Vierlings Restaurant (Rem.)
Marquette, MI Photo courtesy Chibbqking
Vierling Restaurant has been a Marquette landmark since 1868. What started as the Vierling Saloon is now known as the Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery, but it's still one of the city's most recognizable places to grab a bite to eat. The old sign out front fits the historic building perfectly. 05-09
The current building dates back to the 1880s and has seen a lot of history over the years, including Prohibition, when the saloon became a soda fountain to stay in business. After sitting vacant for a time, it was carefully restored in the 1980s, bringing many of the original features back to life. In 1995, the Marquette Harbor Brewery was added, making it one of the first brewpubs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
If you stop by today, you'll find plenty of local favorites on the menu, including Lake Superior whitefish and handcrafted beers. Between the history, the food, and the atmosphere, it's easy to see why the Vierling has remained a Marquette favorite for well over 150 years.
UPDATE: The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery is still going strong today, and the historic building continue to welcome visitors to downtown Marquette. The sign appears to be gone. 07-26
Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners
Frankenmuth, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners is one of the best-known roadside landmarks in Frankenmuth. According to the Zehnder's website, the restaurant's story began in 1928 when the Zehnder family purchased the old Exchange Hotel and started serving family-style chicken dinners that quickly became a Michigan tradition. Back then, a complete chicken dinner cost just $1.00. 06-09
I remember stopping here one evening after a long but fun day on the road. A great chicken dinner really hit the spot, and we spent some time wandering through Bronner's Christmas Wonderland afterward. It was the perfect way to wrap up the day.
One of my favorite features is the classic roadside neon sign out front. Installed in 1936, it's been welcoming travelers for decades and remains one of the most recognizable restaurant signs in Michigan.
UPDATE: Zehnder's is still going strong today, and the historic neon sign continues to light up Main Street in Frankenmuth, reminding travelers they've arrived at one of Michigan's true roadside institutions. 07-26
Bavarian Inn
Frankenmuth, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Bavarian Inn has been welcoming visitors to Frankenmuth since 1959, although the building's history goes back much further. Before becoming the Bavarian Inn, it operated as Fischer's Hotel and was once affiliated with Zehnder's before the family businesses went their separate ways. Today, both remain two of Frankenmuth's best-known destinations. 06-09
Three generations of the Zehnder family have helped make the Bavarian Inn what it is today. The restaurant is known for its family-style chicken dinners, authentic German specialties, and the famous Glockenspiel tower, where carved figures come to life several times a day. The Bavarian-themed architecture and festive atmosphere have made it a favorite stop for travelers visiting Michigan's "Little Bavaria."
If you're visiting Frankenmuth, it's worth spending some time exploring both the Bavarian Inn and Zehnder's. Each has its own history and personality, and together they've helped make this one of Michigan's most popular roadside destinations.
UPDATE: The Bavarian Inn remains one of Frankenmuth's most popular attractions, with its iconic Glockenspiel, Bavarian architecture, and family-style dining continuing to welcome visitors from around the world. 07-26
Texan Restaurant (Gone)
Saginaw, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Texan Restaurant was a great alternative to the fast food chains that lined the highway through Saginaw. What always caught my eye, though, was the friendly-looking cowboy standing high above the restaurant on the roadside marquee. It was one of those signs that was impossible to miss. 06-09
The Texan was part of a small regional chain of family restaurants that operated throughout Michigan's Tri-Cities area. Open around the clock, it was a popular stop for hearty breakfasts, burgers, steak sandwiches, and other comfort food, attracting everyone from locals to travelers passing through.
Unfortunately, the Bay Road location closed in 2008, and the remaining Texan restaurants gradually disappeared over the next several years. The last location closed in 2015, bringing an end to the chain, and the familiar cowboy sign was removed along the way.
UPDATE: The Texan Restaurant is gone today, but for many people around mid-Michigan, that smiling cowboy remains one of the area's most memorable roadside signs. 07-26
Celebrity Soul Food
Detroit, MI Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Celebrity Soul Food caught my attention not only because of its neon sign, but also because of the prices advertised on the marquee. Judging by the sign, this looked like a place where you could still get a good meal without spending a fortune. The restaurant sits near the former Jeep engineering complex on Plymouth Road, an area with a long automotive history. 10-09
For years, Celebrity Soul Food has been serving up hearty soul food favorites to neighborhood residents and workers from the nearby automotive plants. The menu is filled with comfort food staples, including pork chops, mac and cheese, yams, and other home-style dishes that have kept people coming back for decades.
The old Jeep engineering campus next door is gone today, but Celebrity Soul Food is still hanging on. Best of all, the vintage sign is still out front, giving the place the same roadside appeal it had when I first stopped by.
UPDATE: Celebrity Soul Food remains open today, and the classic sign continues to welcome customers along Plymouth Road, thought the sign is a different color now. The place is now known as Club Celebrity or Celebrity Bar & Grill. 07-26
Plymouth Restaurant (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Plymouth Restaurant was easy to spot thanks to its large green neon sign along Plymouth Court in downtown Chicago. At the time, I thought the sign might have been a replica of an older design, but whether it was vintage or not, it certainly looked the part and fit right in with the surrounding architecture. 11-09
The restaurant opened in 2005 and became a popular spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving everything from burgers and steaks to classic Greek-American favorites. It also featured a rooftop bar that became a favorite gathering place in the Loop.
After nearly 20 years in business, the Plymouth Restaurant closed in 2024 and reopened as Pancho's Cantina. Along with the change in concept, the familiar neon sign was removed, bringing an end to one of downtown Chicago's more recognizable modern neon landmarks.
UPDATE: The Plymouth Restaurant is gone today, and the building now operates as Pancho's Cantina. Unfortunately, the large green neon sign did not survive the transition. 07-26
Vierlings Restaurant (Rem.)
Bavarian Inn
Texan Restaurant (Gone)
Celebrity Soul Food
Plymouth Restaurant (Gone)
