Few roadside treats are as recognizable as a Krispy Kreme sign. Whether it's the familiar green-and-red logo or the glowing "Hot Now" sign in the window, generations of travelers have found it hard to resist pulling over for a fresh glazed doughnut. 05-09
Check out some of the roadside donut shops here at Roadside Peek'sDonut Delights Midwest.
Mike's Ice Cream Sandwiches (Gone)
Olney, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The old sign for Mike's Ice Cream Sandwiches was once a familiar sight along Main Street in Olney, Illinois. With its classic lettering and neon tubing, it had all the ingredients of a great roadside sign and was the kind of place that probably drew plenty of customers looking for a cool treat on a hot summer day.
While little is known about the early history of Mike's Ice Cream, the building didn't disappear when the ice cream shop closed. It went on to become Hovey's Diner, where the tradition of serving classic diner fare, shakes, malts, and other favorites continued for decades. The vintage building remains a recognizable part of downtown Olney even though the original business is long gone.
The sign photographed here no longer survives. It was removed from the building in 2006, bringing an end to one of Olney's classic roadside landmarks. Fortunately, photos like this preserve a reminder of what was once a great piece of roadside Americana.
UPDATE: Mike's Ice Cream Sandwiches is long gone, and the historic neon sign was removed from the building in 2006. The former ice cream shop building remains standing and has continued life as a neighborhood diner. 07-26
Leon's Frozen Custard
Milwaukee, WI Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
Few roadside custard stands are as iconic as Leon's Frozen Custard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its towering neon sign and glowing canopy have been lighting up the south side of the city for decades, making it one of the country's finest surviving examples of classic drive-in architecture. On a warm summer evening, it's easy to imagine stepping back into the 1950s. 06-14
Leon's opened in 1942 and quickly became a Milwaukee institution. Founder Leon Schneider learned the frozen custard business before opening his own stand, and the recipes and traditions established more than 80 years ago are still followed today. The menu remains refreshingly simple, featuring vanilla, chocolate, and the ever-popular butter pecan custard, along with burgers, hot dogs, and the local favorite Spanish Burger.
The famous porcelain and neon sign was added in 1952, followed a few years later by the sweeping canopy that gives the stand its unmistakable appearance. Together, they helped create one of America's great roadside landmarks and even served as inspiration for Arnold's Drive-In on the television series Happy Days. Whether stopping for custard or simply admiring the neon, Leon's is a place every roadside fan should experience.
UPDATE: Leon's Frozen Custard remains family owned and continues serving customers year-round. Its spectacular 1952 neon sign and classic drive-in architecture remain beautifully preserved and fully illuminated each night. 07-26
Leon's Frozen Custard Building
Milwaukee, WI Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
Frost Top (Demolished)
Salem, OH Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Nothing grabbed the attention of passing motorists quite like the giant root beer mug sitting on the roof of Frost Top in Salem, Ohio. Complete with glowing neon "foam" after dark, it was the kind of roadside attraction that practically guaranteed hungry travelers would pull over for a cold mug of root beer and a burger. 11-00
This Salem location was part of the national Frost Top chain, which began in 1926 and grew into one of America's best-known drive-in franchises. Like many Frost Tops, it served frosted mugs of draft root beer along with burgers, coney dogs, fries, and other drive-in favorites. The oversized rooftop mug became its signature feature and made the restaurant one of the more memorable roadside stops in the area.
Unfortunately, the drive-in is now gone. The building was demolished, the famous rooftop mug was removed, and the property has since been cleared. While its ultimate fate remains unknown, photos like this preserve the memory of one of Salem's classic roadside landmarks.
UPDATE: The Salem Frost Top has been demolished, and the iconic rooftop root beer mug no longer survives at the site. It could not be confirmed whether the giant mug was saved or scrapped following the restaurant's demolition. 07-26
Dairy Queen (Gone)
Martins Ferry, OH Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Classic stand-alone Dairy Queen buildings like this one are becoming harder to find, making Dairy Queen in Martins Ferry, Ohio, a great reminder of the chain's early years. Long before the larger Grill & Chill restaurants appeared, these small walk-up stands were a summertime tradition in towns across America. 11-00
The Martins Ferry location served the community for nearly 60 years and became a favorite stop for ice cream, sundaes, and other frozen treats. Kathy Wallace spent most of her career at the stand, beginning as an employee in 1967 before becoming owner in 1973. After the Dairy Queen closed, the building briefly found new life as an independent ice cream shop before being adapted once again for a different business.
Although the familiar Dairy Queen signs are gone, the little stand itself survives. Today the building operates as Tokyo Hibachi, proving that even classic roadside buildings can find a second life long after the original business has disappeared.
UPDATE: The Martins Ferry Dairy Queen is long gone, but the classic stand-alone building remains. It now operates as Tokyo Hibachi after several years of adaptive reuse. 07-26
Twistee Treat Livingston, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Cone-shaped Twistee Treat stands are becoming a rare sight, making this one in Livingston, Illinois, a fun stop for anyone who enjoys classic roadside architecture. Standing 28 feet tall, the giant fiberglass ice cream cone is impossible to miss and remains one of the few surviving examples of this unique design. 08-10
Originally built as a Twistee Treat stand, the cone now operates as The Twistee Treat Diner alongside the famous Pink Elephant attraction on historic Route 66. While ice cream is still a big draw, the menu has expanded to include burgers, sandwiches, breakfast, and other diner favorites. The cone-shaped building has been incorporated into the restaurant, giving visitors a chance to enjoy both the food and the architecture.
Twistee Treat buildings like this once dotted highways across the country, but only a handful remain today. Fortunately, this one is in great condition and continues to delight travelers looking for a memorable stop along Route 66.
UPDATE: The Twistee Treat Diner remains open in Livingston and continues serving food and ice cream from one of the few surviving fiberglass cone-shaped Twistee Treat buildings in the country. 07-26
Andy's Custard
Springfield, MO Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
The giant ice cream cone on top of the sign makes Andy's Frozen Custard easy to spot when driving through Springfield, Missouri. Frozen custard has always been a Midwest favorite, and Andy's has become one of the best-known names around. If you've never tried frozen custard before, it's a little richer and creamier than traditional ice cream and well worth a stop. 05-09
Andy's was founded in 1986 and expanded to Springfield the following year, where the business quickly took off. What started as a single family-owned custard stand has grown into one of the country's largest frozen custard chains, but Springfield is still home to the company's headquarters.
The retro signs topped with oversized ice cream cones have become part of the Andy's experience and are a familiar sight throughout the Midwest. Even with locations now spread across much of the country, the Springfield stores still have that classic roadside feel that made the business so popular in the first place.
UPDATE: Andy's Frozen Custard continues to grow across the country while remaining headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The classic cone-topped signs still welcome customers looking for a frozen custard treat. 07-26
Mike's Ice Cream Sandwiches (Gone)
Leon's Frozen Custard
Frost Top (Demolished)
Dairy Queen (Gone)
Twistee Treat
Andy's Custard
