Porter's Tap
Hammond, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

The projecting sign at Porter’s Tap hangs over the sidewalk along Kennedy Avenue in Hammond, Indiana. It’s a straightforward display, but it catches your eye just the same. Signs like this give a neighborhood tavern a familiar face before you ever step through the door. 10-08

The space housed a small food shop during the 1950s before becoming a bar. Since then, Porter’s has remained a gathering place in Hessville, keeping the building active as the neighborhood changed around it.

UPDATE: Porter’s Tap remains open, and its vintage projecting sign still stands along Kennedy Avenue. The simple design continues doing its job, marking another neighborhood watering hole that has held onto a little of its older roadside character. 07-26

Walt"s Lounge (Gone)
Gary, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

The bold shapes and colors on the sign at Walt’s Lounge recall the days when neighborhood supper clubs put some imagination into their advertising. This Gary, Indiana, display didn’t need a giant mascot to catch your attention. Its geometric styling made a statement all its own. 10-08

Walt’s served food and drinks for years on Gary’s west side, continuing well after many similar lounges had disappeared. The mid-century setting and distinctive sign gave regular customers a familiar place to return.

UPDATE: Walt’s Lounge is no longer operating, and the building sits vacant. The sign’s current condition has not been established. This photograph captures the colorful display that once welcomed customers, preserving a glimpse of another neighborhood lounge from an earlier chapter in Gary’s history. 07-26

George Michel's Bar (Closed)
East Chicago, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

The big arrow at George Michel’s Bar still made its point after much of the lighting had disappeared. Bright paint and a classic shape helped this East Chicago sign stand out, even without its original neon and bulbs. It wasn’t difficult to imagine how it once looked after dark. 10-08

The tavern served the historic Marktown district for decades. George Michels operated it for more than 60 years, making the business a familiar stop for generations of neighborhood customers. Outside, the arrow gave the entrance a little extra roadside personality.

UPDATE: George Michel’s Bar has closed, and the arrow sign’s current status remains unconfirmed. Fortunately, this photograph records its surviving colors and shape—a reminder that even a partly stripped sign can still be worth stopping to admire. 07-26

Durnell's Food & Spirits (Closed)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The old sign at Durnell’s Food & Spirits suited this longtime Fort Wayne tavern. It wasn’t elaborate, but it had the familiar appearance of a place where regulars knew the menu and probably had a favorite seat. Sometimes that’s all the roadside introduction you need. 12-08

Opened by the Durnell family in 1950, the business became known for fish dinners, fish sandwiches, homemade potato soup, and generous portions. It remained cash only and served customers 21 and older throughout its long family-run history.

UPDATE: Durnell’s permanently closed in 2020 when the family retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a 70-year run. The roadside sign’s fate remains unknown. This photograph preserves its appearance from the days when customers could still pull in for a familiar meal. 07-26

Elco Tap (Closed)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The sign at Elco Tap was still standing when this Fort Wayne tavern had already closed and gone up for sale. Across the street, a shuttered factory offered another sign of changing times. There were far fewer workers nearby looking for an after-shift drink. 12-08

Opened in 1952, Elco spent decades serving its industrial neighborhood. By 2010, plans were underway to reopen the remodeled building as a soul food restaurant, with a replacement sign expected. The old display had briefly outlasted the tavern it advertised.

UPDATE: Looks like the Elco Tap sign may be doomed. It is in front of a bar that looked completely updated and modernized... but closed. According to a few people on site, the place is about to open as a soul food restaurant and a guy was supposed to come by and make them a new sign. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for update. 09-10

UPDATE: The Elco Tap building survives and has been repurposed as another restaurant. Its original roadside sign has been removed. Photographs preserve the tavern’s name and a little of the neighborhood scene from the years when the surrounding factories kept the stools occupied. 07-26

Broadway Joe's Tavern (Closed)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's another great neighborhood tavern sign from Fort Wayne. Broadway Joe's Tavern featured a classic neon sign with a large arrow pointing customers right to the front door. Better yet, the neon was still glowing nicely when this photo was taken. 12-08

Broadway Joe's had been a longtime neighborhood gathering place, serving customers for decades under owner Joe Lebrato. The building itself dates back to the early 1900s, and the vintage sign fit the old storefront perfectly.

The arrow is what really makes this one stand out. There was a time when signs like this lined busy commercial streets, using bright neon to guide motorists inside. Fortunately, this one was still doing exactly that when Alan stopped by with his camera.

UPDATE: Broadway Joe's Tavern has since closed. Not sure if the sign is still around today. 07-26

Alpha Bar
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The vintage sign at Alpha Bar was still hanging along Portage Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, when this photograph was taken. The neon had gone dark, but the display remained worth a look. Near the Soo Locks, it fit comfortably among the older downtown storefronts. 12-08

Alpha is connected to Zorba’s Restaurant next door, allowing bar customers to order from its menu. Gyros, pizza, and Greek specialties give visitors something to go with a drink after exploring the waterfront.

UPDATE: Alpha Bar remains open and connected to Zorba’s. The old sign survives, although whether its lighting has returned remains unconfirmed. Even dark, it keeps a little vintage character above Portage Avenue and gives passing sign enthusiasts another reason to look up. 07-26