Grove Fine Food
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The vintage sign at Grove Fine Food has been catching the eyes of travelers in downtown Cottage Grove since the 1950s. With its classic lettering and glowing neon, it looks like the kind of place where breakfast could easily turn into lunch. 03-06

The business has gone by a few different names over the years, but the familiar sign has remained a local landmark. Part café and part neighborhood tavern, it's one of those places that has quietly served generations of locals while changing very little on the outside.

Sometimes an old sign tells you everything you need to know. Pull in, grab a bite, and enjoy a little piece of roadside Americana.

UPDATE: Grove Fine Food continues to operate as The Grove Bar & Grill, and its classic neon sign still welcomes visitors to downtown Cottage Grove. 07-26

Bonanza Drive-up
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The bright neon at Bonanza Drive-up Restaurant has been tempting hungry travelers along Highway 99 for generations. One look at the classic sign and it's easy to see why this has become one of Cottage Grove's favorite roadside stops. 03-06

Bonanza has built its reputation on burgers, sandwiches, shakes, and hearty meals served with small-town hospitality. The business has changed hands over the years, but the familiar neon sign has remained a constant, welcoming both locals and road trippers alike. It's the kind of drive-up that reminds you why old highway restaurants are worth seeking out. Sometimes the sign is all the invitation you need.

UPDATE: Bonanza Drive-Up remains open, and its classic neon sign continues to light up Highway 99. 07-26

Tebo's Restaurant (Gone)
Jennings Lodge, OR
Photo courtesy Jim Larrance

The smiling chefs on the sign at Tebo's Restaurant always looked like they were up to something. With their mischievous grins and colorful marquee, they made this longtime roadside favorite along McLoughlin Boulevard hard to miss. 06-06

Tebo's had been serving hungry customers since the 1950s and became known for its burgers, homemade pies, and old-fashioned diner atmosphere. For many locals, a stop at Tebo's became a tradition that lasted for generations. Sometimes it's the sign that keeps a place alive in your memory. Those cheerful chefs welcomed travelers for decades and became one of the most recognizable roadside sights in the Portland area.

UPDATE: Tebo's closed in 2017, and both the restaurant and its landmark sign have since been removed. 07-26

Tom Tom Restaurant (Demolished)
Albany, OR
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The big red neon at Tom Tom Restaurant was hard to miss from the highway. Standing high above Airport Road, the sign welcomed hungry travelers and locals alike with bold lettering that practically called your name. 12-08

For years, Tom Tom was a favorite stop for hearty breakfasts, comfort food, and late-night meals. The adjoining lounge added to the fun, making it just as much a neighborhood gathering place as a roadside restaurant.

The towering marquee became one of Albany's best-known roadside landmarks. Long after your meal was over, chances are you'd still remember that bright red sign.

UPDATE: Tom Tom Restaurant closed, and the building was demolished in 2012. The landmark neon sign is also gone. 07-26

Bell Buoy Crabs
Seaside, OR
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

Driving into Seaside, it's hard not to notice the colorful sign at Bell Buoy Crabs. Shaped like a buoy and topped with a giant crab, it's been welcoming seafood lovers along Highway 101 for generations. 01-09

Bell Buoy has been a coastal tradition since 1946 and remains one of the last working seafood canneries on the Oregon Coast. Whether you're stopping for fresh crab, smoked seafood, or a quick basket of fish and chips next door, the familiar roadside sign lets you know you've arrived.

Some signs just belong where they are. Along with the smell of salt air and the nearby Pacific, Bell Buoy's giant crab has become one of Seaside's classic roadside landmarks.

UPDATE: Bell Buoy Crabs remains open, and its iconic roadside sign continues to greet travelers on the Oregon Coast. 07-26

The Only Sea Foods (Demolished)
Vancouver, CN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

With a name like The Only Sea Foods, this Vancouver Canada restaurant better be a special kind of place. For 59 years, this downtown treasure has been just that, most recently if only for its well known neon sign.

Unfortunately, the neon sea horse may have cast its last look down East Hastings. The Only Sea Foods restaurant shut down in June 2009 and the landmark sign was removed in April 2010. Fortunately, this sign is being stored and may possibly be restored by the Portland Hotel Society who hope to reopen the restaurant in a new location. 04-10

UPDATE: The Only Sea Foods closed in 2009. The landmark sign was removed in 2010, and the historic building has since been demolished. 07-26

Merchants Cafe
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

A visit to Seattle's Pioneer Square isn't complete without spotting Merchants Cafe. Housed in one of the city's oldest brick buildings, it's the kind of place that looks like it has a story to tell before you even walk through the front door. 08-09

Merchants has been welcoming customers since 1890 and proudly claims the title of Seattle's oldest continuously operating restaurant. Inside you'll find classic pub fare, while downstairs the old basement connects to Seattle's famous Underground, adding another layer of history to an already memorable stop. While the food keeps people coming back, it's the historic storefront and old-world character that make Merchants one of Seattle's true landmarks.

UPDATE: Merchants Cafe remains open after a brief renovation in 2025 and continues to serve customers from its historic Pioneer Square home. 07-26