Aurora Coffee Shop (Closed)
Seattle, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Few buildings capture the spirit of roadside America quite like the Aurora Coffee Shop. With its sweeping boomerang roof, walls of glass, and unmistakable Googie styling, it looked like the kind of place where every road trip deserved a coffee break.
The building opened in the mid-1960s as a Sambo's Restaurant before becoming the Aurora Coffee Shop, where it served hungry travelers along busy Aurora Avenue for many years. Even after the name changed, the futuristic architecture remained the real attraction, inviting passing motorists inside with a style that perfectly matched the optimism of the era. 03-05
UPDATE: The Aurora Coffee Shop has too gone to the great fryer in the sky. They closed two years ago and the building was sold to a U-rent company. Fortunately, they haven't changed the building that much but the original soul of the building is very much gone - all that is left is the shell. Hopefully one day it will return to it's former greasy glory! Many thanks to Michele Gould for update. 07-07
Although the restaurant closed in 2005, the building escaped demolition. Today it serves a completely different purpose, but the distinctive roofline still stands as one of Seattle's better surviving examples of Googie coffee shop architecture.
UPDATE: The former Aurora Coffee Shop now houses Aurora Rents. While the building survives, its roadside sign has been removed. 07-26
China Buffet (Closed)
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
At first glance, the old China Buffet building looked strangely familiar. With its sweeping roofline, walls of glass, and coffee shop modern styling, it closely resembled the Aurora Coffee Shop in Seattle. As it turns out, there was a good reason. They both began life as Sambo's restaurants. 09-05
Even after becoming the China Buffet, the building still wore its mid-century architecture proudly. If you looked closely, you could still imagine where the original "SAMBOS" lettering once sat across the blue roofline. It was a wonderful reminder of a time when chain restaurants often featured bold, futuristic designs meant to catch the eye of passing motorists.
Sadly, the building has since been heavily remodeled, hiding nearly all of its original character behind a modern facade. It's a shame, because this was one of those roadside buildings that made even a familiar chain restaurant worth remembering.
UPDATE: The China Buffet has closed, and the building has been extensively remodeled, removing most of its original Googie appearance. 07-26
Waddle's (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
It's hard to ignore a giant sign telling you to "Eat Now at Waddle's." Between the glowing neon, rooftop clock, and unmistakable roadside presence, it was exactly the kind of place that tempted motorists to pull over for a meal. 12-06
Waddle's coffee shop opened in 1945 and became one of Portland's best-known coffee shops. The sleek mid-century building, designed by noted architect Pietro Belluschi, matched the futuristic look of the sign and made the restaurant a true roadside landmark for generations of travelers heading through Jantzen Beach.
Waddle's (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
For decades, the giant sign did exactly what it was intended to do. Long before GPS and smartphones, it reached out to passing motorists with a simple invitation to stop for a meal. Whether you were headed into Portland or just passing through, it was one of those landmarks that let you know exactly where you were.
UPDATE: Waddle's closed in 2004, and the building has since been home to Hooters and, more recently, JayBee's Chicken Palace. Although the original sign structure still stands, it has been altered over the years and no longer has the same look that made it famous.
Waddle's
Portland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
I still remember driving up and down the highway several times, trying to capture the perfect photo of the giant "Eat Now at Waddle's" sign before finally pulling into the parking lot. When Hooters arrived, I found myself repeating the same routine, photographing the changes and realizing another familiar roadside landmark was entering a new chapter. Looking back, I'm glad I made those extra passes. They preserved a little piece of roadside history that has continued to evolve over the years. I'll be sharing more photos soon, including several from the Hooters era. 07-26
Pancake Chef
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
A trip down old Highway 99 wouldn't be complete without spotting The Pancake Chef. The smiling little chef atop the colorful sign has been welcoming hungry travelers for decades, making it one of the area's most recognizable roadside landmarks. 01-08
Opened in 1959 near Sea-Tac Airport, The Pancake Chef has long been a favorite stop for breakfast before a flight or after a long drive. The classic sign and mid-century coffee shop still capture the look and feel of the roadside diners that once lined America's highways.
UPDATE: After a brief closure in 2025, The Pancake Chef reopened under new ownership. The restaurant and its iconic roadside sign continue to welcome travelers today. 07-26
Hi-Ho Restaurant (Gone)
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Hi-Ho Restaurant certainly knew how to get your attention. Its towering animated sign, complete with a miner and lumberjack, was the kind of roadside attraction that practically demanded another pass with the camera. Although I originally had this filed under Grants Pass, the restaurant was actually located in nearby Roseburg. 11-20
Opening in 1964, the Hi-Ho became a familiar stop along Interstate 5, serving up its famous "Cakes, Steaks and Shakes" beneath one of Oregon's most memorable neon signs. The futuristic coffee shop building looked every bit the part, making it a classic example of mid-century roadside architecture.
Today the restaurant is gone, and so is the spectacular sign that once welcomed travelers from the highway. Fortunately, photos like this help preserve the memory of one of Oregon's great roadside landmarks.
UPDATE: The former Hi-Ho building survives as another restaurant, but the landmark neon sign was removed years ago. The Hi-Ho closed in 2002 following owner John Hokanson's retirement. 07-26
Aurora Coffee Shop (Closed)
China Buffet (Closed)
Pancake Chef
Hi-Ho Restaurant (Gone)
