Laundry World (Rem.)
Berwyn, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

You could spot the Laundry World sign from a block away along Cermak Road in Berwyn, Illinois. Oversized lettering and a built-in clock gave the laundromat a presence beyond its storefront. Whether the clock showed the right time was another question. 10-13

Clock signs offered customers something useful while keeping a business name in view. This one turned an everyday laundry stop into a recognizable neighborhood landmark, combining practical advertising with the roadside character that makes an ordinary commercial strip worth exploring.

UPDATE: Laundry World remains in business, but the old sign was removed during a remodeling project. The clock disappeared with it, changing the familiar view above Cermak Road. The laundromat continues doing the washing, although its most memorable piece of advertising is gone. 07-26

Robin Hood Mufflers (Closed)
Cicero, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's Robin Hood Mufflers along Ogden Avenue in Cicero, Illinois. The shop was already closed, but its colorful character sign still stood above the property, advertising to motorists who no longer had a reason to turn in. 10-13

Located at 6131 Ogden Avenue, the vacant shop appeared in a 2013 inventory of Illinois Route 66 resources. Its distinctive sign recalled the independent repair businesses that once lined the highway, each using a memorable name or design to stand apart from the competition.

UPDATE: The Robin Hood sign was removed before 2018. The property's later history hasn't been firmly established, but the familiar figure is no longer watching over this stretch of Ogden Avenue. Unfortunately, another piece of Route 66 advertising lost its roadside assignment. 07-26

Berwyn Eagles (Gone)
Berwyn, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's the Berwyn Eagles sign in Berwyn, Illinois. Its eagle emblem and straightforward lettering marked a gathering place that might look like an ordinary banquet hall until you learned a little more about what happened inside. 10-13

Along with meetings and social events, the Eagles Club became a notable venue for independent professional wrestling. Promotions including AAW, SHIMMER, and GCW brought crowds through the doors, giving the neighborhood hall a following far beyond Berwyn. The modest sign marked a place many wrestling fans knew well.

UPDATE: The venue's long wrestling run ended amid changes in 2026, and the old Eagles sign has been removed. The building's next chapter remains separate from the organization and events that made its name familiar. A simple neighborhood sign turned out to mark quite a bit of local history. 07-26

House of Doors
Brookfield, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The House of Doors sign gives garage-door shopping some unexpected roadside appeal in Brookfield, Illinois. Bright neon and bold styling make it worth a look along Ogden Avenue, even if your garage is working perfectly. 10-13

The business at 9038 Ogden Avenue became Barcol House of Doors in 1954, when its familiar neon sign was installed. Previously known as McKee Overdoor Sales, the company sold and installed garage and rolling doors. The sign supplied a distinctive identity along a highway already filled with eye-catching commercial advertising.

UPDATE: House of Doors continues operating, and its vintage sign remains a recognizable Route 66 landmark. More than seven decades after installation, it still demonstrates how an everyday service business could make a lasting impression with a little well-placed neon. 07-26

Victor Mann Florist (Rem.)
Saute Ste Marie, ON Canada
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's the weathered Victor Mann Florist sign in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Rust and fading paint had nearly obscured its message, but the old metal display still had enough character to make you stop and look. 06-14

Victor and Lucy Mann founded the florist in 1902 at 119 Huron Street. When the property was acquired for the International Bridge approach, the business moved to Queen Street East in 1962. The old sign came along, standing behind the shop on King Street as a reminder of its original home.

UPDATE: Mann Florist remains in business at 324 Queen Street East, but the rusted rear sign and pole were removed in 2024 and reported as headed for scrap. The shop's separate vintage storefront sign survives, preserving another part of the business's long history. 07-26