Park TV (Gone)
Evergreen Park, IL
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 1994

Back when televisions were built to last, Park TV was the place to go if yours needed service or if you were shopping for a new one. As a longtime Magnavox dealer, the store served Evergreen Park for more than 40 years. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 06-07

The sign out front was just as memorable as the business itself. Built by Chicago's Flashtric Sign Company, it had the kind of classic neon styling that made television and appliance stores stand out during the 1950s and 1960s. It was another reminder of a time when local electronics dealers were part of nearly every neighborhood shopping district.

Like many independent TV stores, Park TV eventually gave way to changing technology and larger retailers. The business closed in the mid-1990s, and the sign disappeared soon afterward.

It's a shame the Flashtric sign wasn't preserved. Signs like this advertised more than televisions—they represented an era when families gathered around one TV set and buying one was a major event.

UPDATE: Park TV closed in the mid-1990s, and the Flashtric sign has long since been removed. 07-26

Prestige Liquors
Countryside, IL
Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2004

Another beauty from the Flashtric Sign Co., the marquee for Prestige Liquors lights up the night. Its mounted right on the corner of 55th Street. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 06-07

Prestige Liquors has one of those signs that's hard to miss. Standing at the corner of 55th Street and Willow Springs Road, this classic Flashtric Sign Company marquee has been catching the eyes of passing drivers for decades.

The towering sign features a distinctive crown-like starburst above the glowing "LIQUORS" lettering, making it a true neighborhood landmark. It's a great example of the bold neon designs that once lined Chicago's commercial streets.

Thankfully, both the business and the sign are still around today. After restoration work around 2015, the vintage marquee continues to light up the corner and remains one of the area's best surviving Flashtric signs.

UPDATE: Prestige Liquors is still open, and its restored Flashtric sign continues to shine in Countryside. 07-26

Fountain of Flowers (Closed)
Madison, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The glowing red neon at Fountain of Flowers has been welcoming customers on Madison's hilltop for decades. It's the kind of classic florist sign that adds a little extra color to an evening drive. 07-07

This longtime family-owned flower shop has served the Madison community for years and was owned by Jerri Lynn Burns for 27 years until her passing in 2025. The business remains open, and the bright red script sign continues to be one of its most recognizable features.

Flower shops and neon seem to go hand in hand, and this is a great example of a sign that's simple, elegant, and memorable.

UPDATE: Fountain of Flowers is now permanently closed. 07-26

Wilson's Jeweler (Gone)
Lansing, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon diamond at Wilson's Jeweler made this one of the standout signs along Ridge Road in Lansing. With its glowing diamond outline and bright lettering, it was exactly the kind of sign you'd hope to find at a neighborhood jewelry store. 07-07

Wilson's was founded in 1947 by watchmaker Paul Wilson and his wife, Edna, becoming Lansing's first independent jewelry store. Before opening the business, Paul had already built a reputation repairing watches, a skill he continued throughout his career.

Like many longtime family businesses, Wilson's eventually closed, and the storefront found a new use. Unfortunately, the beautiful neon diamond sign disappeared along with it.

UPDATE: Wilson's Jeweler is gone, and the iconic neon diamond marquee has been removed. 07-26

Jennings Music (Gone)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

If you were looking for Jennings Music in Fort Wayne, all you had to do was follow the glowing neon musical note. It was one of those fun, creative signs that perfectly matched the business it advertised. 07-07

For many years, Jennings Music was a favorite stop for musicians and students, offering instruments, sheet music, and everything else needed to make music. Along with other longtime Fort Wayne music stores, it became part of the city's musical history.

Sadly, the store eventually closed, and the neon musical note disappeared with it. It's another great example of a unique sign that gave a business a little extra personality.

UPDATE: Jennings Music has closed, and the neon musical note sign has been removed. 07-26

Roach's Auto Sales (Gone)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the neon on the marquee at Roach's Auto Sales in Fort Wayne. If the neon doesn't get you, the name will. 07-07

Sometimes a business name is just as memorable as the sign itself. Roach's Auto Sales had both. The bright neon marquee made the dealership easy to spot, but the name probably stuck with travelers even longer.

Located along one of Fort Wayne's busy auto corridors, Roach's was part of an era when used car lots competed for attention with colorful neon, oversized signs, and plenty of personality. It was the kind of roadside business that gave every stretch of highway its own character.

The dealership is long gone, and so is the neon sign that helped make it memorable. Like many classic car lot signs, it disappeared as the property was redeveloped over the years.

UPDATE: Roach's Auto Sales has closed, and the neon marquee has been removed. 07-26