Del Monte Cafe (Gone)
Watsonville, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

The Del Monte Cafe in Watsonville featured a fine neon sign along the side of the building, advertising the cafe, lounge, and “Broiled Steaks.” Located across from the old Southern Pacific depot, it was also a convenient place to eat while watching trains pass through town.

The building dates to 1910 and reportedly served as a speakeasy during Prohibition. The Del Monte later became a longtime neighborhood cafe known for straightforward meat-and-potato meals, a long counter, and plenty of railroad activity outside.

UPDATE: The original Del Monte Cafe closed in August 1998, followed by a few short-lived revivals. Mi Rancho moved into the building in 2008 and preserved the old counter, swivel stools, and checkered floor. The Del Monte neon sign has been removed. Another roadside treasure is left to memory. 09-26

Hollywood Cafe
Lodi, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Welcome to Hollywood Cafe. It may not be in Hollywood, but the old neon sign along Lodi’s Cherokee Lane is certainly ready for its close-up. The cafe began as a roadside shed in 1939 and developed into a coffee shop during the 1940s.

Back when Cherokee Lane carried Highway 99 traffic, Hollywood Cafe stayed open around the clock for truckers, travelers, and local night owls. The diner still has plenty of old-time atmosphere, including red booths, checkered floors, historic photographs, and a jukebox.

UPDATE: After briefly closing in October 2009, the diner reopened in January 2010 as Hollywood Family Café. It remains open for breakfast and lunch, and the familiar roadside sign continues to greet travelers along Cherokee Lane. 09-26

Lim's Cafe (Closed)
Redding, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here’s Lim’s Cafe in Redding and its wonderful neon sign. The big red arrow sweeps down toward the restaurant, lighting up North Market Street and making it difficult for a hungry traveler to miss the turn.

The Lim family began serving Redding in 1933, with some local histories remembering the original restaurant as Kim Sing. Lim’s moved to its longtime North Market Street location in 1957. Its menu was an unusual and popular combination of American diner food and Chinese-American favorites, so customers could order hotcakes and ham or chow mein and egg rolls beneath the same roof.

UPDATE: Lim’s Cafe closed permanently on September 6, 2022, ending nearly 90 years of family operation. The building has been sold for reuse, but the new owners preserved the famous arrow sign. The Lim family story and restaurant memorabilia were also featured in a 2025 exhibit at the Redding Library. 09-26

Striper Cafe
Rio Vista, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Striper Cafe in Rio Vista features a huge fish on its marquee. Take a closer look and the neon striped bass appears to be staring directly into a cocktail glass, which seems like a risky combination for both the fish and whoever ordered the drink.

The cafe occupies the ground floor of the historic Rio Vista Hotel and has long served fishermen, Delta travelers, and local breakfast crowds. Raul Rodriguez purchased the business in 2007, kept the familiar name, and continued serving omelets, biscuits and gravy, fried rice, and breakfast throughout the day.

UPDATE: Now operating as Raul’s Striper Cafe, the restaurant remains open. The wonderful double-sided fish sign also survives, although its aging neon may be unlit or only partially illuminated depending on its condition. 09-26

Cafe
Willits, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This little Cafe in Willits promised “Low Priced Meals at All Hours.” How can you beat that? The plain roadside sign said everything a hungry traveler needed to know without wasting space on fancy decorations or even the restaurant’s name.

Located along Main Street, the old alignment of Highway 101, the cafe would have caught timber haulers, railroad workers, and motorists making their way through Northern California. The Skunk Train depot and Northwestern Pacific tracks were also nearby, providing another supply of hungry customers at all hours.

UPDATE: The identity and exact location of this simply named cafe have not been confirmed. The old meal sign has disappeared, and the building appears to have been altered or repurposed as Willits’ historic highway corridor changed over the years. 09-26

Owl Cafe (Closed)
Cloverdale, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

The Owl Cafe in Cloverdale features an owl sign perched high above the building. Check it out, it’s a hoot. The property dates to 1929, when it operated as the Sunset Motel and Ivy Cafe with cabins, a small grocery counter, and even a gasoline pump for Redwood Highway travelers.

Dann Haikas bought the property in 1963 and renamed it Dann’s Owl Cafe. The name reportedly came from a live owl once kept on the porch. During Cloverdale’s logging boom, the cafe operated around the clock and served truck drivers at nearly every hour imaginable.

UPDATE: The Owl Cafe closed down in early 2016. 07-16

UPDATE : The former Owl Cafe is soon to be reopened as Keith's Firehouse BBQ in September. 07-16

UPDATE: The Owl Cafe closed around 2015 and briefly became Keith’s Firehouse BBQ. The building now houses Cocina Mexicana El Milagro, which preserved the classic owl pole sign and added an owl mural inside the restaurant. 09-26

Dean's Cafe (Closed)
Pleasanton, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

Pleasanton was home to Dean’s Cafe and its simple script neon sign hanging above Main Street. Dean’s opened during the mid-1950s, although the building itself dates back to 1890 and originally served as a general merchandise store.

The inside remained a mid-century time capsule with dark wood paneling, close-set booths, and an old diner counter. Dean’s was especially famous for offering more than 275 omelette combinations. Anyone who could not find breakfast on that menu probably was not really hungry.

UPDATE: Dean’s Cafe closed permanently in February 2018 after more than 60 years. The old building was renovated and now houses Good Common Sense Naturals, while the familiar Dean’s neon sign has been removed. 09-26