In Provo, Utah is a nice marquee to a place called Reams where you can find food and bargains.
For generations, Reams was a familiar name in Utah grocery shopping. The chain got its start in Provo in 1944 when Paul Ream opened his first store and eventually grew into one of the state's best-known independent grocery chains.
The sign in this photo is a reminder of a time when local supermarkets often had their own distinctive look and personality. Before national chains became dominant, stores like Reams were neighborhood fixtures where families stopped each week for groceries, weekly specials, and everyday essentials. 09-06
UPDATE: The Provo Reams location closed around 2010-2011, and the familiar roadside sign was removed shortly thereafter. Today, a Maverik gas station occupies the site. Another local market from yesteryear has seen its final day. 06-26
Dixie Photo Shop
St. George, UT Photo courtesy Ron Pierce
Here's a look at the Dixie Photo Shop in downtown St. George back in May of 2000. The colorful neon sign made this little photography shop hard to miss along Main Street.
According to a longtime neighboring business owner, the shop was operated by photographer Jack Durant, who appears to have been documenting life around St. George since at least the 1940s. Jack and his wife reportedly lived in the apartment above the store for many years. When Jack passed away in 2000, the shop closed its doors. According to local accounts, much of the business was left just as it was at the time, creating a remarkable glimpse into an earlier era of photography. Looking through the windows was said to be like stepping back in time to the days before digital cameras changed the industry forever.
The name "Dixie" comes from the longtime nickname for the St. George area, often referred to as "Utah's Dixie." The nickname dates back to the early pioneer days when settlers attempted to grow cotton in this warm corner of southwestern Utah. For decades, businesses throughout town proudly incorporated the Dixie name into their signs and storefronts. 05-00
Dixie Photo Shop
St. George, UT Photo and info courtesy Elgin MacMillan
UPDATE: The historic downtown block that includes the former Dixie Photo Shop was preserved as part of efforts to revitalize old St. George. The building remains standing today, and the vintage Dixie Photo Shop sign can still be seen along Main Street, serving as a reminder of both the business and the city's colorful past. 06-26
This Nick's Hair Styling shop features a drive-up window. Hmmm... drive-thru haircuts. Let's see... I'd like it a little short behind the ears and long on top.
Of course, the window probably wasn't actually used for haircuts, but it certainly makes you wonder. Whether it was used for product pickup, appointments, or simply left over from an earlier use of the building, it gives the place a bit of roadside character.
The combination of the vintage sign and unusual architecture is what makes this one memorable. It's the kind of place that causes you to do a double take while driving by and leaves you wondering about the story behind it.
Uranium Building
Moab, UT Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
This old Uranium Building hearkens back to the days when mining was the main industry in Moab. Today, most people know the town as a gateway to Arches and Canyonlands, but there was a time when uranium was what put Moab on the map.
The building itself dates back to the early 1900s, long before the uranium boom arrived. That changed in the 1950s when Charlie Steen's famous strike touched off a mining rush that transformed the town almost overnight. Mining companies, attorneys, and support businesses filled offices throughout downtown, and this building became closely associated with the industry that was driving the local economy.
UPDATE: The Uranium Building remains a downtown landmark and continues to house retail shops and offices. The historic "Uranium Building" lettering can still be seen today. 06-26
Sacco's
Roy, UT Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Giant Robot, where are you? Oops, wrong Sacco. This old Sacco's sign was a familiar sight for generations of travelers and locals in Roy. With its giant produce-themed design and "garden fresh" message, it was the kind of roadside advertising that was hard to miss.
The Sacco family has deep roots in northern Utah agriculture. Carlo Sacco started out selling fruits and vegetables door-to-door before eventually establishing orchards and a permanent produce stand in Roy. Over the years, Sacco's became a popular stop for fresh seasonal produce and a reminder that farming was still very much a part of the rapidly growing Wasatch Front.
UPDATE: One interesting piece of local history is that the family's original orchard once sat just south of the store. As the area grew, the orchard eventually gave way to housing developments, but the produce business continued serving customers for decades. The towering sign stood as a landmark for motorists heading through town and was one of those roadside features that became part of the local landscape. 12-05
UPDATE: Sacco's Produce closed in 2022 and the property was transformed into The Farmhouse at Saccos, an indoor farmers market that continues the family's agricultural legacy. The vintage roadside sign has since been removed. 06-26
Ute Indian Trading Post Vernal, UT Photo courtesy Shawn Church
If you were driving through Vernal back in the day, there was little chance of missing the Ute Indian Trading Post. The shop specialized in Indian and Old West creations, artwork, souvenirs, and gifts, but what really got your attention was the sign out front. Perched above the marquee was a large Indian figure, accompanied by a giant neon arrow that pointed travelers toward the store.
Places like this were once a common sight along the highways of the West. Long before online gift shops and tourist mega-stores, roadside trading posts catered to travelers looking to bring home a piece of the region. Whether it was artwork, pottery, jewelry, or a simple souvenir, these stops became part of the road trip experience.
Reams
Dixie Photo Shop
The name "Dixie" comes from the longtime nickname for the St. George area, often referred to as "Utah's Dixie." The nickname 
dates back to the early pioneer days when settlers attempted to grow cotton in this warm corner of southwestern Utah. For decades, businesses throughout town proudly incorporated the Dixie name into their signs and storefronts. 05-00 
Nick's Hair Styling
Sacco's
Ute Indian Trading Post
