Arby's
Phoenix, AZ
Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan

Check out the familiar Arby's hat marquee at the location 3826 E Thomas Road in Phoenix, AZ.

Best info I could get from some employees is that the Arby's at this location is about 40 years old - one employee told me that he thought this was the oldest existing Arby's (fact: Arby's was founded in 1964 according to the Arby's website).

The "drive thru" part of the sign was added over the top of the original neon part so it appears the original sign is still intact. Many thanks to Elgin MacMillan for above info

Rolling down Thomas Road near 38th Street, that towering ten-gallon cowboy hat glowing high above the traffic is an instant tip-off that you're looking at something special.

This classic Arby's location opened just a couple of weeks before Christmas in December 1968. While the original 1960s covered-wagon building was replaced by a modern corporate look years ago, the massive neon marquee out front remains the real roadside star. Featuring glowing tubing, chasing bulbs, and that unmistakably tall Western silhouette, it stands as the last operating neon hat sign of its kind in the entire state of Arizona.

Local sign preservationists gave the big hat a complete restoration in November 2019, reblasting the ceramic face, rebuilding the internal layout, and spinning fresh glass to keep the vintage roadside beacon shining bright into the desert night.

UPDATE : The Arby's neon hat is still located on site. 06-23

UPDATE: The restored neon cowboy hat continues lighting up Thomas Road as the franchise serves roast beef sandwiches to hungry motorists. 08-26

The following comments were received by Elgin MacMillan from Arby's management: That is a great looking hat isn't it? This Arby's was one of the first built in Arizona, the hat was mounted around January 1st, 1965. It is considered a historical piece in the city of Phoenix.

Lucky Wishbone
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

That dazzling mid-century neon marquee lighting up the corner of Swan and Broadway is a true Tucson roadside classic. The Lucky Wishbone holds the title of Tucson's very first fast-food restaurant, originally opening its doors on South 6th Avenue back in July 1953. Founder Derald Fulton bypassed the usual sit-down diner setup in favor of quick takeout boxes loaded with fried chicken, shrimp, and steak fingers, creating a local tradition that quickly expanded across town.

The standout visual for passing motorists is the massive 1957 exploding starburst neon sign at the Swan Road location. Crafted by local sign company Arizona Neon, the geometric display of red, yellow, and white tubing is grandfathered into city sign codes, requiring the owners to preserve its original roadside perch and unique one-sided flashing pattern through every remodel.

Lucky Wishbone
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

According to the Lucky Wishbone website, hundreds of Tucsonans waited in long lines well into the night beneath the hue of colorful blinking neon lights, just to get a taste of the wonderful smelling fried chicken. Lucky Wishbone became an instant success and has enjoyed doing business in Tucson for over fifty years. 07-23

UPDATE: While the original 6th Avenue building is long gone, Lucky Wishbone continues dishing up fried favorites across multiple Tucson locations beneath its surviving mid-century marquee at Swan and Broadway. 08-26