Al Mac's Diner
Fall River, MA
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

The Al Mac's Diner of Fall River, MA is a somewhat famous roadside diner that's been featured in many publications. This diner is a DeRaffle built in 1952. Many thanks to Matthias Tippner for info. 01-07

Al Mac's traces its roots back to 1910, when Al McDermott served local mill workers from a horse-drawn lunch wagon. The diner seen here arrived in 1953, built by the DeRaffele Dining Car Company, and later earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

After decades of New England weather, the rooftop sign and its neon were restored in 2018.

UPDATE: Al Mac's remains open in Fall River, with those big rooftop letters still greeting hungry travelers. 08-26

Kirby & Holloway (Gone)
Dover, DE
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

You certainly couldn't miss the big arrow pointing down along DuPont Highway. The Kirby & Holloway Family Restaurant was a longtime Dover stop, with its towering roadside sign showing hungry travelers exactly where to turn.

Kirby & Holloway grew out of the meat business started by Russell Kirby and John Holloway in 1947. The Dover restaurant became known for good old-fashioned family meals, including sausage and scrapple made from the Kirby family recipe. Around here, that definitely qualifies as breakfast.

But from the highway, the sign was the real landmark. The tall neon tower and huge downward-pointing arrow had been directing traffic into the parking lot since the early days of the restaurant. No need to wonder whether you'd passed the place.

Things changed suddenly on February 2, 2014, when an electrical fire badly damaged the restaurant. There were hopes of rebuilding, but the old building never reopened.

UPDATE: The fire-damaged Kirby & Holloway was demolished in 2015. The old sign structure remained on the property, but it has since been heavily altered and repurposed for a Tommy's Express Car Wash. The familiar arrow is still there, although the Kirby & Holloway neon and lettering are gone. 08-26

Jack's Cantina (Gone)
Niagara Falls, Canada
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Here's one neon sign that was hard to miss after dark. The glowing cactus and colorful lettering outside Jack's Cantina added a little extra nightlife to Centre Street, just up the road from all the action around Clifton Hill. 07-06

Jack's opened in 1994 and became a popular local watering hole, complete with one rather unusual tradition. Customers would sign paper bills and stick them to the ceiling. Between the neon outside and the money overhead, this wasn't exactly your average neighborhood tavern.

Unfortunately, the Jack's seen here didn't last. An early morning fire gutted the building in November 2011, and the remains were demolished a few days later. The fire was later ruled arson.

UPDATE: Jack's reopened across the street in 2012, but the new place didn't have quite the same old neon roadside look. After 28 years in business, Jack's Cantina closed for good in January 2022. 08-26

Idaho Sweets BBQ (Gone)
Wildwood, NJ
Photo courtesy Matthew Hands

Cruising through Wildwood, here's a little neon that probably looked even better after the sun went down. Idaho Sweets BBQ had this colorful roadside sign hanging out at Andrews and New Jersey avenues, complete with glowing red letters and that big "Sweets" script. 12-06

Wildwood has never exactly been shy when it comes to signs, and this one fit right in. Idaho Sweets was serving up barbecue here during the mid-2000s, away from the flashing lights of the boardwalk but still surrounded by plenty of classic Jersey Shore roadside scenery.

The barbecue joint eventually closed, and the corner has since taken on a much more residential look.

UPDATE: Idaho Sweets BBQ is gone, and the neon sign seen here has been removed. 08-26

Donut Dip
Springfield, MA
Photo courtesy Richard Ibsen

Hungry? That glowing pink neon along Riverdale Street might be enough to make you hit the brakes. Donut Dip has the kind of old roadside sign that looks especially good after dark, tempting passing travelers to stop in for something sweet. 02-06

Donut Dip has been serving West Springfield since 1957 and remains a family-owned operation. The donuts are still made by hand, with dozens of varieties filling the racks inside. Even the wonderfully odd slogan, "What Foods These Morsels Be!", dates back to the early days.

The old-fashioned shop and glowing neon make this one worth pulling over for. About the only difficult part is deciding which donut to take back on the road.

UPDATE: Donut Dip remains open on Riverdale Street, and its classic pink neon sign still lights up the roadside. 08-26