Niswanders Jeweler (Gone)
Findlay, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Downtown Findlay has the kind of Main Street that's fun to wander, especially when you come across old signs like Niswander's Jewelers. Hanging out over the sidewalk, it had that classic downtown look that seemed to belong there. It wasn't flashy or oversized, just a well-made sign that did exactly what it was supposed to do. 02-08

Niswander's Jewelers served the community for more than 75 years, becoming one of those longtime family businesses that people simply expected to be there. The historic storefront is still standing today and has been home to several different businesses since the jewelry store closed, but it's easy to imagine the old sign greeting shoppers as they walked down Main Street.

UPDATE: The building remains, but the Niswander's Jewelers sign is gone. It's always a little disappointing when a classic projecting sign disappears, especially one that fit its downtown setting so well. 07-26

Sky Ride Inn (Gone)
Quincy, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The Sky Ride Inn was one of those places where the sign told you exactly what to expect. Shaped like a giant catfish and advertising fish served daily, it stood along the Mississippi River in Quincy and became a familiar sight for both locals and travelers. You couldn't ask for a better sign to represent an old riverfront tavern. 09-08

The Sky Ride opened in 1966 and earned a loyal following as a casual neighborhood hangout overlooking the river. Its unusual name came from the Quincy Sky Cruise, a cable car attraction that once carried visitors across the Mississippi to Quinsippi Island. Between the location, the fish dinners, and that unforgettable sign, it became one of those places people remembered long after they left.

UPDATE: The original Sky Ride Inn building is gone, and a newer restaurant now occupies the site. Fortunately, the old catfish sign was saved and is still on display behind the building. It's always nice when at least a little piece of roadside history survives. 07-26

Eikenberry's Grocery (Rem.)
Greenville, OH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Eikenberry's Grocery still has the kind of sign that makes you smile when you spot it. The classic marquee, complete with its arrow pointing the way in, has probably been guiding customers into the parking lot for decades. It's a simple design, but one that has stood the test of time. 09-08

Eikenberry's has been part of Greenville since 1929 and is still serving the community today. While so many old grocery stores have disappeared over the years, this one is still around, and thankfully so is its vintage roadside sign. It may not be the biggest or flashiest marquee out there, but it's the kind of neighborhood landmark that just feels familiar.

UPDATE: Eikenberry's is still open. The old arrow marquee was removed around 2023 and the neon sign is gone. A boring sign is now in its place. 07-26

Roy Bennett Furniture (Closed)
Quincy, IN
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Roy Bennett Furniture had one of those classic downtown signs that was impossible to miss as well as it ghost sign. Mounted high on the side of the old brick building, the vertical sign had been part of the Quincy streetscape for generations. It was the kind of sign that just seemed to belong there. 09-08

The family-owned furniture store first opened in 1914 and remained a downtown fixture for more than a century. Five generations of the Bennett family operated the business before it finally closed in 2024. Through all those years, the old building and its familiar sign became landmarks for anyone passing through downtown Quincy.

UPDATE: Roy Bennett Furniture has closed after 110 years in business, but the historic building is still standing. As of the latest reports, the vintage vertical sign also remains in place, continuing to watch over downtown even though the showroom is now empty. 07-26

F.O.E.
Greenville, OH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The old F.O.E. sign hanging over East 3rd Street is the kind of downtown sign that doesn't get much attention anymore. Simple, straightforward, and built to last, it's been watching over Greenville for years and still adds a little character to the block. 09-08

The Fraternal Order of Eagles has been part of the community for decades, serving as a gathering place for members and supporting local charities and events. While many old lodge signs have disappeared over the years, this one is still hanging where it's always been, greeting anyone walking down the sidewalk below.

UPDATE: The Greenville Eagles lodge is still open, and the old projecting sign remains in place. Not sure if the neon still lights up, but it's nice to see another piece of classic Main Street still hanging around. 07-26

Hurwich & Haller (Demolished)
Gary, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

The Hurwich & Haller sign made quite an impression above Broadway in Gary, Indiana. Its bold vertical lettering stretched high along the building, marking the furniture store from well down the street. Even after the showroom closed, the sign kept advertising to passing motorists. 10-08

The business occupied 668 Broadway, in a building dated to around 1930 by Gary's historic-property survey. In 2008, city planners identified it among downtown structures worth considering for restoration. Its substantial storefront and oversized sign recalled the years when furniture shopping meant heading downtown rather than out to a highway retail center.

UPDATE: The building and sign are gone, leaving a gap in the Broadway streetscape. 07-26