Donut Delights Midwest

Mike's Ice Cream Sandwiches (Gone)
Olney, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Check out the old neon sign for Mike’s Ice Cream Sandwiches in Olney, Illinois. The lettering and exposed tubing made this Main Street storefront worth a second look. On a hot summer day, it probably didn’t take much more advertising than that to bring customers inside.

Little has been documented about Mike’s early history, but the building kept serving food after the ice cream shop closed. It became Hovey’s Diner, where shakes, malts, and classic diner meals continued the tradition. The old storefront remained a familiar part of downtown even as the name changed.

UPDATE: Mike’s is long gone, and its neon sign was removed in 2006. The building survives as a neighborhood diner, but the sign’s whereabouts are unknown. Fortunately, this photo captures another colorful piece of Olney’s roadside past. 07-26

Andy's Custard
Springfield, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The giant cone atop the sign at Andy’s Frozen Custard makes this Springfield, Missouri, stop hard to miss. The retro display does a fine job of getting your attention before you reach the window. If you haven’t tried frozen custard, its rich, creamy texture might give you a reason to pull in. 05-09

Andy’s began in 1986 and expanded to Springfield the following year. The family-owned business eventually grew into a large chain, with Springfield becoming its headquarters. Along the way, the oversized cones and old-fashioned sign styling became familiar features at its stores.

UPDATE: Andy’s continues operating and expanding while remaining headquartered in Springfield. The cone-topped signs still welcome customers, keeping a little roadside fun in the design. Even with a much larger business behind it, a giant frozen treat remains a pretty effective advertisement. 07-26

Frost Top (Demolished)
Salem, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Nothing advertised a cold drink quite like the giant rooftop mug at Frost Top in Salem, Ohio. With neon outlining the foam after dark, this was one sign that could make you thirsty just looking at it. A burger and root beer suddenly sounded like a pretty good idea. 11-00

The Salem drive-in belonged to the Frost Top chain, which began in 1926. Frosted mugs of draft root beer accompanied burgers, coney dogs, fries, and other drive-in favorites. The oversized mug became the chain’s signature and gave this location a landmark motorists couldn’t easily miss.

UPDATE: The Salem Frost Top has been demolished, and the property has been cleared. The rooftop mug is gone from the site, although whether it was saved or scrapped remains unknown. Photos like this preserve a great example of advertising on a giant scale. 07-26

Dairy Queen (Gone)
Martins Ferry, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Here’s a classic little Dairy Queen in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Before the larger Grill & Chill restaurants came along, walk-up stands like this were familiar summertime stops. You didn’t need a big dining room when an ice cream cone and a warm evening were the main attractions. 11-00

The location served the community for nearly 60 years. Kathy Wallace started working here in 1967 and became the owner in 1973, spending much of her career at the stand. After Dairy Queen closed, an independent ice cream shop briefly carried on before the building changed uses again.

UPDATE: The Dairy Queen signs are gone, but the building survives as Tokyo Hibachi. The menu has certainly changed, though the compact roadside stand remains recognizable. It’s nice to see the little building still serving customers instead of disappearing altogether. 07-26