Windmill Club
Rodeo, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Windmills are getting hard to find along the roadside. Neon ones are rarer still, which made the Windmill Club in Rodeo worth a stop. Its animated windmill sign brought some movement to Parker Avenue after dark. Even in daylight, the windmill on the building gave passing drivers something to look at besides another tavern doorway.

The place began as a soda fountain and restaurant before becoming a bar after Prohibition. By the 1950s, there was live music and shuffleboard inside. Imagine coming down the street on a Friday night, spotting the windmill, and deciding to pull over for a drink and a game. A moving neon sign was a pretty good invitation.

UPDATE: A fire badly damaged the Windmill Club in 2009, and it never reopened. The remaining building was demolished in 2017, and the animated sign is no longer on Parker Avenue. The old windmill may be gone, but it is easy to see why this one caught the attention of roadside photographers. 09-26

Tony's
Northern CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Somewhere along a Northern California roadside, the neon at Tony's was putting on a show when this photo was taken. The name is lit up, while part of the sign seems to have called it a night. That still leaves enough glow to make a passing driver take a second look.

There is no town or address attached to this one, and the sign offers few clues beyond the name. Tony’s could have been a place to stop for a meal or a drink. Whatever was inside, the neon was doing its job out front.

UPDATE: The location has not been identified, so it is unknown whether Tony’s or its sign is still around. For now, this glowing roadside mystery stays on the list. 09-26

The Buena Vista
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Matt Walsh

At the corner of Hyde and Beach Streets, the neon sign for The Buena Vista is hard to miss. Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square are a short walk away, so there always seems to be somebody coming in or heading out. The cable cars stopping nearby add to the bustle.

The Buena Vista has been a saloon since 1916, but Irish coffee made it famous. In 1952, owner Jack Koeppler and travel writer Stanton Delaplane worked out a version of the drink they had encountered in Ireland. Pull up a seat at the bar and you can watch the glasses lined up as the coffee, whiskey, and cream go in.

UPDATE: The Buena Vista remains open, and its neon still glows over the corner. Tourists and locals continue to crowd in for Irish coffee, especially when a San Francisco afternoon turns chilly. 09-26

The Flamingo
Rio Vista, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

On Main Street in Rio Vista, the backlit sign for The Flamingo gives this Delta tavern a welcoming glow. It may be a simple plastic sign, but it has been part of the street for decades. Around town, the bar is also known as “The Bird.”

The Flamingo is a local place to stop for a drink, a game of pool, or some conversation. Its sign has marked this Main Street spot since the 1960s, watching over plenty of evenings in Rio Vista.

UPDATE: Now called the Flamingo Lounge, the bar remains open. The old sign is still in place, and the owners are raising funds to restore its neon features. There may be more glow to come for The Bird. 09-26

Club Mallard
Albany, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Cruising along San Pablo Avenue in Albany, the neon marquee for Club Mallard is hard to pass without a look. Green and white lettering spells out the name, with a martini glass worked into the sign for good measure. The glass makes a clear invitation to stop in for a drink.

This address has been a bar since the 1930s. It was once called the Doghouse, then Club Pago Pago, before becoming Club Mallard in 1945. Inside, the duck lodge theme brings wood paneling and a fireplace, while the patio offers a little tiki flavor left over from the Pago Pago days.

UPDATE: Club Mallard remains open, and its neon sign still glows over San Pablo Avenue. The martini glass is still doing its job, pointing the way in. 09-26

The Forest
Ukiah, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

In downtown Ukiah, the sign for The Forest brings together bright green neon lettering and a martini glass. The glass stands out against the green, making this one worth a look when the lights come on after dark.

Known as the Forest Club, the bar is a local place to meet friends for a drink, play pool, or sit outside by the fire pit. It also hosts music and community events, keeping this stretch of State Street lively well after sundown.

UPDATE: The Forest Club remains open, and its green neon sign still marks the spot. The martini glass is ready for another night on State Street. 09-26

Hilltop Tavern
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Along Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento, the sign for Hilltop Tavern puts the bubbly in neon. A cocktail glass glows above this neighborhood bar, giving passing drivers something to admire before deciding whether to stop in.

Inside, Hilltop keeps things simple: drinks, pool tables, darts, and TVs for the game. Food is limited to bar snacks, though bringing in something from a nearby restaurant is part of the routine. It is the sort of place where the sign does the dressing up.

UPDATE: Hilltop Tavern remains open, and its neon cocktail glass still lights the entrance on Folsom Boulevard. 09-26

Club 2101
Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Heading along MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland, the sign outside the 2101 Club makes this neighborhood tavern easy to find. The name is also the street number, so there is no need to search up and down the block. Just look for the old neon.

The building was once a grocery store before becoming a bar in the 1930s. It took the 2101 Club name by 1941 and has remained a Dimond District hangout through generations of regulars. Inside are pool tables, a jukebox, and TVs for the game.

UPDATE: The 2101 Club is still open, and its vintage sign remains on MacArthur Boulevard. After all these years, the address still tells you exactly where to stop. 09-26