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Illinois Signs (page 14)

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Capponi's Italian Foods
Toluca, IL		 Mona's Italian Foods
Toluca, IL
Capponi's Italian Foods opened in 1934. This sign was built in the early 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Mona's Italian Foods opened in 1933. This sign was built around 1954 in response to the new sign that the nearby competition, Capponi's, had installed. The chef's spoon is sequentially animated. Mona's and Capponi's are just down the street from each other. Once competitors, both restaurants have been owned by the Bernardi family since 1965. During the week, the restaurants are open on alternating nights. They are both open on weekends. For more, see this website. [map]

Trenton House Restaurant
Trenton, IL
The Trenton House Restaurant was established in 1890. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

More Trenton:
Jim's Mens and Boys Shop [map]

Masonic Temple [gone]
Tuscola, IL		 Cooper Motel [gone]
Tuscola, IL
This Masonic Temple sign was probably from the 1950s. "A.F. & A.M." refers to Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. This photo is from 2009. By 2012, the sign had been replaced with a plastic version.

The Cooper Motel sign was probably built in the 1950s. The sign originally had a man in a car beneath the text panel. These photos are from 2009. By 2012, this motel replaced this sign with plastic box sign. However, this neon sign was saved and moved across the street to Cooper Motors. But by 2015, the sign was gone. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Illinois Railway Museum
Union, IL
The Illinois Railway Museum has a huge collection of trains and related items. All of these neon signs have been restored and are operable. The Santa Fe sign in the bottom row above came from Chicago. It was a recent acquisition when these photos were taken in 2012. It was restored and relit in 2016. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Courtesy Motel
Urbana, IL		 Jane Isbell Jewelry [gone]
Vandalia, IL
The Courtesy Motel opened around 1955 and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

The Jane Isbell Jewelry sign was probably from the 1950s. The jewelry store was gone and the space was occupied by Lulu's Stuff N Such when this photo was taken in 2010. The owner of the building planned to sell the sign. However, it was still there in 2013. In 2016, the store was vacant and the sign remained. The sign was gone by 2018.

More Urbana:
Blossom Basket
Brownie's Market [gone]

Veach's Truck Stop [gone]
Vienna, IL		 V.F.W.
Villa Grove, IL		 Brer Rabbit
Motel [gone]
Villa Park, IL
These photos of Veach's Truck Stop signs were taken in 2006. The plastic signs were adapted Gulf gas signs. Even the same colors were kept. The neon sign was installed on the side of the gas station. By 2008, the truck stop and the signs were gone. I'm told that the neon sign is now in a private collection. Veach Oil was founded in 1925. The company's headquarters was in Vienna, IL and there were many Veach gas stations in Illinois. I believe the company is defunct now and I would assume that the stations have closed now, too.

This V.F.W. sign is probably from the 1950s.

The Brer Rabbit Motel featured this nearly fully-functioning old neon sign. This sign was replaced with a plastic box sign around 2008. The original is now owned by a private collector in Indiana. [night photo thanks Glenda Campbell]

J's Peter Pan Cleaners [gone]
Villa Park, IL
It looks like the "J's" of J's Peter Pan Cleaners was a later addition. The business closed and the sign was removed in 2019.

More Villa Park:
Al's Smoke Shop [gone]
Hi-View Restaurant

Wataga:
Rib Shack

Sunset Motel
Waterloo, IL		 Schlitz
Waterloo, IL		 Topper
Watseka, IL
The Sunset Motel opened in the late 1950s. This sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

This Schlitz sign at Uncle John's RRR Bar was installed when the bar opened around 2021. I believe these plastic hand signs were built in the 1970s. There were also tap handles produced with this same design. [map]

The Topper sign is probably from the 1950s. It was completely restored around 2022. The photo above is from 2024. For more, see this website. [map]

King's Home Furnishings [gone]
Waukegan, IL		 Super IGA Market
Wayne City, IL
King's Home Furnishings opened in 1959 and this rooftop sign was probably from then. The store closed in 2019 and the sign is gone.

This Super IGA Market has been closed since at least 2008 but the sign remains. Now on the side of the building, it was probably on the front originally. These signs were mass-produced for the chain, probably in the 1950s. [map]

More Waukegan:
Juan's Chuck Wagon [gone]
Louie's Pizza [map]
Lucky Food Restaurant

West Chicago:
West Wind Motel [gone]

Seven Dwarfs
Family Restaurant
Wheaton, IL		 Malloy's Sav-way Liquors
Wheaton, IL
The Seven Dwarfs Family Restaurant sign was built in 1951. This photo is from 2006. In 2010, the sign was repainted and the bulbs were removed. Around 2015, the blue panels were repainted red. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Malloy's Sav-way Liquors opened around 1938. This sign is probably from the 1950s. This store might have been part of the Sav-way Liquors chain which has other locations in Illinois. I don't think any of the other Sav-way stores have signs like this. The first photo above is from 2006. This sign was repainted in 2008. The Sav-Way panel has been painted over. The store is now known as Malloy's Liquors. The second photo is from 2012. For more, see this website. [map]

More Wheaton:
Paoletti's Cleaners

Wheeling:
Joe's Pizzeria

Dell Rhea Chicken Basket
Willowbrook, IL		 Willowbrook
Ballroom [gone]
Willow Springs, IL
The Chicken Basket opened in 1938 inside a gas station. It moved to this building in 1946 and this sign was built then. In the early 1960s, the interstate was built and street traffic waned. In 1963, Dell Rhea bought the restaurant and changed the name to the Craftwood Inn. He changed the name and sign back to the Chicken Basket less than a year later. He had his name added to the top of the sign then. It had originally read "Nationally Famous". In 2017, the sign was restored and relit. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Willowbrook Ballroom was established in 1921 as "Oh Henry Park". It was renamed the Willowbrook Ballroom in 1959 and this sign is probably from then. In 2016, a devastating fire destroyed the ballroom. There are plans to rebuild it. The building has been demolished and the property is being developed for housing. The sign is gone. I don't know if it was saved. I haven't found any mention of plans to reinstall it. For more, see this website.

More Willowbrook:
Willowbrook Bowl [gone]

Gold Medal Cleaners
Wilmette, IL		 VFW [gone]
Wilmington, IL		 Lombardi
Chevrolet and Buick
Wilmington, IL
The Gold Medal Cleaners sign was built in 1958. This photo is from 2006. The sign was restored in 2012. For more, see this website. [map]

This VFW sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. It was still there in 2016. However, by 2018, both the building and sign were gone. For more, see this website.

The Lombardi Chevrolet and Buick sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2020, the top panel was covered with a vinyl tarp reading "Arnie Bauer." The tarp was still there in 2021. For more, see this website. [map]

More Wilmette:
Millen Hardware [map]

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
Winchester, IL
This Independent Order Of Odd Fellows was established in 1850. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

More Winchester:
Hotel Winchester [gone]

Woodstock:
Ray Wolf Jewelers
Wayne's Lanes

More Illinois:
Rexall Drug Stores (various cities)

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