Dairy Queen
New Smyrna Beach, FL Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
This old Dairy Queen is the kind of place that makes you slow down when you spot the neon glowing along U.S. 1. The classic sign has been catching the eyes of passing motorists for generations, promising a cool treat on another warm Florida day. 09-08
Opened in 1953, this little stand has been serving cones, sundaes, and Blizzards for decades, making it the oldest continuously operating Dairy Queen in Florida. It has remained in the same family ever since, and unlike many modern locations, this one still has the feel of a classic roadside ice cream stop. Pull up, order at the walk-up window, and enjoy your treat at one of the outdoor tables while watching traffic roll by.
When the neon comes on after sunset, it's easy to imagine families making this the highlight of a summer drive, just as they've been doing for generations.
UPDATE: The Dairy Queen remains open, and its classic neon sign continues welcoming travelers along U.S. 1. 07-26
Sloppy Joe's Bar
Key West, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Here's the famous Sloppy Joe's Bar located in the town of Key West, FL. Sloppy Joe's originated as a saloon back on December 5, 1993 when Prohibition was repealed. Ernest Hemingway was a regular customer at the once called Russell's Bar and encouraged the name change to Sloppy Joe's. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info. 01-09
Sloppy Joe's first opened on the day Prohibition ended in 1933, and before long it became one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite hangouts. The bar even picked up its famous name thanks to Hemingway's friendship with owner Joe Russell. A few years later, the entire operation famously packed up and moved across the street to its present location, where it has remained ever since.
These days the music spills out onto the sidewalk, the walls are filled with memories, and Hemingway's connection to the place is still celebrated every summer during the annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. It's one of those Key West stops that seems just as lively today as it must have been decades ago.
UPDATE: Sloppy Joe's remains one of Key West's best-known gathering spots, and the familiar neon still lights up the corner every night. 07-26
Alonzo & Berlin's (A & B) Lobster House Restaurant
Key West, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The first thing that catches your eye at A & B Lobster House Restaurant is the giant red neon arrow pointing the way inside. It's hard to miss while strolling along the waterfront, and it has been helping hungry seafood lovers find their way for generations. 01-09
A & B has been a Key West tradition since 1947, when local fishermen Alonzo Cothron and Berlin Felton opened a restaurant where the day's catch could come straight from the boats to the kitchen. That working waterfront atmosphere is still part of the experience today, even though the marina is now filled with pleasure boats instead of commercial fishing vessels.
Whether you're stopping in for fresh seafood or simply admiring the glowing sign along Front Street, A & B still feels like one of those classic Key West places that has welcomed visitors for decades.
UPDATE: The restaurant remains open, and the famous red neon arrow continues pointing the way to the waterfront. 07-26
ABC Pizza (Gone)
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
One glance at this sign and you'll know what's on the menu. The glowing script spelling out "Spaghetti" above "Pizza" was enough to catch the attention of hungry motorists traveling South Florida Avenue. Add in the unusual roofline, a leftover from the building's earlier days, and ABC Pizza was hard to drive past. 10-09
ABC Pizza had been serving Central Florida since the 1960s, and this Lakeland location became a favorite for pizza, pasta, and hearty family meals. Plenty of locals stopped by for the all-you-can-eat spaghetti nights, while others came back again and again for the Greek-inspired recipes that helped make the chain a longtime success.
The colorful roadside sign fit the place perfectly. It was bright, a little quirky, and exactly the kind of thing that made a roadside restaurant stand out from the competition.
UPDATE: This location has closed, and the building now houses a medical clinic. The familiar roadside sign has been removed. 07-26
ABC Pizza (Gone)
