 07-26
The Rib Room (Closed)
Fort Wayne, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Rib Room in Fort Wayne, Indiana not only featured a great neon sign, but a neon clock as well. It was a combination you don't see very often, and it made this one of the more interesting restaurant signs in town. 07-08
The restaurant opened in 1957 and became well known for its barbecue ribs, steaks, and chops. An interesting bit of history is that the sign wasn't originally built for the restaurant. It first stood in front of a Fort Wayne National Bank before being adapted for the Rib Room, with the clock becoming part of the restaurant's identity.
Although the Rib Room is gone, the sign lives on. It has been updated for the building's current tenant, but the familiar clock still remains.
UPDATE: The Rib Room closed in 2015, and the building is now home to The Village Tap. The original sign structure and clock survive with updated lettering. 07-26
Elkton Hotel
Quincy, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's a great old sign pointing the way to the Elkton Hotel in Quincy, Illinois. The building is also home to The Patio Restaurant, which has been serving its famous charcoal steaks for generations. It's the kind of sign that makes you wonder what stories the old hotel could tell. 09-08
The building was constructed in 1924 as the local Elks Club before becoming the Hotel Elkton in 1949. A few years later, The Patio Restaurant opened on the first floor and became well known for its charcoal-broiled steaks. Together, the hotel and restaurant made this one of downtown Quincy's best-known landmarks.
Fortunately, both the building and the vintage sign are still around. While the hotel rooms have since been converted into apartments, the old sign continues to point visitors toward one of Quincy's most recognizable buildings.
UPDATE: The upper floors are now apartments, while The Patio Restaurant continues to operate on the first floor. The historic Elkton Hotel sign still survives. 07-26
Vint's Family Restaurant
Greenville, OH Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Vint's Family Restaurant is located just down the road from the former Fairlawn Steak House in Greenville, Ohio. The classic roadside sign has been welcoming hungry customers since the late 1960s and still gives this neighborhood diner plenty of character. 09-08
The restaurant opened in 1967 and began life as a Flint's franchise before becoming independently owned. Over the years it has become a local favorite for homestyle cooking, including fried chicken, potato salad, strawberry pie, and its popular Dandy Boy hamburgers.
It's always nice to see an old diner like this still serving customers. Between the vintage sign and the familiar menu, it looks much the same as it has for decades.
UPDATE: Vint's Family Restaurant is still open, and its classic roadside sign continues to welcome customers. 07-26
Randy's Bar-B-Que
Golden Nugget (Gone)
The Rib Room (Closed)
Vint's Family Restaurant
