Special Events Liquor Store (Rem.)
Wyandotte, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Who says the Midwest doesn't have its own share of Googie architecture? One look at this eye-catching Special Events Liquor Store sign in Wyandotte is enough to prove otherwise. With its sweeping angles and space-age starburst design, it's exactly the kind of roadside sign that makes you slow down for a second look. 09-10.
The sign originally stood outside what was then known as Special Events Liquor, a busy Downriver beverage store that later became Discount Drinks. Even though the business changed over the years, this unforgettable roadside marker remained one of the area's best examples of mid-century commercial design.
Its oversized starburst orb looked like something straight out of the Space Age. Signs like this weren't just meant to identify a business—they were meant to be seen from blocks away. In an era when every business was competing for the attention of passing motorists, this one certainly did its job.
The longer you look at it, the more little details you notice. The dramatic angles, the floating sphere, and the bold styling all capture the optimism of the 1950s and '60s, when roadside architecture was as much about entertainment as advertising.
Special Events Liquor Store
Wyandotte, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The store later became known for another memorable landmark—a giant beer can sign that took the place of the old Googie design. It was certainly hard to miss, but for me, nothing topped the style and personality of the original sign.
UPDATE: The business is still operating as Discount Drinks, but this classic Googie sign is no longer there. Fortunately, photos like this preserve one of Downriver Michigan's most distinctive pieces of roadside architecture. 07-26
Royal Liquor
Rockford, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Some signs are impossible to drive past without noticing, and this colorful Royal Liquor marquee is one of them. Topped with a giant crown, it's exactly the kind of roadside sign that turns an ordinary liquor store into a local landmark.
The oversized crown gives the sign its personality. It's a simple idea, but one that's instantly recognizable and just plain fun. You can't help but smile when you see it towering above the parking lot.
Over the years, the business has updated the lettering and lighting, but thankfully the crown itself remains. That's good news, because it has always been the star of the show. It's a nice reminder of a time when businesses weren't afraid to build signs with a little imagination.
UPDATE: Royal Liquor Mart is still serving customers, and the famous crown continues to sit atop the roadside sign. While the sign has been modernized over the years, it still has enough mid-century character to make it worth a second look. 07-26
Kahn's Liquor (Gone)
Indianapolis, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
Some signs don't need flashing neon or giant arrows to get your attention. The classic Kahn's Liquor sign does it with clean lines, bold lettering, and just enough mid-century style to stand out along Keystone Avenue.
Kahn's has been an Indianapolis favorite since 1979, earning a reputation as one of the city's premier destinations for wine, beer, and spirits. The business later moved into a much larger location, but it never lost the personality that helped make it a local landmark.
The sign fits the building perfectly. It's the kind of roadside marker that isn't overdone, yet it's instantly recognizable to anyone who's driven by. These are the signs that become part of the landscape, quietly greeting generations of customers.
It's also a reminder that not every memorable roadside sign belongs to a long-closed business. Sometimes an active store keeps its classic look, allowing a little piece of mid-century roadside Americana to continue doing exactly what it was designed to do.
UPDATE: The former location closed its doors over a decade ago. This sign appears to be gone. 07-26
Rihm's Drive-in
Liquors
Cambridge City, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
Bright colors, a bubbly design, and a drive-in liquor store—what more could you ask for? This eye-catching Rihm's Drive-in
Liquors sign was built to grab the attention of travelers cruising along old U.S. Route 40 through Cambridge City. 03-09
The colorful sign had plenty of personality, but one of its most unique features was the painted "Old Try Me" soda bottle attached to the side. It was a fun little detail that made an already memorable sign even more distinctive.
The business has changed names over the years, but the sign itself managed to survive. While the original colorful panels have been replaced with modern graphics, the classic structure still stands as a reminder of what once greeted motorists along the National Road.
UPDATE: The original Rihm's Drive-In Liquors sign frame is still standing, although the vintage panels and graphics are gone. Even so, it's nice to see this piece of roadside history still marking the location after all these years. 07-26
Rihm's Liquor
Cambridge City, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
This liquor store sign indeed sports some unique neon bubbles on its sign and has drive-in service.... does that mean carhops?
Rudy's Liquors
La Salle, IL Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Some neon signs are impossible to ignore, and the one at Rudy's Liquors is certainly one of them. Bright, colorful, and full of personality, it has been welcoming travelers into La Salle for generations. 03-06
The classic sign glows with red, green, and yellow neon and even invites passersby to stop in "For a Nip and Tote." It's the kind of slogan—and the kind of sign—that you just don't see much anymore.
Rudy's has been serving the community since 1948, and the corner itself has an even longer history. Long before the liquor store arrived, the site was home to the first Catholic church built in north-central Illinois. Today, the vintage sign carries on that long tradition of making this corner one of La Salle's most recognizable landmarks.
UPDATE: Rudy's Liquors is still going strong, and its beautiful neon sign continues to light up the corner. It's a wonderful survivor from the golden age of roadside advertising and well worth a stop if you're passing through town. 07-26
Prestige Liquors
Countryside, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2004
Prestige Liquors is home to one of Countryside's best neon signs. Standing on the corner of 55th Street, the vintage marquee features a distinctive crown-shaped topper and bright "LIQUORS" lettering that still grabs your attention after all these years. 06-07
The neighborhood liquor store has been around since about 1967 and is still open today. The sign has also survived, even getting some electrical repairs a few years back to help keep the neon shining.
There's some debate about the sign's origins, with some believing it may be older than the business itself. Whatever its history, it's become a longtime Countryside landmark and a great example of classic roadside neon.
UPDATE: Prestige Countryside Liquors is still serving customers, and the vintage neon sign remains standing on the corner. It's always nice to see another classic sign still lighting up the night. 07-26
Special Events Liquor Store (Rem.)
Special Events Liquor Store
Royal Liquor
Kahn's Liquor (Gone)
Rihm's Drive-in
Liquors
UPDATE
Rudy's Liquors
