Far East Restaurant (Gone)
Grand Junction, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here's a shot of the marquee for the Far East Restaurant in Grand Junction, CO. The sign features distinctive lettering and was a familiar sight along North Avenue for many years.
Like many roadside restaurants of its era, the Far East used a large eye-catching sign to attract passing motorists and local customers. Signs like this have become increasingly rare as older businesses close or replace their vintage signage with newer designs.
UPDATE: The Far East Restaurant has been closed for many years. After the restaurant shut down, the large pagoda-style building sat vacant and deteriorated for over a decade. A final attempt to operate the site as the Far East Bar & Restaurant ended in October 2022. The property was later sold and faces redevelopment, though the building remained standing as of recent reports. This photo preserves a look at one of Grand Junction's better-known roadside restaurants and signs. 06-26
Paris Cafe (Gone)
Idaho Falls, ID Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The Paris Cafe sign brought plenty of roadside flair to Idaho Falls. Its stacked panels and elaborate design made it worth a second look, even if dinner wasn’t on the schedule. Despite the name, Chinese food was the attraction inside. 10-05
The restaurant later became the London Cafe in 2008, giving the location another European name without requiring a trip across the Atlantic. The original sign was the memorable detail, showing how an independent restaurant could make its presence known with something more interesting than a standard lighted box.
UPDATE: Paris Cafe is gone. Its sign was associated with the later London Cafe chapter, but its eventual fate remains unconfirmed. This photograph preserves the earlier lettering and the elaborate roadside display that first caught my attention. 06-26
Star Noodle Parlorm (Closed)
Ogden, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The neon dragon at Star Noodle Parlor was enough to make you stop before you even considered dinner. Hanging above Ogden’s Historic 25th Street, it gave the restaurant a roadside presence far beyond an ordinary name panel. Just imagine coming down the street after dark with that creature glowing overhead. 10-06
The dates on this place tell two parts of the story. The Ryujin family’s restaurant began in 1944, then moved into its familiar 25th Street building in 1948. That explains why the storefront advertised an earlier beginning than the date commonly associated with the location.
Star Noodle Parlor Sign
Ogden, UT Photo courtesy Dawn Corrigan
The building had already entertained Ogden audiences before the noodles arrived. It previously housed the Rex Theatre, giving the restaurant a home with a history of bringing people downtown. Moviegoers gave way to diners, and Star Noodle became a familiar gathering place for generations.
YESCO built the dragon sign, reportedly using about 250 feet of neon tubing and 58 smaller lights. Its flashing eyes and animated tongue added movement to an already impressive display. This wasn’t a sign content to sit quietly above the sidewalk. It practically performed for everyone passing beneath it.
When the restaurant closed in 2007, the dragon’s future became uncertain. It was removed in 2008, and the promised restoration took longer than many residents hoped. Fortunately, the sign had been saved, and YESCO eventually returned to restore its own creation. The dragon went back up in February 2015.
Star Noodle Parlorm (Closed)
Ogden, UT Photo courtesy Dawn Corrigan
UPDATE: Star Noodle Parlor is gone, but its restored dragon survives above Historic 25th Street. The restaurant lettering was changed to identify the historic district, giving the sign a new job welcoming visitors to the whole street. Thankfully, this Ogden character found another reason to keep lighting up the night. 07-26
Far East Restaurant (Gone)
Paris Cafe (Gone)
Star Noodle Parlorm (Closed)
Star Noodle Parlor Sign
Star Noodle Parlorm (Closed)
