Lock View Restaurant
Sault Ste Marie, MI Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
The Lockview Restaurant is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, just next door to the Lockview Motel, although the two have always been separate businesses. A close look at the sign reveals an interesting detail. The original neon appears to have been moved into the restaurant's window, where the same script lettering can still be seen. 12-08
The restaurant has been serving customers since 1945 and is best known for its fresh Lake Superior whitefish and lake perch. Whitefish is available several different ways, and Friday nights are especially popular for the fish specials.
Located across from the Soo Locks, it's also a great place to watch the freighters pass by while enjoying a meal. Between the classic sign and the waterfront setting, it's an easy stop to recommend.
UPDATE: The Lockview Restaurant is still open seasonally and continues serving its popular whitefish dinners. The vintage neon sign remains in place and has since been restored to full working order. 07-26
Marro's Restaurant
Saugatuck, MI Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Marro's Restaurant is located in downtown Saugatuck, Michigan, just a block off the old U.S. 31 alignment. The restaurant is well known for its pizza and Italian dinners, and the vintage roadside sign is a nice fit for this longtime local favorite. 12-08
Marro's opened in 1971 and has remained family owned ever since. Over the years it has built a loyal following for its thin-crust pizzas, lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and other Italian specialties. It's the kind of place that's become a tradition for many visitors spending time along Michigan's lakeshore.
Fortunately, the classic sign is still there welcoming customers, adding a little extra character to one of Saugatuck's longtime restaurants.
UPDATE: Marro's Restaurant is still open and continues serving customers each season. The vintage roadside sign remains in place. 07-26
Nick's Kitchen
Huntington, IN Photos and info courtesy Alan Culley
Nick's Kitchen gained national attention as the favorite hometown restaurant of Vice President Dan Quayle whenever he returned to Huntington. When these photos were taken, a new neon sign had recently been installed. Whether it was a newly built retro sign or a restored original, I'm not sure. The second photo shows the sign that hung over the entrance for many years. 01-09
Nick's Kitchen has been a Huntington landmark since 1908 and is widely credited as the birthplace of Indiana's famous breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. The restaurant has remained a favorite for generations, serving its legendary tenderloins along with hearty breakfasts, homemade pies, and other diner classics.
The restaurant is still going strong today, and the neon sign looks right at home out front, helping preserve the vintage character of this longtime Indiana institution.
UPDATE: Nick's Kitchen remains open and continues serving customers from its original downtown location. The neon sign is still in place, welcoming visitors looking to try one of Indiana's most famous breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches. 07-26
Nick's Kitchen
Huntington, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Emil's Steer Inn (Demolished)
Columbus, OH Postcard and info courtesy Michael Sekeres
Emil's Steer Inn was once a familiar stop along East Main Street in Columbus, with its memorable slogan inviting travelers to "Steer out to Emil's Steer Inn." These postcard views capture both the inviting interior and the restaurant lit up after dark, giving a glimpse of a classic roadside destination from another era. Here's a look at what Emil's Steer Inn looked like at night.
Owned by Emil W. Windmiller, the restaurant served sandwiches, steaks, pastries, and French ice cream, making it a popular stop for both locals and travelers along old U.S. 40. Like many mid-century roadside restaurants, it featured both drive-in service and a traditional dining room.
The postcard read "Nationally Known Drive In, Sandwich Shop and Restaurant.
The Nation's newest and most ultra-modern eating place. Dedicated to the serving of delicious food, fine pastries, and rich French ice cream.
A popular slogan here is: "Steer out to Emil's Steer Inn" 4484 East Main Street, U. S. 40 East, Columbus, Ohio". Many thanks to Michael Sekeres for info.02-09
UPDATE: The restaurant is long gone today. The building was demolished and replaced by a Church's Chicken, and the roadside sign disappeared along with it. All that's left are old postcards and photos that preserve the memory of one of Columbus' classic roadside eateries. 07-26
Russell's Bar-B-Q
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Chibbqking
Russell's Bar-B-Q has been serving some of the Chicago area's best barbecue since 1930. While technically located in Elmwood Park, it's long been a favorite with Chicagoans, and its towering neon sign is one of the area's best-known roadside landmarks. This photo was taken with all of the neon glowing brightly, making for an unforgettable nighttime scene. 02-09
Founded by Russell Bittner, the restaurant has built its reputation on slow-cooked ribs, beef brisket, and its signature barbecue sauce. The rustic log cabin-style building has become just as recognizable as the food, giving the place a classic roadside feel that's been drawing customers for generations.
Unlike many of the restaurants featured here, Russell's is still going strong. The neon sign continues to light up Thatcher Avenue, welcoming hungry customers just as it has for decades.
UPDATE: Russell's Bar-B-Q remains open today, and the iconic neon sign is still lighting the way for barbecue fans nearly a century after the restaurant first opened. 07-26
Pig-Hip Restaurant (Memorial)
Broadwell, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Pig-Hip Restaurant is one of the true legends of Route 66. Opened by Ernie Edwards in 1937, this Broadwell landmark welcomed hungry travelers for more than 50 years and became just as famous for its colorful owner as it did for its signature Pig-Hip sandwich. After the restaurant closed in 1991, Ernie transformed the building into a Route 66 museum filled with memorabilia and stories from the Mother Road. 02-09
Sadly, those plans came to an end when a devastating fire destroyed the building on March 5, 2007. Thousands of Route 66 artifacts were lost, and one of the highway's most recognizable landmarks disappeared overnight.
Today, the restaurant is gone, but Ernie Edwards' legacy lives on. A memorial marks the original site in Broadwell, and a replica of the famous Pig-Hip sign can be found at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, helping keep the memory of this Route 66 icon alive.
UPDATE: The original restaurant site remains an empty lot with a memorial honoring Ernie Edwards and the Pig-Hip. Although the building is gone, it continues to be remembered as one of the most beloved stops along Route 66. 07-26
Marro's Restaurant
Nick's Kitchen
Pig-Hip Restaurant (Memorial)
Pig-Hip Restaurant is one of the true legends of Route 66. Opened by Ernie Edwards in 1937, this Broadwell landmark welcomed hungry travelers for more than 50 years and became just as famous for its colorful owner as it did for its signature Pig-Hip sandwich. After the restaurant closed in 1991, Ernie transformed the building into a Route 66 museum filled with memorabilia and stories from the Mother Road. 02-09
