Kraftex Tile (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The porcelain sign at Kraftex Tile has all the ingredients of a great roadside find. Bright neon lettering, classic mid-century styling, and a design that looked just as good after dark as it did during the day made it hard to overlook while traveling along Milwaukee Avenue.

Family-owned since the late 1940s, Kraftex spent decades supplying and installing flooring throughout the Chicago area. The sturdy porcelain sign reflected the quality of the era, built to withstand years of Chicago weather while continuing to advertise the business long after many similar signs had disappeared.

UPDATE: The Milwaukee Avenue showroom has since been converted to other uses, and the porcelain neon sign has been removed. Its whereabouts are unknown. 07-26

Swedish Pastry (Gone)
Ashtabula, OH
Photo courtesy Mike Engle

The little grinning chef on the sign is enough to make anyone smile. Swedish Pastry Shop had one of those cheerful roadside signs that practically invited you to stop in for something sweet. Judging by this photo, both the sign and the bakery looked like they were in great shape.

The smiling chef, along with the lettering advertising cakes and donuts, made this a memorable landmark on Main Avenue. It wasn't an elaborate neon spectacular, but it had plenty of personality and fit the neighborhood bakery perfectly.

For nearly 60 years, Swedish Pastry Shop was a favorite stop in Ashtabula, serving generations of customers with fresh pastries, cakes, donuts, and other baked goods. Many locals especially looked forward to the bakery's pumpkin cookies each fall, making them a Halloween tradition for countless families.

UPDATE: The Swedish Pastry Shop closed in 2010 following the owner's retirement. The is sign was also removed. 07-26

Live Poultry
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

You certainly don't see signs like this every day. The giant arrow on Live Poultry has seen better days, but it still does its job by pointing customers toward fresh eggs and fresh cut-up poultry. Rust, faded paint, and all, it's hard to drive past without taking a second look.

Neighborhood poultry markets like this were once a common sight, especially in larger cities where customers often bought fresh chickens and eggs from small family-run shops instead of supermarkets. Signs didn't have to be fancy—they just had to tell you what was inside.

UPDATE: Not sure if the business or its weathered sign still survives. 07-26

P.F. Nikolich Real Estate (Demolished)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

It's hard to drive past an arrow like this without looking. P.F. Nikolich Real Estate knew exactly how to get your attention with dozens of little bulbs lighting the way down the arrow. Add the glowing neon and you've got a sign that probably looked even better after the sun went down.

Real estate offices don't usually have signs with this much personality, which is probably why this one stood out for so many years. It was one of those neighborhood landmarks that became part of the street, whether you were looking for a house or just passing through on your way somewhere else.

UPDATE: The sign disappeared years ago, and the building that housed the real estate office has since been demolished and replaced with new construction. 07-26

Ideal Pastry (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

The vertical Ideal Pastry sign is the kind of landmark that makes you slow down for a second look. Rising above the storefront along Milwaukee Avenue, it has all the character of a classic neighborhood bakery sign, and it's easy to imagine the red neon glowing as customers stopped in for fresh pastries, breads, and cakes.

Neighborhood bakeries like this were once fixtures all across Chicago, each with its own loyal following and a sign that became just as familiar as the treats inside. Whether you were picking up a birthday cake, a box of pastries, or simply passing by on your daily routine, the Ideal sign was one of those little pieces of the city that became part of the neighborhood.

Time has a way of changing even the most familiar corners. The bakery served the community for decades before closing, but for many people the vertical sign is what they'll remember first. It was one of those simple, well-designed signs that never needed to shout to get your attention.

UPDATE: The original bakery has closed, and the building is now home to another neighborhood bakery. The classic vertical Ideal Pastry sign was removed in 2024, and its current whereabouts are unknown. 07-26

Levinson's Bakery (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

Located on Devon Avenue in Chicago is Levinson's Bakery and this roadside sign. Here you can find braided loaves of Challah for under two bucks, such a deal. Many thanks to Dennis Dixson for info. 10-05

Levinson's is one of the remaining links to the days when this stretch of Devon Avenue was known for its Jewish bakeries and neighborhood shops. While much of the street has changed over the years, this longtime bakery continues to serve the community from the same location.

UPDATE: Levinson's Bakery remains in business. The sign is gone. 07-26