I thought this was somehow associated to Dinty Moore canned stew, but learned that it was a man's name and he opened this restaurant around the 1930's. He ran it for around 30 years and it was run by others until some time in the 1980's. I am not sure if it was always in this location, but this building was built in 1955. The Coca-Cola sign on the front of the building says Regal Begal Restaurant. I thought this was a funny coincidence, or perhaps not, as both Dinty Moore and

This is one of those places that you might see in a Hallmark movie. It is the oldest continually operating business in the county. It began in 1911 in this great red brick building with the fancy roofline brickwork and yellow diamond design. Founded by Dr. Tinsley and his pharmacist nephew, then joined in 1933 by pharmacist Lloyd Bible hitching the two names together as they still are today. In 1942 the store expanded and added the historic lunch counter and soda fountain whe

I have so much appreciation for businesses who honor the history of their building or location with vintage neon signage. The Smoke and Barrel opened in 2015 in a building that was built in 1905. The space was most notably occupied by Oliver's ladies clothing store from 1946-1992. When the restaurant opened, their renovations also preserved some of the space's original character. Bravo! You can visit them on South Steele Street in Sanford, NC

I happened to spot this interesting looking building while making a gas stop. The Big Chief neon sign mounted on the building is in great shape but it appeared that whatever the building had been, it had been closed for some time. As it turns out, it actually never opened. The property has been carefully adorned with vintage memorabilia and was one man's vision that was never fulfilled. The neon sign was originally used at the Big Chief Motel in Bean Station, TN. The building

Since 2011, this towering pale green saguaro cactus, rising out of the asphalt, has been the mascot for Cinco Amigos Mexican Restaurant. The building behind the sign perfectly matches the signs energy and color. It's not hard to spot this giant cactus on North Willow Avenue in Cookeville, TN

The club was opened in 1953 as a bar and dance hall. At some point the steak house restaurant was added. It was purchased by Harvey and Betty Helderman in 1955. They, and later their son, ran it for over 60 years. Great word play on Melody for the name. You can still see this great neon sign on Sunset Drive in Arco, ID

The Eagle's Store opened in 1908 as a general store by former Yellowstone Park employee, Samuel Eagle, and his wife Ida. In 1910 they added the Historic Soda Fountain that is still there today. The Eagle family operated the store for 113 years until it was sold in 2021. The current owners have maintained the nostalgic look and feel of the soda fountain with the same old swiveling stools that have decades of stories worn into the leather. You can take a step back in time and v

Alex Madonna opened the inn in 1958 with 12 rooms that quickly expanded to 110 themed rooms, a bakery, restaurant, wine cellar, coffee shop, cocktail lounge, spa, gift shop and much more. All with a lot of pink. It looks like it was designed by a Barbie dreamhouse enthusiast. I'm not a big pink fan, but I have to say that I totally didn't hate it. This place is great! Definitely worth a visit. Stop by and embrace the pink on Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo, CA

The pub began in 2008. The building that it is located in was built in 1920. I couldn't find what the origins of the building were but it may have always been some kind of eating establishment as I found an application for a liquor license by the Tamo Brothers in 1933. They were an early Swiss-Italian immigrant family of the time. You can see the retro neon sign on historic Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, CA

Mrs. Chapman's Angel Food Donut Shop opened in the 1950's. At one time there was a chain of 20 of them which began in 1941 but this one is the last to remain that still bears the original name. The name comes from the founder, Jack Chapman's, mother. Locals say, "meet me at the giant donut" is better directions than google maps as it is used by most for navigation. You can see this iconic donut for yourself on Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach, CA

Standing out front of Whiskey Bill's Saloon and Liquor Emporium is this 20 foot tall, red jacketed, mustachioed gentleman, directing traffic towards the establishment. He was moved here from Chicago in 2021. He was an Arman's Hobo statue, made in the late 1960's, and originally would have been holding balloons in his out stretched hand and caring a hobo stick with a bag tied on the end in the other hand. He may be the last one of his kind so don't miss the opportunity to see

This store was opened in 1878 by Robert Lee Buchanan and his brothers and has been patiently waiting since then, floors creaking, screen door slamming, ready to sell you whatever you didn’t know you needed. They claim to be the longest continually running country store on the East Coast. There's a little bit of everything inside and their slogan is "If we ain't got it, you don't need it." If for no other reason than just to walk across the well worn, uneven original wood flo

At the site of the original Dairi-O location, framing the entrance of the restaurant, is a giant milkshake cup. The cup has two giant red straws sticking out the top because obviously, it's big enough to share. Dairi-O began in 1947 and now has several locations across North and South Carolina. A retro roadside giant that serves up just enough nostalgia to draw you in. You can step right inside this towering shake on East Dalton Road in King, NC

This place is pure underground magic. Located on the site of the original 1834 Galt Hotel, it sits in an almost 200 year old basement that has survived a fire and flood. In 2011 it was reborn with the original brick walls and reclaimed materials from the original building. If you are in downtown, duck under the bridge on West Washington Street in Louisville, KY

The original location opened in 1971 and this one in 1992. Easily the best pizza I've ever had, with it's unique charred, but not burnt, cheesy caramelized crust. The restaurant is named for the whaling ship from "Moby Dick" and has a shameless whale mascot, sipping a beer and wearing a thong, giving a nod to the "whale tail" fashion statement of the 90's. Located on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago, IL, it's worth the trip. When your pizza arrives, don't be surprised if you are mo

This muffler man can be found standing outside of Carl's Ice Cream Factory luring customers in with a giant ice cream cone in one hand and a giant cheeseburger in the other. He reminds us that life is too short not to enjoy custard and burgers. Carl's waiting to join you for a selfie on West College Avenue in Normal, IL

This general store began in 1880 under another name during the days when Granville was a thriving riverboat town. It changed hands and names many times until Thomas Benjamin Sutton acquired it in 1925 and ran it for 45 years. In addition to selling food and dry goods, Sutton also ran a barbershop, pharmacy and fix it shop out of the store. After being closed for many years, it was finally renovated and reopened in 2001. Today the store is a gift shop, restaurant, museum and m

This great classic neon sign was at an old fashioned drive in style restaurant that opened in 1951. The food was really good, but the star of the show was the butterscotch milkshake! I may, or may not have, gone back later for another! Stop by and try one on US Highway 68 East in Aurora, KY

Billed as the last diner on Route 66, this retro diner began in 1986 but hasn't updated their calendar since the 1950's. The diner maintains it's nostalgic charm with bright neon signs, the decor and the menu. There are even vintage newspapers and a jukebox the plays the oldies. You can stop by for some classic diner fare on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA

This restaurant began in a smaller location in 1931 and moved here 20 years later. Still family owned and boasts a crowd of famous guests with many celeb photos on the walls. No photos of one set of famous diners who ate their last meal here in 1969 before their fate was sealed at the hands of the Manson Family later that night. The exact booth they sat in was featured in the movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". True Crime buffs still pilgrimage there to see the famous boot