Reno Corsi Restaurant (Gone)
Alsip, IL Photo and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2002
The Reno Corsi Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge in Alsip, Illinois sat abandoned for several years before finally finding a new life. By the time this photo was taken, the building was empty, but the old neon sign was still standing out front waiting for better days. 07-07
The family-owned restaurant had been a longtime fixture along Cicero Avenue and was well known for its large animated neon sign. Instead of lighting all at once, the letters flashed in sequence, giving the marquee a little extra movement and making it even harder to miss after dark.
Unfortunately, the sign didn't survive. It was removed in 2005, ending the run of one of the more interesting restaurant signs in the Chicago area.
UPDATE: The restaurant is gone, but the building survives and has been repurposed. The original neon sign was removed in 2005. 07-26
Teibel's Restaurant (Removed)
Schererville, IN Postcard and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi
The Teibel's Restaurant sign was once easy to spot at the corner of U.S. 30 and U.S. 41 in Schererville, Indiana. Its giant neon "T" stood high above the restaurant for years before a lightning strike brought it crashing down into the parking lot. The restaurant lost power that evening and had to send customers and employees home early. 07-07
Teibel's has been serving customers since 1929, growing from a small roadside diner into one of northwest Indiana's best-known family restaurants. It's especially famous for its fried chicken, lake perch, and the complimentary relish tray that has greeted diners for generations.
Unfortunately, the giant neon "T" didn't survive. It was replaced with a modern backlit sign, but longtime customers still remember the original marquee that welcomed travelers for so many years.
UPDATE: Teibel's Family Restaurant is still going strong at its longtime location, but the giant neon "T" is gone, replaced by a modern sign. 07-26
Rosie's Little Italy (Removed)
Marion, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Here's another one from Marion, Indiana that has lost its vintage sign. Rosie's Little Italy once featured a great-looking neon marquee that was still in perfect working order. When the highway was widened, the sign could have simply been moved back a few feet. Instead, it was removed and replaced with a plain fluorescent sign. 07-07
The restaurant first opened in 1949 before moving to its longtime home along the bypass ten years later. For decades it served Italian favorites using family recipes that were passed down from one generation to the next.
It's too bad the original sign didn't survive. It was the kind of sign that gave the restaurant its own personality and made it stand out from everything around it.
UPDATE: Rosie's Little Italy closed in 2021 after more than 70 years in business. The neon sign is long gone, but the building still stands. 07-26
Dixie Lan Bar-B-Que (Gone)
Kansas City, MO Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
Check out this old roadside sign for Dixie Lan Bar-B-Que in Kansas City, Missouri. Even after the restaurant closed, the blue porcelain sign with its bright yellow neon arrow remained one of the most recognizable sights in the historic 18th & Vine district. 11-07
The restaurant opened in 1951 and served Kansas City barbecue for nearly 30 years before closing in 1980. While the business disappeared, the sign continued hanging outside for decades, becoming a landmark in its own right.
Fortunately, it wasn't lost. After finally being removed, the sign was saved and is being carefully restored so future generations will be able to enjoy it once again.
UPDATE: The restaurant has been closed for many years, but the famous neon sign was preserved and is currently being restored for future display at Kansas City's Lumi Neon Sign Museum. 07-26
Green Lantern (Gone)
Effingham, IL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Green Lantern Restaurant was located along U.S. 40 on the east side of Effingham, Illinois. When this photo was taken, the restaurant had recently burned to the ground, but a sign on the property promised it would be rebuilt. Fortunately, the classic neon sign survived the fire. 11-07
The restaurant had been serving travelers along U.S. 40 since the 1940s, operating out of a building that originally started life as a home. Its large roadside sign became a familiar sight for anyone heading into or out of Effingham.
Although the restaurant never reopened, the sign had a much happier ending. It was removed a few years later, carefully restored, and given a new home rather than being scrapped.
UPDATE: The restaurant was never rebuilt after the 2007 fire. The building is gone, but the restored Green Lantern sign survives on private property near Windsor, Illinois. 07-26
Peach Tree Restaurant (Rem.)
Kansas City, MO Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
This peach-shaped sign out front of Peach Tree Restaurant is hard to miss. It's not every day you come across a restaurant with a sign shaped like the fruit it serves, and that's exactly what makes this one stand out. 11-07
The restaurant opened in 1996 and quickly became known for its soul food buffet. Fried chicken, catfish, pork chops, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and peach cobbler have kept customers coming back for years. While the business has expanded and evolved over time, it's still a popular stop for anyone looking for a hearty meal.
Whether you stopped for the food or just because the sign caught your eye, it's another great example of the kind of roadside advertising that makes traveling a little more interesting.
UPDATE: PeachTree Cafeteria is still serving customers in Kansas City. Seems the sign is now gone. 07-26
State Grill
Fort Wayne, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Here is the neon sign that stands out front of State Grill in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It may not be the biggest sign around, but the glowing neon gives it plenty of character and makes it a welcome sight along State Boulevard. 12-07
The business has been serving customers since 1923 and is one of Fort Wayne's oldest neighborhood taverns. It also holds a unique place in local history as the first bar in the city to legally serve beer after the repeal of Prohibition.
Today it still has the feel of an old neighborhood hangout, with cold drinks, a jukebox, and the kind of atmosphere that has changed very little over the years. Fortunately, the vintage neon sign is still there to welcome customers.
UPDATE: The State Grill, now commonly known as State Bar, remains open, and the classic neon sign continues to light up the corner. 07-26
Rosie's Little Italy (Removed)
Dixie Lan Bar-B-Que (Gone)
Green Lantern (Gone)
Peach Tree Restaurant (Rem.)
