The Penthouse
Vancouver, B.C.
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The glowing neon at The Penthouse has been lighting up Seymour Street for decades. While plenty of clubs have come and gone, this one still stands with its vintage sign welcoming another night in Vancouver.

The Penthouse became famous after opening in the 1940s, hosting legendary performers like Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole. These days, the witty messages on its marquee have become almost as well known as the club itself, giving passersby another reason to slow down for a look.

UPDATE: The Penthouse remains open, and its classic neon marquee continues to shine over Seymour Street. 07-26

Ovaltine Cafe
Vancouver, B.C.
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

One of Vancouver's best neon signs belongs to the Ovaltine Cafe, where a towering vertical sign and glowing script have been drawing people inside since the 1940s. It stands out along East Hastings Street, looking much the same as it has for generations. 10-05

Walking through the front door feels like stepping back in time. The old wooden booths, lunch counter, mirrors, and rows of red stools have the kind of character that can't be recreated. It's easy to see why filmmakers have used the Ovaltine as a backdrop whenever they need an authentic mid-century diner.

The Ovaltine opened in 1942 and remains one of those places that reminds you how much personality an old neighborhood coffee shop can have. Between the vintage interior and the glowing neon outside, it's well worth seeking out if you're exploring Vancouver after dark.

UPDATE: The Ovaltine Cafe reopened after a 2023 fire and continues welcoming customers beneath its famous neon sign. 07-26

Pietro's Pizza Parlor (Gone)
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Pietro's Pizza Parlor features a marquee that's rather unique in the way it incorporates an Italian chef into the design of the sign. This neon sign is a featured two lane buster in Portland, OR. 03-06

Pietro's has been a Northwest favorite since the 1950s, and the Milwaukie restaurant became a local landmark after opening in 1969. Families gathered there for pizza, birthday parties, and arcade games, while the cheerful chef out front welcomed everyone who drove by.

When redevelopment forced the longtime Milwaukie location to close, there was one thing that couldn't be left behind. The famous neon chef was carefully removed, restored, and relocated along with the restaurant, allowing a familiar roadside landmark to continue welcoming customers at its new home.

UPDATE: Pietro's Pizza now operates from its new Milwaukie location, and not sure if the iconic neon chef sign has made the move as well. 07-26

Omar's Restaurant
Ashland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

That glowing vertical neon sign has been welcoming hungry travelers to Omar's Restaurant for generations. It's one of those classic roadside signs that's hard to drive past without wondering what's inside. 03-06

Omar's has been serving Ashland since 1946 and is known for its steaks, seafood, and old-fashioned cocktail lounge. The restaurant even got its unusual name by accident when the original sign arrived misspelled. Rather than send it back, the owners simply kept it, and Omar's was born.

The vintage neon remains one of the restaurant's best features, standing out day and night along Siskiyou Boulevard. It's a reminder of an era when a good meal was often announced by a bright sign instead of a billboard.

UPDATE: Omar's remains open, and its classic neon sign continues lighting up Siskiyou Boulevard. 07-26

Koffee Kup (Closed
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The giant roadside marquee is what first grabs your attention at Koffee Kup. Standing along old Highway 99, it has the look of a classic family restaurant where the coffee is always on and the parking lot fills early with locals and travelers alike. 04-06

Inside was the kind of place that specialized in hearty breakfasts, homemade pies, and familiar faces. Long before it became the Koffee Kup, the building housed Ye Olde Pancake House, continuing a tradition of feeding hungry motorists passing through Cottage Grove.

Restaurants like this were once a common sight along America's highways, and the Koffee Kup fit the part perfectly. Whether you stopped for breakfast or just admired the big marquee from the road, it was one of those places that seemed to belong right where it was.

UPDATE: The Koffee Kup closed in 2021 after serving Cottage Grove for many years. 07-26

Bonanza Drive-up
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A glowing neon sign and a classic drive-up are enough to make Bonanza Drive-up Restaurant worth slowing down for. Sitting along old Highway 99, it looks like one of those places where grabbing a burger and a shake has been part of the local routine for years. 04-06

The compact building, vintage sign, and no-frills layout all have the feel of a classic roadside burger stand. Fresh burgers, crispy fries, and thick milkshakes are still the order of the day, proving you don't need a fancy building to become a hometown favorite.

Whether you're just passing through Cottage Grove or making a stop along the old highway, Bonanza is the kind of place that reminds you of the days when every town seemed to have its own neighborhood drive-up.

UPDATE: Bonanza Drive-Up is still serving burgers beneath its vintage roadside sign. 07-26