After a hearty steak dinner at Jack's Place, belly up to the bar at the
Town Tavern for a cold pint of your favorite brew. With the wheel
and anchor motif, is this place frequented by many sailors? Unlikely.
Dansville is hundreds of miles from the ocean. Many thanks to Jay
Lin for info.
Cruising down Main Street in downtown Dansville, the hanging sign for the Town Tavern lets travelers know a cold drink and a warm booth are waiting inside.
The spot first opened its doors back in 1983 as the Town Grill, serving for years as a no-nonsense, working-man's pub and neighborhood watering hole. After decades of pouring drafts under the old moniker, the establishment got a fresh name and a remodel, settling in as a casual local hub for comfort food, cold beers, karaoke, and weekend tunes.
UPDATE: Following a temporary closure, the Town Tavern reopened under new ownership and continues serving patrons along Main Street. 08-26
Kelly's Bar
Pittsburgh, PA Photo courtesy T.H. Lyda
Here is one of Pittsburgh PA's greatest neon signs. Kelly's
Bar is a deco cocktail lounge circa the 30s or 40s and is in the process
of being restored, including the neon. Many thanks to T.H. Lydafor info.
Cruising through Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood after dark, you cannot miss the brilliant glow of the landmark neon marquee outside Kelly's Bar & Lounge. Towering over Centre Avenue, the vintage vertical sign touts "Good Food" alongside a glowing neon martini glass that points travelers right to the door.
Dating back to the 1940s, step inside and you will find a beautifully preserved Art Deco oasis featuring a curved wooden bar, chrome trim, and cozy vintage booths. There are no blaring television sets hanging on the walls here, just the glow of a killer retro jukebox and a kitchen legendary for dishing out some of the best baked mac and cheese in the city. If you head out back, there is even a hidden tiki patio tucked away for open-air sipping.
UPDATE: The classic neon sign has been fully restored, and Kelly's Bar & Lounge continues pouring drinks and serving comfort food in East Liberty. 08-26
El Mocambo Tavern
Toronto, Canada Photo courtesy Jay Lin
"Under the neon palms" was a familiar saying along Spadina Avenue for decades. The legendary marquee outside the El Mocambo Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, with its glowing palm trees and animated neon fronds, became an unmistakable beacon for music fans after first going up in 1946.
The club earned rock and roll immortality back in March 1977 when the Rolling Stones booked a secret, unannounced pair of shows under the fake moniker "The Cockroaches." Over the years, the venue played host to a who's-who of music legends, including the Ramones, Blondie, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and U2, before seemingly closing down for good.
UPDATE: An eleventh-hour benefactor stepped in to rescue and overhaul the building. A replica neon palm sign now lights up Spadina Avenue, while the restored 1946 original neon trees were moved inside to frame the performance stage as live music rocks on. 08-26
The Belmar Pub & Grill
Johnson City, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
Again we go to Johnson City NY where we find the The Belmar Pub & Grill, a very
working-class bar where you can get a cold beer after a tough shift at
the factory. Many thanks to Jay
Lin for info.
Cruising down Main Street right where Johnson City meets Binghamton, the green awning and glowing beer signs of The Belmar Pub & Grill signal an unpretentious neighborhood classic.
This local favorite officially opened its doors on St. Patrick's Day back in 1996, right after owner Ed Hickey made the drive out to Albany to lock down the physical liquor license. Step through the doors and you will find an authentic, wood-paneled tavern with worn booths carved up by decades of friendly regulars, cold draft specials, and a reputation for some of the best bar wings in town. Every March, the pub even helps kick off the city's St. Patrick's Day festivities by hosting the Belmar Parade Day Mile, packing the street with runners racing in green toward the finish line.
UPDATE: The Belmar Pub & Grill marked its 30th anniversary in 2026 and continues serving up cold drinks and pub grub along Main Street. 08-26
Triple S Bar (Gone)
Eatontown, NJ Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76
Cruising along Route 35 in the shadow of Fort Monmouth, it was hard to miss the eye-catching roadside sign advertising Triple S Bar & Liquors in Eatontown, New Jersey. Whether you were a wayward traveler navigating the Jersey highways, a local heading home from work, or a soldier stationed right down the road looking for a cold six-pack, a quick bite, or a bag of ice for the cooler, this roadside stop had you covered.
The location had plenty of history before the neon ever lit up. Back in the day, the property was home to the Blue Jay Diner, a local landmark that served patrons along the highway starting in the early 1930s. That chapter came to an abrupt halt when a massive fire completely wiped out the diner on Christmas back in 1963.
Triple S Bar
Eatontown, NJ Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76
Rather than leaving a vacant lot behind, the three Samaras brothers (Nick, George, and Pete) stepped in to rebuild from the ground up, giving the joint its "Triple S" moniker when they opened the doors in 1965. For over three decades, the family ran a bustling tavern and package goods counter, earning a legendary reputation across Monmouth County for making some of the best custom sandwiches you could find on a lunch break.
UPDATE: The Triple S Bar was torn down about 18 months ago. Many thanks to BGD for this info. 07-01
UPDATE: The Triple S Bar & Liquors closed its doors years ago, and both the longtime building and its standout roadside sign were completely cleared away during highway alterations and area redevelopments. 08-26
Chanticleer Lounge
Ithaca, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
Ithaca, New York may be best known as the home of Cornell University, but downtown travelers know it for something a bit more colorful. Hanging right over the corner of State and Cayuga Streets, the glowing sign and twin four-foot neon roosters of the Chanticleer Lounge are practically impossible to miss.
Affectionately known to locals as "The Chanti," the spot was first opened right around Christmas in 1946 by brothers Anthony and Frank Leonardo. The family had ties to the Rochester bootlegging trade during Prohibition and originally moved south to Ithaca to seek medical care for Frank's son, eventually falling in love with the area and setting up shop.Sitting right next door to the historic State Theatre of Ithaca, the lounge has served generations of concertgoers and locals as the ultimate pre-show and afterparty pit stop.
Inside, you will find a classic, no-nonsense neighborhood joint with a glowing vintage plaster ceiling, pool table, and plenty of character. The famous roosters perched outside even inspired the longtime local catchphrase, "Meet me at the cock on the corner."
UPDATE: Following a community-funded restoration that refreshed the building facade and re-tubed the iconic neon roosters, the Chanticleer continues pouring drinks as downtown Ithaca's classic neighborhood watering hole. 08-26
Al's Loung (Closed)
Tupper Lake, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
Cruising along Main Street in the Adirondack town of Tupper Lake, you might have caught a glimpse of the understated marquee perched right over the entranceway of Al's Lounge. It was the kind of classic small-town tavern where travelers and locals alike could pull up a stool and shake off the road.
The spot was bought back in 1966 by Joseph "P-2" LeBlanc, who earned his unique nickname from the French word "pitou" (meaning "little one") for being the smallest of nine kids. Even though the sign out front read Al's Lounge for four decades, everybody in town knew the place by its famous local slogan: "Meet you at P-2's."
UPDATE: In 2006, the old lounge was taken over by LeBlanc's daughter and transformed into P-2's Irish Pub, with a new neon sign replacing the vintage Al's Lounge marquee. 08-26
Town Tavern
The Belmar Pub & Grill
Triple S Bar (Gone)
Triple S Bar
Chanticleer Lounge
Al's Loung (Closed)
