Naples Bakery (Gone)
Evergreen Park, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2004
Located 6 blocks west of Wolf's Bakery is Naples Bakery, which was formerly located at 69th and Paulina in Chicago. Naples moved to Evergreen Park in the 1950's. There are two neon script signs that grace the facade of the building. During the holiday season, a neon sign hangs in the front window that reads Merry Christmas - Happy New Year. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 04-07
Founded in 1918, Naples Bakery spent nearly a century serving generations of customers with Italian breads, pastries, cakes, and other favorites. After moving from Chicago to Evergreen Park in the 1960s, it became one of those neighborhood bakeries that people returned to year after year.
UPDATE: Naples Bakery closed in 2016, and the original neon signs were removed when the building became part of neighboring Barraco's Pizza. Fortunately, a reproduction of the famous script sign now hangs on the expanded building, helping keep the memory of this longtime bakery alive. 07-26
Hostess Cake (Gone)
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Rising above the old bakery on Oakman Boulevard, the giant Hostess Cake rooftop sign was impossible to miss. For decades it watched over Detroit, reminding motorists that Twinkies, HoHos, CupCakes, and other sweet treats were being made just below. On the right day, the smell of fresh baking drifting through the neighborhood was almost as memorable as the sign itself. 04-07
Installed in the 1950s, the towering neon became a familiar part of the Detroit skyline and remained lit until 2005. It was the kind of landmark you expected to see every time you drove by, making its disappearance all the more noticeable.
UPDATE: The rooftop sign was removed in 2008, and the old Hostess bakery has long since closed. Sadly, another giant piece of Detroit neon has been lost, but it's hard to forget a sign that once towered over the city. 07-26
Schaffer Moving and Warehouse (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Even without its neon, the old Schaffer Moving and Warehouse sign still managed to catch your eye. Standing in a rundown part of St. Louis, the weathered sign hinted at a time when it probably glowed brightly above the street, helping customers find the moving and storage company after dark. 06-07
By the time this photo was taken, the glass tubing was gone, leaving behind only the metal framework that once supported the neon. It's a reminder that even after the lights go out, an old sign can still tell part of its story and make you wonder what the neighborhood looked like in its heyday.
UPDATE: The moving company is long gone, and I'm not sure if the old sign is still standing. Hopefully it survived, because even stripped of its neon, it was a great reminder of St. Louis' industrial past. 07-26
Hart Printing Co. (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photos courtesy Dennis Dixson
Long before it became home to the Moto Museum, this building in St. Louis was marked by the familiar Hart Printing Co. sign. Mounted high on the side of the 1927 structure, it was the kind of industrial sign that blended perfectly into the neighborhood and hinted at the busy commercial activity that once filled these streets. This photo was taken in 2005, just before everything changed. 06-07
Unlike many old industrial buildings, this one was fortunate enough to escape demolition. Instead, it was carefully preserved and given a new purpose, becoming the Moto Museum and showcasing a remarkable collection of vintage motorcycles. While the business inside changed completely, the building itself continues to tell part of St. Louis' industrial story.
Hart Printing Co.
St Louis, MO Photos courtesy Dennis Dixson
The old Hart Printing sign, however, wasn't as lucky. It disappeared during the building's transformation, leaving this photo as one of the few reminders of what once stood here. Sometimes it's the signs as much as the buildings that give a place its identity.
UPDATE: The Hart Printing sign is gone, but the beautifully restored building lives on as the Moto Museum. It's always encouraging to see a historic building saved, even when its original sign becomes part of history. 07-26
DeYoung & Sons Furniture (Gone)
South Holland, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2005
In late 2005 DeYoung & Sons closed up shop and moved the DeYoung & Sons Furniture business over the border into Indiana. Sadly the sign didn't make the move. Except for a little paint fade the sign was in great shape. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 06-07
Nick and Cora DeYoung founded the company in 1928 as a furniture store and funeral home, a combination once common in the trade. The business became entirely focused on home furnishings in 1959. In 2005, the family consolidated its South Holland and Lansing operations into a larger showroom in St. John, Indiana.
UPDATE: The South Holland sign disappeared following the move. DeYoung Interiors announced its retirement liquidation in September 2025, bringing a 97-year family-business history toward its close. The old marquee's whereabouts remain unknown. 07-26
Harvey Trailer (Gone)
Harvey, IL Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2000
Another wonderful sign by the Flashtric Sign Company here in Chicago is Harvey Trailer. Despite a little surface rust & lack of neon tubing this bright colored sign still stands out on Dixie Highway. The lower sign reads, " Parking With Each Sale". Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 06-07
The sign reflected an era when businesses weren't afraid to invest in eye-catching roadside advertising. While Harvey Trailer specialized in selling trailers and mobile homes, the sign often became just as memorable as the business itself. Even in its faded condition, it still stood proudly over Dixie Highway, hinting at how impressive it must have looked when the neon was glowing.
UPDATE: Harvey Trailer Sales is still in business today, but the classic Flashtric sign has disappeared. It's unfortunate the sign didn't survive, because it was another great example of the creative roadside advertising that once lined Chicago's south suburbs. 07-26
Bernie's Fine Meats
Port Washington, WI Photo courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2005
Check out this classic 50's bullnose sign for Bernie's Meats in the heart of the downtown district of Port Washington, WI. A few letters were broken at time time this shot was taken. This is the first time I've seen a bullnose sign in V- format. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 06-07
Bernie's opened in 1941 and became known for sausages, bacon, and traditional meat-counter service. The shop has retained its name through successive owners—not all named Bernie. Its distinctive sign gave them a good reason to keep the familiar identity, while the smoked specialties kept customers coming through the door.
UPDATE: Bernie's Fine Meats continues operating at 119 North Franklin Street, and the vintage sign survives. The precise repair history hasn't been confirmed, but both the shop and its distinctive advertisement remain part of downtown Port Washington's character. 07-26
Hostess Cake (Gone)
Schaffer Moving and Warehouse (Gone)
Hart Printing Co. (Gone)
Hart Printing Co.
DeYoung & Sons Furniture (Gone)
Harvey Trailer (Gone)
Bernie's Fine Meats
