Charlie's Restaurant
Escondido, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A familiar coffee shop meal and an eye-catching roadside sign await at Charlie's Restaurant in Escondido. The tall, geometric marquee gives the place some old roadside character before the menu even comes into view. Joor's Muffler Man is just down the street, making this stretch worth a look for more than breakfast.

The restaurant space previously housed Gillette's in the 1950s and later George's. Charlie Mitich and his daughter Susie established Charlie's here in 1992, continuing the location's long association with coffee cups, hungry customers, and a seat at the table.

The towering sign is a feature in its own right, earning a city Historic Preservation Award. With its angular shape rising above the restaurant, it offers the sort of welcome that a small sign tucked against the building just wouldn't manage.

UPDATE: Charlie's remains open, with family operations continuing under Charlie's daughter and son-in-law. The restaurant operates during daytime and evening hours rather than around the clock, and its distinctive roadside sign survives. 10-26

Kozak's Coffee Shop (Gone)
El Cajon, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

For a late-night coffee shop stop in El Cajon, Kozak's Coffee Shop once offered an alternative to another trip to Rudford's. The neon outside made its own case for pulling over. Even without an appetite, there was something worth checking out along Main Street.

Established by the Kozak family in 1964, the restaurant became a longtime East County gathering place. Around-the-clock service kept the coffee shop useful well beyond the usual dinner hour, while its banana cream pie gave customers another reason to leave a little room.The Kozak family retired and sold the business in 2000. The restaurant became Goody's Café, later housed the Iraqi restaurant Hammurabi, and eventually returned to the Goody's name.

UPDATE: Kozak's no longer operates under its original name. The restaurant space has housed later businesses, and the original neon sign tower was removed during the changes that followed the 2000 sale. 10-26

Denny's Restaurant
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Looking for a meal or just another cup of coffee? This Denny's Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego sports the familiar yellow marquee that has greeted plenty of hungry motorists over the years. No mystery about what's waiting inside this roadside stop.

Check out the coffee shop itself, which still carries that Googie look. The building gives passing motorists something to admire before heading inside for a booth. Even a familiar chain can be worth a roadside peek.

UPDATE: This Denny's still retains its Googie coffee shop appearance. A little of the old roadside look hangs on along El Cajon Boulevard. 10-26