Bunker Hill Laundry
IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Here's an old storefront that brings back memories of when nearly every small town had its own neighborhood laundry. Bunker Hill Laundry may have been an ordinary business, but the weathered building and faded storefront have a character that's hard to duplicate today. Sometimes it's the everyday places that make the best photographs.

Years ago, businesses like this were a familiar sight in towns across the Midwest. Whether you dropped off a week's worth of clothes or did the washing yourself, the local laundry was just another stop along Main Street. Today, many of those little shops have disappeared, making the survivors—or even the abandoned ones—a reminder of a different time.

UPDATE: Not sure what became of the old laundry or whether the building is still standing today. Hopefully the storefront managed to survive, because places like this are becoming harder to find with each passing year. 07-26

RCA Victor Shop
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Here's a nice old sign from the days when getting your television fixed meant heading down to the neighborhood repair shop. The vintage RCA Victor Shop sign in Indianapolis advertises one of the biggest names in home electronics and has all the mid-century style that made these storefronts hard to miss.

RCA had a long history in Indianapolis thanks to its massive manufacturing operations, and authorized dealers like this helped bring the company's products into neighborhoods across the city. Whether someone needed a new television, a radio, or a repair, signs like this let customers know they had come to the right place. It's easy to imagine this one bringing plenty of people through the front door over the years.

UPDATE: Not sure if the old RCA Victor sign is still around today. It is a fun reminder of a time when television repair shops were just another part of the neighborhood. 07-26

Albert's Jewelers (Gone)
East Chicago, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Here's a shot of Albert's Jewelers, one of those longtime neighborhood businesses that became part of the streetscape in Indiana Harbor. The storefront may have sold engagement rings, watches, and anniversary gifts, but for roadside fans it's the vintage sign that steals the show. It probably caught the eye of more than a few people walking or driving through town. 10-08

Albert's Jewelers first opened in 1905 and remained a fixture at the corner of Main Street and Broadway for generations before eventually relocating to Schererville. As the business grew, so did its reputation, becoming one of Northwest Indiana's best-known independent jewelers. It's always nice when a business can continue even after leaving its original home.

At the time this photo was taken, word was that the old sign might be reused behind the new Schererville store. That would have been a fitting way to give a piece of the original location a second life.

UPDATE: Albert's Diamond Jewelers is still in business with locations in Schererville and Merrillville. Not sure if the old Indiana Harbor sign ever made it to the new store as rumored, and the original downtown location appears to have disappeared as the area was redeveloped. 07-26

Clymer TV (Gone)
Vandalia, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's an old neighborhood shop that takes you back to the days when a broken television was worth fixing instead of replacing. Clymer TV in Vandalia still has its vintage signs, complete with a weathered bulb arrow pointing customers toward the front door. Even with a little rust, that old arrow still knows exactly where it's supposed to send you. 11-08

Clymer TV & Appliances served the Vandalia area for more than 50 years under owner Lewis "Abe" Clymer. Shops like this were once a familiar sight in towns across America, selling televisions and appliances while keeping them running for years after they left the showroom. The old signage is what really catches the eye here, giving the storefront the kind of personality that's becoming harder to find.

UPDATE: Clymer TV has since closed following the passing of longtime owner Abe Clymer in 2021. The sign went down around 2024 and the building itself was demolished in 2025. 07-26

Freeport Rug & Linoleum Co.
Rockford, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan

Here's a great old downtown storefront that has managed to hang onto its classic look. Freeport Rug & Linoleum Co.still features its familiar lettering above the entrance, a nice reminder of the days when local businesses invested in signs that were built to last. 09-10

Located in the heart of downtown Freeport, this longtime flooring business has been serving the community since 1946. While the products inside have changed over the years, the storefront has stayed remarkably true to its roots. The simple raised lettering across the façade gives the building plenty of character and proves that a business doesn't need flashing neon to catch your attention.

UPDATE: Freeport Rug & Linoleum Co. is still open today, and the vintage storefront sign continues to greet customers in downtown Freeport. It's nice to see another longtime independent business keeping a little piece of old Main Street alive. 07-26