Movie fans may recognize Ferguson's Fountain Cafe's from Benny & Joon, where Johnny Depp performed his memorable dinner-roll dance scene. Even without the Hollywood connection, though, this classic neighborhood diner would be worth pulling over for. Many thanks to Josh Hudgens for info. 07-07
Originally opened in the 1930s, Ferguson's has been serving breakfast and comfort food along Spokane's Garland Avenue for generations. The vintage neon sign, checkerboard floor, counter seating, and soda fountain all help give the place the kind of timeless atmosphere that's becoming harder to find.
The cafe faced its biggest challenge in 2011 when a devastating fire from the neighboring Milk Bottle building badly damaged the restaurant. Thankfully, Ferguson's was carefully restored and reopened in 2013, preserving both its classic look and the neighborhood landmark that so many people remembered.
Whether you stop because of the movies or simply because the neon caught your eye, Ferguson's still feels like the kind of roadside cafe where breakfast is served all day and the coffee never seems to stop flowing.
UPDATE: Ferguson's Fountain Cafe remains open, and its beautifully restored neon sign continues to welcome visitors to Spokane's Garland District. 07-26
Wheel Cafe
Morton, WA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
The giant wagon wheel sign at The Wheel Cafe has been greeting travelers in downtown Morton for decades. It's the kind of sign that makes you slow down for a second look, especially as you're making your way along Highway 12 through Washington's timber country. 01-09
The Wheel Cafe has long been a favorite stop for locals and visitors looking for a hearty meal. For many years, the adjoining Jubilee Room was just as much a part of the experience, giving this little roadside landmark plenty of small-town character.
Although the original cafe eventually closed, the historic building has found new life as a restaurant once again. Best of all, the classic wagon wheel sign is still out front, continuing to welcome travelers just as it always has.
UPDATE: The Wheel Cafe building has reopened under new ownership, and its landmark wagon wheel sign still survives. 07-26
The 5 Point Cafe
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
There's no mistaking The 5 Point Cafe. Between the glowing neon, colorful storefront, and the famous sign proclaiming "We Cheat Tourists & Drunks Since 1929," it's one of Seattle's most recognizable roadside landmarks. Word is the 5 Point Cafe is now the "longest run family eatery in Seattle and the oldest bar still in existence in Belltown". 08-09
The cafe opened in 1929 and has been feeding night owls, early risers, and just about everyone in between ever since. Business really took off after Prohibition ended, and today it's still open around the clock, serving hearty diner food with plenty of attitude to match the decor.
Over the years, generations of Seattle visitors have stopped in for breakfast, burgers, or a late-night meal before wandering back out into Belltown. Even if you never step inside, the vintage neon and unforgettable slogan make this one of those signs that's impossible to drive past without noticing.
UPDATE: The 5 Point Cafe remains open 24 hours a day, and its famous neon sign continues to light up Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. 07-26
Flying Boots Cafe
Tacoma, WA Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
It's hard not to smile when you spot the Flying Boots
Cafe sign. A giant neon cowboy boot with wings perched high above the roof isn't something you see every day, and it's exactly the kind of roadside oddity that makes a drive through Tacoma more interesting. 02-10
The Flying Boots has been welcoming customers since the early 1930s and became a longtime neighborhood gathering place in Tacoma's Lincoln District. A 1950s remodel gave the building its familiar appearance, while the winged boot sign became one of the area's best-known landmarks.
The original cafe closed in 2012 after decades in business, but that wasn't the end of the story. New owners reopened the building a couple of years later, carefully restoring the famous neon sign and giving the old landmark a new lease on life.
UPDATE: The Flying Boots remains open as Flying Boots & Wings, and its iconic winged boot sign still lights the way. 07-26
Wheel Cafe
The 5 Point Cafe
