Hard Times Cafe
Alexandria, VA
Photo courtesy Joyce Kerrigan

Feeling a little down? A bowl of chili at Hard Times Cafe might be just the cure. This longtime Alexandria favorite has been serving up hearty food and plenty of personality since 1980, all under the watchful eye of its memorable "Kid in the Tub" logo. The name may sound gloomy, but there's never been much that's depressing about the place.

The original Hard Times Cafe opened on King Street and became the flagship for a small regional chain known for its authentic chili. Diners could choose from four different styles, including Texas, Cincinnati, Terlingua Red, and vegetarian, making it a fun stop whether you were a chili expert or just plain hungry. Inside, the restaurant embraced a nostalgic atmosphere with vintage photographs, wood booths, and a country jukebox that fit the old-time feel.

Hard Times has long been one of Old Town Alexandria's best-known eateries, drawing everyone from neighborhood regulars to tourists exploring the historic streets. It's the kind of place that feels like it has always been there.

UPDATE: The original King Street location temporarily closed in June 2026 for a major renovation. The historic building is expected to reopen, and its familiar sign remains part of the property. 08-26

White Palace Cafe (Gone)
Gadsden, AL
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

Here's the White Palace Cafe in the small town of Gadsden, AL. A good looking place with clean lines, the White Palace is right across the street from the Pitman Theatre. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.

One of the more interesting things about the cafe is its name. The restaurant originally operated as the White Castle Cafe, but despite the familiar name, it had absolutely no connection to the famous hamburger chain. At some point after the restaurant closed, the word "Castle" was simply painted over, leaving behind the name "White Palace" that can still be seen in older photographs.

Even after the cafe was gone, the handsome Art Deco building survived. Later businesses moved in and the old sign was altered, but the streamlined architecture continued to give the corner plenty of character. It's another reminder that sometimes the buildings outlive the businesses that made them famous.

UPDATE: The White Palace Cafe is long gone. 08-26

Cafe Motel
AR
Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell

Some roadside places didn't bother making you choose between stopping for a meal or spending the night. This little Cafe Motel somewhere in Arkansas appears to offer both under one roof, making it the kind of place that would have been a welcome sight after a long day on the highway.

The combined cafe and motel sign is wonderfully simple, telling travelers everything they needed to know in just a few words. It's the sort of no-nonsense roadside advertising that was once common along America's two-lane highways, where independent family businesses competed for the attention of passing motorists.

Unfortunately, very little is known about this particular stop today. Its exact location has been lost to time, and it isn't clear whether the building still stands or has long since disappeared. Even so, the photograph captures a classic piece of roadside America from an era when a hot meal and a place to sleep were often found at the very same address.

UPDATE: The location and current status of this Arkansas cafe and motel remain unknown. 08-26

Skyline Cafe (Rem.)
Mena, AR
Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell

If you're walking through downtown Mena, Arkansas, it's hard to miss the Skyline Cafe. With its vintage storefront and classic sign, this longtime local favorite has been welcoming hungry customers for generations. It may be called a sidewalk cafe, but inside you'll find an old-fashioned diner that's about as traditional as they come.

The Skyline Cafe first opened in 1922 and has been serving the community ever since. Breakfast is the main attraction for many visitors, especially the homemade corned beef hash and oversized pancakes, although lunch is just as popular with the local crowd. One thing that hasn't changed over the years is the restaurant's cash-or-check policy, a rarity in today's world.

The cafe has weathered more than a century of change, including a damaging tornado that temporarily forced it to close. Thanks to the support of the community, the historic restaurant reopened, with many of its treasured photographs and memorabilia finding their way back home after the storm.

More than 100 years after opening its doors, the Skyline Cafe remains one of those places where the food, the people, and the atmosphere are all part of the experience.

UPDATE: The Skyline Cafe continues serving customers in downtown Mena and remains one of Arkansas's longest-running restaurants. The sign was updated into a more modern style 08-26

Court Cafe (Demolished)
Farragut, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

Here is the old Court Cafe located at Dixie Lee junction (US11 & US70) near Farragut TN. There used to be a motor court here as well but the cafe is all that remains. The cafe is still in business and serves many truckers. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 03-06

The cafe originally served as part of the Marion Court Motel, one of the many tourist courts that sprang up along America's highways during the 1930s and 1940s. While the motel eventually disappeared, the restaurant carried on for many years, becoming a popular stop for hearty breakfasts, blue-plate lunches, and plenty of conversation. By the time this photo was taken, the motel was long gone, but the old cafe was still doing business.

Its location at Dixie Lee Junction made it a familiar landmark for anyone traveling through East Tennessee before the interstate era changed the way people moved around the region. Even after newer restaurants arrived, the Court Cafe kept serving loyal regulars and passing truckers who appreciated an old-fashioned roadside meal.

UPDATE: The Court Cafe closed around 2008, and the historic building has since been demolished. Today, little remains to remind travelers that this was once one of the best-known roadside stops at Dixie Lee Junction. 08-26

Midway Cafe (Gone)
Horse Cave, KY
Photo courtesy Kevin Powers

Here is a picture from the town of Horse Cave, Kentucky. It hangs out front of the Midway Cafe, which is now closed. The sign is very old and is for "Kentucky Ice Cream". It still has some remnants of neon, which used to outline all of the lettering. It also features a triple-dipped ice cream cone. Many thanks to Kevin Powers for info.

The cafe was a longtime gathering place in Horse Cave, serving generations of locals with hearty Southern cooking. For decades, owner Dorothy Green Kerr welcomed customers through the front door, building a reputation for pan-fried chicken, homemade desserts, and friendly conversation. It was the kind of small-town restaurant where everyone seemed to know everyone else.

As the years passed, the old sign became almost as famous as the food. Weathered but still standing, its remaining bits of neon hinted at how colorful it must have looked when it was new. By 2018, however, the original Kentucky Ice Cream sign had been removed and replaced with a modern sign and a new ice cream cone, bringing an end to one of Horse Cave's classic roadside landmarks.

UPDATE: The Midway Cafe has since closed, and the historic Kentucky Ice Cream sign is no longer part of the property. 08-26

Southern Lunch
Lexington, NC
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

You don't have to wonder what's on the menu at Southern Lunch. The sign says it all. For generations, hungry folks have walked through the doors of this downtown Lexington landmark looking for a good home-cooked meal, and that's exactly what they've found. 11-10

Southern Lunch was founded in 1925 by Herbert Lohr, who opened the little cafe near Lexington's railroad depot to feed factory workers grabbing a quick bite before heading back to work. In 1958, the restaurant moved across the street into what was billed as the first air-conditioned restaurant in town. Herbert passed away just months later, and the business was carried on by his son Fred. Grandson Herb Lohr II took over in 1981, making Southern Lunch a true three-generation family restaurant that has remained on the same downtown corner for nearly a century.

The menu has grown over the years, but many longtime favorites remain. Home-style classics like chicken and dumplings, country-style steak, fried chicken, chicken pie, and meat-and-three plates continue to draw regulars, while desserts such as fresh cobblers, banana pudding, and the famous Hershey Bar cake have become traditions in their own right. One of the more unusual items is the "breadburger," a Depression-era recipe that mixes bread, onions, and spices into the hamburger before it's grilled.

UPDATE: Southern Lunch celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025 and continues serving customers from its longtime home in Lexington's historic Railroad Depot District. 08-26

Autryville Cafe (Gone)
Autryville, NC
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Autryville Cafe was the kind of place that fit perfectly along old Highway 24. It wasn't flashy, but its simple roadside sign let travelers know a hot meal was waiting just ahead. In a small town like Autryville, that was often all the advertising a cafe needed. 11-10

Located right on the old alignment of Highway 24, the cafe served both local residents and motorists passing through town before highway improvements shifted much of the traffic away from downtown. It was a familiar gathering place where neighbors could catch up over breakfast or lunch while travelers took a break from the road.

Like so many independent roadside cafes, the Autryville Cafe eventually disappeared as times changed. The original building was demolished, and a new commercial building now occupies the site. Although the restaurant is gone, the location continues to serve the community in a different way, remaining home to local businesses instead of sitting vacant.

UPDATE: The Autryville Cafe has long since disappeared, and the old building has been replaced by newer businesses along Williams Street. 08-26