Frontier Restaurant (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photos courtesy Scott Strickland
A walk through Seattle's Belltown just wasn't quite the same without the glowing neon at Frontier Restaurant. Bright signs reached out over First Avenue, but it was the famous neon owl that really stole the show. Perched above the entrance with its glowing eyes, it became one of those signs that people remembered long after they had forgotten what they ordered inside.
For years, the Frontier Room was a neighborhood favorite where the atmosphere was as much a part of the experience as the food and drinks. The old brick building, colorful neon, and well-worn character made it feel like a place that had grown up with Seattle itself. It wasn't polished or trendy, and that's exactly why so many people loved it.
Frontier Restaurant
Seattle, WA Photos courtesy Scott Strickland
During the late 1980s and 1990s, when Seattle's music scene was putting the city on the map, the Frontier became a familiar meeting place before a night out. Friends gathered here before walking to nearby clubs like the Crocodile, and the restaurant became part of the rhythm of Belltown after dark. Chances are, if you spent much time exploring Seattle's nightlife back then, you probably walked beneath that glowing owl more than once.
The Frontier eventually traded its dive-bar roots for a barbecue restaurant, but the neon remained, reminding longtime Seattle residents of an earlier era. The vertical BAR-B-Q sign and the owl worked together to create one of First Avenue's most recognizable street scenes. Whether you were driving by or exploring on foot, the building had a way of pulling your attention away from everything else on the block.
Like so many classic roadside signs, the Frontier's neon became more than advertising. It became a neighborhood landmark and a familiar beacon that helped define old Belltown. Even people who never stopped inside often remembered the owl watching over the sidewalk night after night.
Close up of the neon owl at the Frontier Bar
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
UPDATE: The Frontier closed in 2014, and the building's landmark neon owl along with the rest of the historic signage has since been removed. Another memorable piece of Seattle's neon landscape is now just a memory. 07-26
Check out the neon owl at the Frontier Restaurant
Virginia Inn
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The corner neon at Virginia Inn has been welcoming customers for generations. Just a few blocks from Pike Place Market, the glowing sign makes this longtime Seattle favorite hard to miss. 08-09
Known simply as the "V.I.," the Virginia Inn has been around since 1903. The restaurant has changed with the times, but the classic corner marquee has remained a familiar sight for locals and visitors alike.
UPDATE: The Virginia Inn remains open, and its historic neon sign continues to light the corner more than a century after the restaurant first opened. 07-26
Two Dagos Restaurant (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The colorful sign at Two Dagos from Texas made this Belltown restaurant hard to miss. Sitting along First Avenue, it looked like the kind of place where you could count on a big meal and a colorful story or two. 08-09
Known for its oversized menu and equally generous portions, Two Dagos mixed Texas, Italian, and Cajun flavors into one unusual neighborhood restaurant. Its name sparked plenty of conversation over the years, making it almost as well known as the food itself.
Like many old Belltown favorites, the restaurant eventually faded away as the neighborhood changed. Today the building remains, but the familiar sign that once greeted passing motorists is gone.
UPDATE: Two Dagos from Texas has closed, and its distinctive roadside sign has been removed. 07-26
Playa Azul Restaurante (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The sign at Playa Azul Restaurante had a little bit of everything. Bright neon, a pair of glowing palm trees, and even a large clock all shared the same marquee. Somehow it worked, even if the clock always seemed a little out of place. 08-09
The tropical sign gave the restaurant a fun personality and stood out among Seattle's nighttime lights. Whether you were looking for Mexican food or simply cruising by, it was one of those signs that made you take a second look.
UPDATE: Playa Azul Restaurante has closed, and its distinctive palm tree marquee has since been removed. 07-26
Columbia Inn Restaurant
Kalama, WA Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
It's hard to miss Columbia Inn Restaurant when a giant sign simply says "RESTAURANT." Towering above the roadside in Kalama, it has been catching the attention of hungry travelers for decades. 06-10
The massive sign is topped by a classic arrowhead that once pointed the way to the Chinook Room lounge, giving the whole display an unmistakable mid-century look. It's the kind of roadside advertising they just don't build anymore. Whether you're stopping for a meal or just passing through town, the Columbia Inn's towering sign remains one of the area's classic highway landmarks.
UPDATE: The Columbia Inn Restaurant remains open, and its giant roadside sign continues to welcome travelers to Kalama. 07-26
Two Dagos Restaurant (Gone)
Playa Azul Restaurante (Gone)
Columbia Inn Restaurant
