Fine Food
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

There's a thermometer built into the roadside sign for Fine Food in Stockton. In this photo, it reads 62 degrees. Hopefully that's the outdoor temperature and not a report from the kitchen. The big letters, round dial, and restaurant sign above them make quite a combination along Wilson Way.

The restaurant began as the Rev-A-Lon, back when this stretch of road carried Highway 99 traffic. Later it became the Far East Restaurant. The old rooftop marquee was adapted for the new name, while the pole sign kept its promise of fine food beside that oversized thermometer. One building, two signs, and a few different chapters of roadside history.

It's easy to imagine the thermometer earning a glance from passing drivers before they decided where to stop. Was it hot enough to seek out a cold drink? Cool enough for a long lunch? Either way, the sign gave them something more interesting to read than the usual restaurant advertisement.

UPDATE: Far East Restaurant is still open. Both the roadside sign and rooftop marquee remain, although their neon no longer lights up and the thermometer has stopped working. The dial may be stuck, but the signs still give passing traffic a reason to look over. 09-26

Joe's Fine Food
Daly City, CA
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Check out this lines on Joe's Restaurant in the Bay Area. The sign and the building of this steak house/supper club really spoke 'Rat Pack' era. Many thanks to Jason Carlton for info.

Opened in 1956 as Joe's of Westlake, the restaurant became a neighborhood fixture for steaks, Italian American food, and generous portions. The old sign called it Joe's Fine Food, and the building looked ready to back up that claim.

UPDATE: This Joe's is located in the Westlake district and is called Westlake Joe's. In the 70's, it was located across from the Westlake shopping center. Many thanks to Karin Weman for update. 06-06

UPDATE: Joe's closed in 2014, then reopened in 2016 as Original Joe's Westlake after a major renovation. The original roadside sign was replaced with a new one in a similar style. The restaurant is still open, and those distinctive building lines remain part of the scene. 09-26

Old Macdonald's Farm (Gone)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Susan & Richard Bethel

Out on Jackson Road near Sacramento, a rooster once pointed the way to Old Macdonald's Farm. The old neon sign stood beside the road long after the farm itself had disappeared. By the time of this photo, following its arrow would have been more of an exercise in imagination.

Back when the place was open, that arrow led to a barn-style restaurant known for fried chicken dinners. There were picnic tables, chickens, and peacocks wandering the grounds. A meal out could turn into a little farm visit, especially if the kids spotted the animals before anyone made it inside.

The restaurant eventually closed and the buildings were torn down, but the rooster stayed at his post for years. Standing alone in the field, he became a reminder of the family dinners that once waited at the end of the driveway.

UPDATE: The old sign has since been removed from Jackson Road, and the property has been redeveloped. Its reported plans for preservation leave some hope that the rooster may turn up again somewhere the public can see him. 09-26

Chuck's Restaurant (Closed)
Placerville, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Take a look at the marquee for Chuck's Restaurant in Placerville. The letters hop between upper and lower case, while the cutout shapes seem to have arrived from several different signs. Somehow, they all get along. It's the kind of sign that makes a stop along Broadway worth a second look.

Chuck's began as a pancake house and coffee shop in the 1960s, growing out of Chuck Bach's neighboring Chuck's Frostie. It became a familiar place for breakfast, coffee, and a meal at any hour. For decades, the sign pointed travelers toward the restaurant and gave Broadway a little extra personality.

The restaurant closed in 2013 after about 50 years of serving Placerville. Luckily, the building stayed put, and so did the marquee. The sign's mix of shapes and lettering still looks as playful as it did when it was advertising pancakes.

UPDATE: The former restaurant is now Chuck's Wellness Center. Its new operators restored the roadside sign and kept the Chuck's name, so that familiar marquee is still part of the drive through Placerville. 09-26

Pine Cone Restaurant (Closed)
Sebastopol, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The marquee for Pine Cone Restaurant in Sebastopol doesn't make a big fuss. “Fountain” and “Good Food” are its main selling points, a little flashback to when those words were enough to invite someone in off Main Street. Maybe add a scoop of ice cream while you're there.

The Pine Cone was a longtime local diner, with a soda fountain, counter stools, and booths that held on to their old-fashioned look. It was the sort of place where the sign outside might be modest, but the regulars knew just where to sit. Breakfast, coffee, or a pause in the middle of the day all seemed to fit.

There was once a Golden State Ice Cream sign outside, too. Between that and the promise of fountain service, the storefront offered plenty of reasons to step inside. Nothing fancy about the pitch, which is part of its charm in this photo.

UPDATE: The Pine Cone later reopened as the Pine Cone Cafe before the space changed hands again. The old fountain signs have been removed, but this photo still points back to the days when “Good Food” was all the marquee needed to say. 09-26

Ham Guy
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Meet the Ham Guy. The name of the place he advertised is still a mystery, but he looks ready to welcome anyone thinking about dinner. A roadside character like this doesn't need much help getting noticed.

It would be fun to see the sign after dark. Did the Ham Guy light up, or did he leave the evening shift to somebody else? For now, this photo is the clue, and the fellow on the sign is doing a fine job of keeping his restaurant's secret.

UPDATE: The business, location, and fate of the sign remain unknown. If the Ham Guy looks familiar, perhaps someone out there can finally tell us where he worked. 09-26