Twilight Room
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
It's hard to miss The Twilight Room cruising along Lombard Street. Between the bright green building and the glowing neon sign, this neighborhood tavern has been catching the eyes of passing motorists for generations. Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
Known simply as the "T-Room" by its regulars, this Portland favorite has welcomed everyone from neighborhood locals to University of Portland students looking for a burger, a cold drink, or a game of pool. Inside, the walls and ceiling have become a scrapbook of sorts, covered with decades of signatures, drawings, and memories left behind by loyal customers.
Neighborhood taverns like this seem to have their own personality, and The Twilight Room has managed to hang onto its character while so many others have disappeared. It's the kind of place that's worth pulling over for if you're exploring Portland's vintage roadside scene.
UPDATE: The Twilight Room is still open and its classic neon sign continues to light up North Lombard Street. 07-26
The Bohemian Club (Closed)
Medford, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
That old vertical Bohemian Club sign is the kind of thing that catches your eye long before you notice the building beneath it. Hanging over Main Street in downtown Medford, it has the look of a place that's been part of the neighborhood for decades. Even if you didn't know anything about the club, the sign alone is enough to make you wonder what stories it could tell.
The Bohemian Club, or simply "The Boh" to many locals, was a longtime tavern and nightclub that occupied this corner for generations. The building itself dates to the 1930s, and over the years the club became one of those familiar downtown spots that everyone seemed to know. It wasn't flashy or elaborate. It was just there, lighting up the street night after night while downtown Medford changed around it.
It's easy to imagine the sign glowing after dark, inviting regulars inside while traffic rolled past on Main Street. Places like this have a way of becoming landmarks without ever setting out to be one. They simply earn their place by sticking around long enough to become part of the scenery.
The Bohemian Club
Medford, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The club closed in 2019, but the old sign was too good to lose. It still gives the building much of its character and serves as a reminder of the business that called this corner home for so many years.
UPDATE: The building is now home to Catalyst Pizza Co., and the vintage Bohemian Club sign was restored during the renovation. It's nice to see another old downtown sign continue welcoming people to Main Street. 07-26
Corner Club
Medford, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The bright pink neon at the Corner Club is hard to miss. Paired with the rounded glass-block corner and martini glass, it's the kind of neighborhood tavern that makes you take a second look as you drive by. 03-06
This longtime local hangout is actually in nearby Central Point, just north of Medford. The building has a great mid-century look, and the sign still gives the place plenty of character after all these years.
It's nice to find an old tavern where the vintage sign is still doing exactly what it was meant to do—drawing people inside.
UPDATE: The Corner Club is still open, and the pink neon continues to light up the corner. 07-26
Old Town Club (Gone)
Cottage Grove, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The weathered sign at the Old Town Club looked like it had been painted over more times than anyone could count. Its faded lettering and peeling layers of paint gave it the kind of character that only comes from spending decades along Main Street. 03-06
The tavern was a longtime fixture in downtown Cottage Grove, and the old sign fit the building perfectly. It wasn't flashy or bright, but it had a personality all its own. Sometimes those are the signs you remember the most.
Today the old tavern has been converted into apartments and storefronts, but back when this photo was taken, it still looked like one of those places where not much had changed in a very long time.
UPDATE: The Old Town Club is gone, and the old painted sign was removed during the building's renovation. 07-26
Brown Derby Tavern
Spokane, WA Photo courtesy Josh Hudgens / 2007
The bright neon at the Brown Derby Tavern has been lighting up Spokane's Garland neighborhood for generations. It's the kind of neighborhood bar sign that catches your eye from down the block and makes you wonder how many evenings have started beneath its glow. 07-07
The Brown Derby has been serving locals since the early 1930s and has become one of those places that simply feels like part of the neighborhood. Inside is an old mural filled with caricatures of longtime regulars, adding another layer of personality to a tavern that has never tried to be anything but itself.
It's always nice to find an old corner tavern where both the business and the neon sign are still doing what they were meant to do.
UPDATE: The Brown Derby Tavern remains open, and its classic neon sign continues to light up Garland Avenue. 07-26
Hans's Place
Tacoma, WA Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
The sign at Hans's Place is one of those that seems to have been built a piece at a time. There's a big yellow arrow pointing toward the front door, colorful panels stacked in every direction, and enough lettering to let you know exactly what awaits inside—including "Chicken To Go." It's busy without feeling cluttered, and it's almost impossible to drive by without taking a second look. 11-08
Sitting along South Tacoma Way, Hans's Place has been welcoming customers since the 1940s. It has all the ingredients of a classic neighborhood tavern, but it's the sign that gives the place its personality. By day it stands out against the brick building, and after dark the neon transforms it into one of those familiar roadside landmarks that seems to have always been there.
Han's Place
Tacoma, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The tavern has become just as well known for its pressure-fried chicken and jo-jos as it is for the sign outside. You can almost picture travelers spotting that arrow years ago and pulling in for a quick meal before getting back on the road.
Fortunately, the old sign is still doing its job. It's a great reminder of the days when a business tried to catch your attention with a little creativity instead of a giant plastic box mounted on a pole.
UPDATE: Hans's Place remains open, and the restored vintage sign continues pointing the way on South Tacoma Way. 07-26
Twilight Room
The Bohemian Club (Closed)
The Bohemian Club
Corner Club
Old Town Club (Gone)
Hans's Place
Han's Place
