Victory Bar (Gone)
South Bend, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon sign at Victory Bar gave Michigan Street in South Bend, Indiana, a familiar neighborhood landmark. Hanging just south of downtown, its simple lettering had plenty of character without needing an elaborate display. It was the kind of sign worth watching for while exploring older commercial streets. 05-09

The tavern fit comfortably among the surrounding buildings, with its projecting marquee helping customers find the door. Little has been documented about its early history, but this photograph captures the roadside detail that made the place stand out.

UPDATE: Victory Bar has permanently closed, and its vintage sign has been removed. The neon no longer welcomes customers along Michigan Street, leaving photographs to preserve another modest but memorable piece of South Bend’s tavern history. 07-26

Club Tap
Milwaukee, WI
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp

It's hard to miss the vintage Schlitz sign hanging outside Club Tap. Located along North Avenue in the Milwaukee area, this neighborhood tavern has all the character you'd hope to find in an old Wisconsin bar, right down to the classic neon welcoming customers inside. 09-10

Club Tap has been serving the neighborhood since 1939 and is recognized as the oldest active bar in Wauwatosa. While ownership has changed over the years, the tavern has managed to keep much of its historic charm. Step inside and you'll find an old-school neighborhood bar where the atmosphere is every bit as inviting as the sign out front.

The vintage Schlitz "On Tap" sign is the real star here and is a great reminder of Milwaukee's brewing heritage. It's always nice to see an old tavern like this still going strong while so many others have disappeared over the years.

UPDATE: Club Tap remains open and continues to serve customers from its longtime home on North Avenue. The classic Schlitz neon sign still hangs proudly out front. 07-26

Stumblin' Inn (Gone)
Flint, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The old Stumblin' Inn looked right at home among the surrounding buildings in Flint, Michigan. It wasn't a flashy place, but the vintage sign and well-worn exterior gave it the kind of character that only comes with age. 06-09

For years, the Stumblin' Inn served as a neighborhood tavern along Fenton Road, welcoming locals looking for a cold drink and good company. Like so many corner bars, it became part of the neighborhood before eventually closing its doors. The building later reopened for a time under a different name, but that chapter has also come to an end.

The old Stumblin' Inn sign is gone today, but the building still stands as a reminder of another neighborhood tavern that's become part of the past. Sometimes it's the simple places like this that leave the biggest impression.

UPDATE: The Stumblin' Inn is long gone, and the original sign has been removed. Although the building still stands, it is no longer operating as a neighborhood tavern. 07-26

88 Tavern (Demolished)
Beloit, WI
Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan

The 88 Tavern in Beloit, Wisconsin, featured one of those roadside signs that was hard to miss. With its glowing blue neon "88," it was the kind of sign that caught your attention whether you were looking for a place to stop or just passing through town. 09-10

Located along Highway 81, the tavern served the Beloit community for nearly 30 years as a classic Wisconsin neighborhood bar. It was the kind of place where locals gathered to watch the game, enjoy a cold drink, and catch up with friends. The sign itself was built by Beloit's own General Neon Products Company, making it a hometown landmark in more ways than one.

When the tavern closed in 2022, there was good news for sign lovers. The iconic neon marquee was auctioned off and purchased by a local resident who planned to keep it in the Beloit area. Although the tavern building has since been demolished, the sign lives on in a private collection.

UPDATE: The 88 Tavern has been demolished, but its vintage neon sign was preserved after being sold at auction to a local collector.

Old Style Inn (Closed)
Logansport, IN
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The neon Old Style Beer sign at Old Style Inn made this Logansport, Indiana, tavern worth a second look. The building itself was fairly modest, but the glowing display above the entrance supplied plenty of roadside appeal. Sometimes the beer sign is all the introduction a place needs. 10-10

The downtown gathering place expanded into a bar and restaurant over the years. Its original front sign was removed, while another vintage neon display at the rear survived. A replica later restored the familiar appearance above the entrance. Renovations brought a reopening under new ownership in 2021, but the revival didn’t last.

UPDATE: Old Style Inn has closed again. The rear vintage sign and replica front display preserved parts of its older appearance, although the original entrance sign is gone.