Kingman Club (Rem.)
Kingman, AZ Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist
Just a block off Route 66, the neon outside the Kingman Club offered travelers a pair of glowing martini glasses. One glass sat on each side of the red script name, framed by green neon and a weathered metal background. The message was pretty clear. Stop in, sit down, and have a cocktail.
The Kingman Club opened on Beale Street in 1944, serving locals and desert travelers during the busy wartime years. Although the club did not sit directly on Route 66, it was only one block north of the highway. That was close enough to attract motorists looking for a drink after a long day crossing Arizona.
Kingman Club marquee - another shot
Kingman, AZ Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier
The familiar neon sign was added during the 1950s. The name, colors, and matching martini glasses gave the club a little more style than the average neighborhood bar. It became one of those signs that looked especially good after sundown, when the red and green tubing brought the otherwise ordinary storefront to life.
After the Kingman Club closed, the building and sign spent years looking tired and neglected. The neon went dark, but the old marquee remained above the entrance. Fortunately, the sign was left in place rather than being stripped off and sent to the scrap pile.
Stacy Thomson later purchased the property while preparing to open a craft beer and wine bar called the House of Hops. She spent thousands of dollars locating neon specialists who could repair the old tubes and electrical components. The restoration kept the sign’s faded green-and-red metal patina rather than making everything look brand new.
Another view of the Kingman Club
Kingman, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The two martini glasses and Kingman Club name were officially relighted in January 2015. The old cocktail sign now glowed above a modern beer bar, which seemed like a pretty fair compromise. The House of Hops eventually gave way to another drinking establishment, but the rescued marquee stayed with the building.
UPDATE: The Kingman Club is closed and for sale. 10-08
UPDATE: The Kingman Club was restored in the past decade, relit its sign and opened for business again. Unfortunately Covid-19 came and the Kingman had to close down again. Hopefully its temporary this time. 11-20
UPDATE: The former Kingman Club now operates as part of Rickety Cricket Brewing. The original 1944 bar is gone, but its restored 1950s neon sign remains mounted above Beale Street. Both martini glasses continue glowing after dark, keeping a little piece of the old Kingman Club alive just off Route 66. 08-26
Pioneer Bar Photo courtesy Alex Schultz
The Pioneer
Bar settles into a quiet Southwestern sunset with its neon glowing beneath a crescent moon. Between the dark cabin-like building and evening sky, the scene looks a little like the old bayou cabin inside Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
Not much is known about this particular Pioneer Bar. The original location was not recorded, and no reliable address or history has been found. For now, the neon, crescent moon, and peaceful roadside view will have to tell the story.
UPDATE: The location and current status of the Pioneer Bar remain unknown. 08-26
Winners Circle Bar (Gone)
Holbrook, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the Winner’s Circle Bar along Route 66 in Holbrook. The self-proclaimed “World Famous” tavern came with bright red walls, a roadside sign, and a full-sized sculpture of two people riding a motorcycle on the roof. That should get the attention of a few passing bikers.
The Winner’s Circle became a longtime gathering place for local residents, country music fans, and motorcycle travelers passing through northern Arizona. Inside were pool tables, darts, live music, and the comfortable no-frills atmosphere expected from an old Route 66 bar.
New owners took over in November 2019 and tried to give the place another run with bands, pool tournaments, and other events. Unfortunately, the revival did not last.
UPDATE: The Winner’s Circle Bar has closed. Its neon sign was removed, the bright red building was painted blue, and the “World Famous” lettering disappeared beneath the new paint. The present whereabouts of the rooftop motorcycle sculpture are unknown. 08-26
The Ham Bone
Mesa, AZ Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the cheerful pig raising a mug outside The Ham Bone. The roadside mascot looks mighty pleased with his ale, although he may want to avoid asking too many questions about the name of the bar.
The Hambone is usually said to have opened around 1958, although the exact date is a little fuzzy. Old records suggest the building may have housed a live-tank seafood and lobster market during part of the 1960s before becoming the longtime neighborhood tavern.
The bar opens at 6:00 in the morning, making it a handy stop for third-shift workers who are ready for a cold one while everyone else is looking for coffee. Inside are six pool tables and the sort of no-frills atmosphere expected from an old East Valley dive.
UPDATE: The “and Grill” portion of the name has largely disappeared, however, since the bar no longer operates a full kitchen. 08-26
Mr Lucky's (Closed)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here’s the towering jester outside Mr.
Lucky's along Grand Avenue in Phoenix. The 50-foot roadside character has a mischievous grin, three-pointed hat, and the sort of strange expression that makes it difficult to look away.
Bob Sikora built Mr. Lucky’s in 1966 with plans to open Arizona’s first large legal gambling casino. When the state rejected legalized gambling, he turned it into a two-level music club with country acts upstairs and rock bands in the basement.
Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Strait, and Wanda Jackson were among the performers. Jackson recorded a live album here in 1969, and Jordin Sparks competed in youth talent shows years before winning American Idol. A rodeo arena was even added to the parking lot.
Mr. Lucky’s closed in 2004. The building later housed several businesses, including a Latin nightclub, furniture store, and Mr. Lucky’s Grubhouse.
UPDATE: The site of the former Mr. Lucky's still hosts events. 11-17
UPDATE: The building is now mostly vacant and weathered. The faded jester sign survives, although it is missing the bells that once hung from its hat. 08-26
Under
the Palms (Demolished)
Globe, AZ Photo courtesy Elgin MacMillan
Check out Under the Palms, a neighborhood tavern once found along Broad Street in downtown Globe. Instead of a tall pole sign, the name was mounted directly across the building’s front facade with neon-style lettering.
Little information about the tavern’s history has survived, including when it opened. It stood beside the old National News and Gift Shop in what was once a busy stretch of Globe’s downtown business district.
UPDATE: Under the Palms closed, and its facade sign was removed. The tavern building was later demolished, and newer construction now occupies the property. 08-26
Kingman Club (Rem.)
Winners Circle Bar (Gone)
Check out the Winner’s Circle Bar along Route 66 in Holbrook. The self-proclaimed “World Famous” tavern came with bright red walls, a roadside sign, and a full-sized sculpture of two people riding a motorcycle on the roof. That should get the attention of a few passing bikers.
The Ham Bone
Under
the Palms (Demolished)
