Bennett's Appliance Store (Rem.)
La Porte, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

How many of you remember Bennett's Appliance Store? Even though the appliances are long gone, the old blade sign is still hanging on the side of the building, quietly reminding people of a different time in downtown La Porte. It's the kind of sign that instantly makes you wonder how many families walked through those doors to buy their very first refrigerator, stove, or television. 05-09

Today the building has been transformed into Bennett's Up Towne Shoppes, an antique mall and craft marketplace filled with dozens of vendors. The inside may be completely different, but I like that the Bennett name lived on. Better yet, the old sign was left in place. It gives the building a connection to its past and adds a little extra character to the block.

It's always fun when an old business finds a new purpose without completely erasing its history. In this case, the sign continues to do what it has done for years—catch the eye of people passing by.

UPDATE: Bennett's Up Towne Shoppes is still open, and the vintage Bennett's Appliance sign remains attached to the building. It's nice to see a piece of the property's history survive while the building continues serving the community in a whole new way. 07-26

Anthony's Flowers (Gone)
Flint, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The first thing that catches your eye at Anthony's Flowers isn't the sign—it's the building itself. The rooftop was designed as part of the sign, creating a look that was unlike just about anything else in downtown Flint. It's the kind of architecture that reminds you there was a time when businesses didn't settle for ordinary. 06-09

Anthony's Flowers was a longtime downtown landmark, serving the community for decades from this corner location. While most flower shops relied on a simple blade sign or marquee, this one turned the entire roofline into part of its identity. It gave the building a personality all its own and made it impossible to confuse with anything else.

UPDATE: The florist is gone, and the rooftop sign has been removed. The building is still standing, however, and the property has found new life as part of Flint's Foodie Commons. It's nice to see the corner still being used, even if one of its most distinctive features has disappeared. 07-26

Cadillac Hardware (Demolished)
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Along the road in Detroit, MI is this old weather beaten sign for Cadillac Hardware. According to a few fellows from the church across the street, the church plans to demolish the long vacant store in the near future. So if you are in the need of a classic old sign that needs a lot of work, pay a visit to the church before it is to late. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 10-09

The old Cadillac Hardware sign has definitely seen better days, but that's part of its charm. Weathered, faded, and standing tall along Davison Street, it looked like the kind of sign that might not be around much longer.

Fortunately, that never happened. Instead of disappearing, the building survived and so did the sign. It isn't exactly the same as it once was, but it's nice to know this longtime neighborhood hardware store is still serving the community. Sometimes these old places manage to outlast the rumors.

UPDATE: Cadillac Hardware was demolished around 2008. The sign is long gone. 07-26

Red Wing Trading Post (Gone)
Eagle River, WI
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The Red Wing Trading Post was hard to miss. Sitting out front was a giant marquee topped with a neon Native American headdress that made this one of the most eye-catching signs in Eagle River. Whether you stopped for souvenirs or not, the sign was enough to make you slow down for a look. 10-09

The trading post had all the things you'd expect to find in a classic Northwoods gift shop—moccasins, T-shirts, jewelry, and souvenirs for travelers passing through. But for me, it was always about the sign. The combination of the rustic log building and that oversized neon marquee gave the place a personality all its own.

UPDATE: The trading post is gone, and the building has been converted into another business. The famous marquee has been removed from the property, so this is one more roadside landmark you won't find if you make the trip today. 07-26

Levinson's Bakery (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp

The Levinson's Bakery sign is enough to make you stop for a second look. Hanging out over Devon Avenue, it has the kind of bold, colorful design that seems to belong to another era. Pair it with the bakery's vintage storefront, and you've got one of those places that's hard to drive past without wondering what fresh pastries are waiting inside. 11-09

Levinson's has been part of the neighborhood for decades, serving generations of customers while much of Devon Avenue has changed around it. The bakery is known for its traditional breads, pastries, and cakes, but for roadside fans it's the sign that steals the show. It fit the building perfectly and gave the storefront the kind of personality that's becoming harder and harder to find.

It's nice to see a neighborhood business that hasn't disappeared over the years, even if it has changed a bit. Looking back at this photo, it's a reminder of how much a single sign can add to the character of a storefront.

UPDATE: Levinson's Bakery is still going strong, but the classic sign disappeared sometime before 2016 during a storefront remodel. The bakery remains a neighborhood favorite, but it's too bad the old sign didn't survive the renovation. 07-26

Willow-Brook (Gone)
Willow Springs, IL
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp

The Willow-Brook sign stood along Archer Avenue, letting everyone know they were approaching one of the Chicago area's best-known ballrooms. With its classic roadside styling, it looked right at home in front of a place that had welcomed dancers, banquet guests, and wedding parties for generations. 11-09

The Willow-Brook had been entertaining people since the early 1920s, long before banquet halls became the norm. During the big band era, thousands of people packed the dance floor to hear some of the biggest names in music. The ballroom also became part of local folklore as the place most often associated with the legend of Resurrection Mary, giving it an extra layer of mystery that still draws curious visitors today.

UPDATE: A devastating fire destroyed the Willow-Brook in 2016, and the historic ballroom was later demolished. The famous roadside sign disappeared from the property as well, bringing an end to one of the Chicago area's most recognizable entertainment landmarks. 07-26

Butch's Shop Rite (Gone)
Antigo, WI
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The familiar red-and-white block letters of Butch's Shop Rite were about as straightforward as a grocery store sign could be. There wasn't anything fancy about them, but they stood out against the building and became a familiar sight for shoppers in Antigo. Sometimes the simplest signs are the ones you remember the longest. 10-09

The store had already been part of the community for years when this photo was taken, and over time the name on the building changed right along with the grocery business itself. It went from Butch's Shop Rite to Butch's SuperValu, later became Gilbert's Sentry Foods, and eventually LoFaro's Market. Through it all, the building remained a local shopping destination for generations.

UPDATE: The old Butch's lettering disappeared years ago as the store went through a series of name changes. The grocery store itself finally closed in 2025, leaving the building vacant. Looking back, this photo captures a chapter of Antigo's grocery history that's now gone. 07-26

Triple A Heating Co. (Gone)
Warren, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The old Triple A Heating Co. sign had obviously seen better days. By the time this photo was taken, the neon had already been stripped away, leaving behind little more than the empty sign frame. Even so, it still managed to catch my eye along 8 Mile Road. 02-10

It's easy to imagine how impressive this sign must have looked when it was fully lit. Businesses like heating contractors don't usually come to mind when you think of classic roadside signs, which makes this one a little more unusual. It proves that just about every type of business once took pride in having a sign that stood out.

UPDATE: The old sign remained standing for several more years after this photo was taken, but it disappeared sometime around 2018. Even without its neon, it was a great roadside survivor while it lasted. 07-26