Stop N Go Family Drive-in (Closed)
Spokane, WA
Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007

The bright red Stop N Go Family Drive-in sign made this North Wall Street burger stop easy to find. It had the familiar look of a neighborhood restaurant where a quick meal could turn into a visit with someone you knew. Even without stopping to eat, the sign deserved a photograph. 07-07

The drive-in occupied 6325 North Wall Street before closing in 2015. Lost Boys’ Garage Bar & Grill opened in the former restaurant that summer, giving the building another dining chapter rather than leaving it empty.

UPDATE: The property now houses Hangry’s North Spokane, which opened in 2024. The old drive-in sign is gone, but the building continues feeding customers. The name and menu have changed more than once, while the address remains a place to stop for a meal. 07-26

Ferguson's Fountain Cafe
Spokane, WA
Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007

Movie fans may recognize Ferguson's Fountain Cafe from Benny & Joon, but even without its Hollywood connection, it's the kind of diner that makes you want to stop for a cup of coffee. With its vintage sign and classic storefront, it fits the Garland District perfectly. 07-07

The cafe has been serving Spokane since the 1930s and still feels like an old neighborhood gathering place. Inside you'll find a traditional soda fountain, checkerboard floors, cozy booths, and the kind of atmosphere that seems to belong to another era.

While Benny & Joon brought Ferguson's some well-deserved attention, it's the timeless look of the place that keeps drawing people in. If it seems familiar, there's a good chance you've seen it on the big screen.

UPDATE: Ferguson's Fountain Cafe remains open after being carefully restored following a 2011 fire. 07-26

Buster's Barbecue
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

As daylight fades, the Buster’s Barbecue neon starts making a pretty good argument for dinner. A glowing roadside sign and the promise of smoked meat are a convincing combination, especially when you’ve spent the afternoon driving. 01-09

Buster’s opened its first restaurant in Milwaukie in 1982. Brothers raised in Texas brought their barbecue traditions to Oregon, building the business around slow smoked meats and the familiar sides that go with them. The roadside presentation makes a fitting introduction.

UPDATE: Buster’s continues operating in the Portland area, serving Texas style barbecue. The sign shown here preserves the colorful roadside look that made the restaurant worth noticing before you ever reached the counter. 07-26

Hong Kong Restaurant (Gone)
Victoria, B.C.
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

The bright neon at Hong Kong Restaurant leaves little chance of driving by without noticing it. Even among the lights of the city, the colorful sign stands out, reflecting off the boulevard and giving the restaurant plenty of nighttime appeal. 01-09

It's the kind of classic Chinese restaurant sign that once seemed to be found in every city, inviting hungry travelers inside with glowing neon instead of flashy advertising. Whether you stopped for dinner or simply admired the sign from the street, it was another reminder that some of the best roadside attractions weren't attractions at all.

UPDATE: The Hong Kong Restaurant has since closed. The current status of the neon sign is unknown. 07-26

Denny's Restaurant
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

A glowing Denny’s Restaurant sign could look especially inviting after a long day behind the wheel. This Portland view catches that familiar roadside welcome at dusk, promising coffee, something to eat, and a chance to stop staring at the highway. 01-09

The chain’s recognizable signs became fixtures along American travel routes. Breakfast and a comfortable booth helped make Denny’s part of the road trip routine, even for travelers who usually preferred hunting down independent diners.

UPDATE: Denny’s continues operating in Portland, although individual restaurants and signs have changed over the years. Without a confirmed address for this photograph, the status of this particular display remains uncertain. It still captures a familiar piece of America’s restaurant landscape. 07-26

Mary's Club
Portland, WA
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

The blue script and dancing figure above Mary’s Club made a memorable combination after dark in Portland. Even from across the street, the neon had the personality that turns a business sign into something roadside photographers remember. 01-09

Mary’s became one of the city’s best known nightlife institutions, spending decades on Southwest Broadway. When the building was sold, the business moved rather than disappearing, and preserving its signature sign was part of the plan.

UPDATE: Mary’s reopened at 503 West Burnside Street in December 2021. The familiar neon made the move and continues lighting the new location. It’s good to see a longtime sign stay with the business that gave it a name. 07-26

Crepe de France
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

The little neon Eiffel Tower at Crepe de France adds a French accent to Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It may not be an enormous roadside marquee, but it still manages to catch your attention among the market’s many shops and food counters. 01-09

The creperie opened in 1991, serving sweet and savory crepes from its market location. It’s the kind of place you might discover while wandering, with the glowing sign providing a little encouragement to pause your exploring.

UPDATE: Crepe de France remains listed among Pike Place Market’s operating businesses. More than thirty years after opening, it continues offering another reason to arrive hungry and leave a little extra time for looking around. 07-26

Overlook Restaurant (Demolished)
Portland, WA
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

The colorful neon at Overlook Restaurant gave North Portland motorists a welcome reminder that dinner could wait just around the corner. The bright lettering helped distinguish a neighborhood restaurant that relied as much on returning customers as passing traffic. 01-09

Jim and Jane Sassalos took over the former Devlin’s Cafe in 1974. It later became the Overlook, serving hearty American meals and Greek specialties for more than forty years. Generous breakfasts and a comfortable lounge helped make it a regular stop for the neighborhood.

UPDATE: The Overlook served its final customers on January 21, 2018, closing for apartment redevelopment. The restaurant building and neon are gone, leaving photographs to recall another familiar North Portland dining spot. 07-26