Hill's Cafe (Gone)
Union Gap, WA
Photo courtesy Van

The neon at Hill's Cafe was impossible to ignore. The glowing script, the bold "Fine Food" slogan, and the Trail Room advertised beneath it all combined to create one of those classic roadside signs that seemed to promise a good meal before you even stepped inside. It was the kind of place that made you want to pull over just to see what was waiting beyond the front door.

Hill's Cafe served Union Gap for many years, becoming a familiar stop for both locals and travelers passing through town. While the food earned plenty of loyal customers, the vintage marquee was every bit as memorable. Day or night, it added a little extra character to the roadside and was the kind of sign that photographers couldn't help but stop for.

UPDATE: The Hills Cafe closed and the signs are now gone. 09-17

Sadly, the cafe eventually closed, and for a few years the old sign remained as a reminder of what had once been there. Eventually that disappeared too, leaving only photographs to remember one of Union Gap's classic neon landmarks.

UPDATE: Hill's Cafe is gone, and its landmark neon marquee was removed in 2015. The building remains, but one of the town's best roadside signs has faded into history. 07-26

Nite Hawk Cafe
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Jeff Raber

One look at the Nite Hawk Cafe sign and you know exactly why it catches the eye. Perched high above the street, the giant bird seems ready to swoop down over the glowing neon below, making this one of Portland's more distinctive roadside signs.

The Nite Hawk has been welcoming customers since 1931, although the building has worn a few different hats over the years. Today it's once again a neighborhood cafe and lounge, serving good food beneath the same memorable sign that has been catching the attention of passing motorists for decades.

It's signs like this that make cruising old commercial streets so much fun. You can drive past the same corner a hundred times, but a giant neon hawk overhead has a way of making you look twice.

UPDATE: The Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge is still serving customers, and its classic roadside sign remains one of Portland's memorable neon landmarks. 07-26

Republic Cafe
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Few signs capture the spirit of Portland's Chinatown quite like the one at Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge. The tall vertical neon, paired with the classic Ming Lounge sign, has been welcoming diners for generations and remains one of the neighborhood's most recognizable landmarks.

Opened in 1922, Republic Cafe is Portland's oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant. Through the decades it became a favorite gathering place for local families, politicians, and even a few visiting celebrities. The Ming Lounge, added during the 1950s, helped make the corner a lively destination well into the evening.

Today the neighborhood is much quieter than it once was, and Republic Cafe is one of only two Chinese restaurants remaining in Portland's historic Chinatown district. Even so, the old sign still gives the building the same character that caught my attention years ago. It's a reminder of the days when neon lit up downtown streets and every neighborhood seemed to have its own iconic restaurant marquee. 03-06

UPDATE: Republic Cafe & Ming Lounge remains open, although much of the historic neon is no longer illuminated. 07-26

Martha Inn Cafe (Demolished)
George, WA
Photo courtesy Darren Haney

There's no missing the Martha Inn Cafe sign. Rising high above Interstate 90, the giant semi truck perched on top points the way just as it did for generations of travelers crossing Washington. Even the "Credit Cards Accepted" panel is a reminder of a different era, when that was something worth advertising.

Built during the late 1950s, the Martha Inn was the first business in the new town of George, Washington. Named after Martha Washington, it became a familiar stop for truckers, families, and anyone making the long drive between Seattle and Spokane. Along with the cafe, the property also included a gas station, motel, and lounge, making it a classic roadside stop where you could fill up both the car and yourself.

UPDATE 09/17 : The Martha Inn Cafe is closed and the building is demolished. 09-17

The buildings are gone today, but the towering truck sign still stands watch over the empty lot. It's a wonderful survivor from the days when America's highways were lined with oversized signs inviting travelers to pull off the road for a meal.

UPDATE: The Martha Inn Cafe was demolished in 2009, but its landmark roadside sign still survives. 07-26

J V Cafe (Closed)
Jordan Valley, OR
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The colorful marquee at the J V Cafe is hard to miss as you pass through tiny Jordan Valley. With its bright geometric design and classic neon styling, it's the kind of sign that gives a small town a little extra personality.

For years, the J V Cafe welcomed ranchers, travelers, and locals looking for a good meal or a place to unwind along lonely U.S. 95. Located in the heart of Oregon's high desert, it was the sort of place where everyone seemed to know each other, and visitors were treated like regulars before long.

The cafe has since closed, but the old marquee still hangs over Main Street as a reminder of the days when independent roadside cafes were an essential part of a long drive across the West.

UPDATE: The J V Cafe is permanently closed, but its colorful vintage marquee still survives. 07-26

Hong Kong Cafe
Grants Pass, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The vintage sign at Hong Kong Cafe has probably seen better days, but that's part of what makes it so appealing. Even with a few dark neon tubes, the bright blue lettering and classic "Cocktails" panel still have plenty of personality, especially on an overcast Oregon afternoon. 03-06

The restaurant opened in 1961 and has been serving Grants Pass ever since. While the business is now known as Hong Kong Restaurant, the old roadside sign still proudly says "Hong Kong Cafe," preserving a little piece of its past. It's the kind of sign that reminds you when nearly every neighborhood restaurant tried to stand out with its own distinctive neon.

Drive down Sixth Street today and you'll still find the familiar marquee welcoming customers just as it has for decades. Sometimes a sign doesn't have to be perfectly restored to be memorable—it just needs enough character to make you smile as you pass by.

UPDATE: The restaurant remains open under new ownership, and the vintage roadside sign still survives. 07-26