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Chicago Signs (page 3)

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Philadelphia Church
Chicago, IL		 Simon's Tavern
Chicago, IL
The Philadelphia Church sign was built in 1940. [map]

Simon's Tavern opened in 1934. This sign was built in 1994 as a replica of the original blade sign. The pickled herring was not part of the original sign. The fish's helmet and colors of this sign reflect this neighborhood's Swedish roots. [map]

Town & Country
Liquor Mart
Chicago, IL		 El Nopal Bakery
Chicago, IL		 Central Gyros
Chicago, IL
The Town & Country Liquor Mart sign appears to be from the 1950s. [map]

The El Nopal Bakery was established in the 1950s. The bakery moved to this location by 1961. It closed by 2011. The building now houses the Sleep Walk Chocolateria & Cafe but the sign remains. It might be from the 1950s or 1960s. There is a still-operating location with a similar sign. That location closed in 2015 but reopened in 2017. [map]

Central Gyros opened in 1979 and this sign appears to be from then. The meat on the spit is or was backlit at night and revolves or revolved. For more, see this website. [map]

Capitol Car Wash
Chicago, IL		 former Uptown Car Wash
Chicago, IL		 Hidden Cove Lounge
Chicago, IL
The Capitol Car Wash had opened by 1962. The sign was previously painted red. Around 2021, it was painted blue and the neon letters were replaced with backlit plastic. The design is very similar to the Elgin Car Wash in Elgin, IL. [map]

The former Uptown Car Wash had been built by 1957 and this sign is probably from then. The car wash also served as a gas station. It became a National Car Wash later. The "National" panel on top was replaced with the Shell gas sign sometime after 2019. The lights around the panels must have originally flashed in sequence. [map]

The Hidden Cove Lounge opened in 1965 and this sign is probably from then. The bar closed in 2025. [map]

M-K Cleaners
Chicago, IL		 Original Ferrara & Co. Pastries
Chicago, IL		 Frank's Pizzeria
Chicago, IL
M-K Cleaners has been gone for decades but this sign remains. It appears to be from the 1950s. [map]

The Original Ferrara & Co. Pastries was established in 1908 as the Ferrara Lezza & Co. candy and pastry shop. This location was built in 1920 for candy production while the previous location began focusing on wedding cakes and pastries. In 1959, the company moved candy production to Forest Park. I believe that's when this location opened as a bakery. This sign might be from the 1950s or earlier. [map]

The Lezza family of Ferrara Lezza went on to establish Lezza Spumoni & Desserts. Production continues in Bellwood, IL and a retail location opened in Elmhurst, IL in 2015.

Frank's Pizzeria opened in 1952 and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

Kiddies' Fashions
Chicago, IL
The Kiddies' Fashions shop opened around 1946 and this sign is probably from then. The building has been vacant for many years but the sign remains.[map]

Esquire Motel
Chicago, IL
The Esquire Motel was built in 1959 and these signs appears to be from then. In 2009, the sign still had neon letters for "Television", "Switchboard," and "air conditioned" beneath "MOTEL." Around 2017, the pole sign's neon was replaced with backlit plastic letters. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Stop & Drink Liquor House
Chicago, IL
The Stop & Drink Liquor House became the Clark Street Ale House in 1996. This sign which is probably from the 1950s remains. For more, see this website. [map]

Central Camera
Chicago, IL
Central Camera was founded in Chicago in 1899. It moved here in 1929 and this sign was installed around 1930. The store was set on fire in 2020 during riots but the sign was not damaged. The store reopened in 2022. However, the facade signs on the windows shown in the third photo above are gone now. For more, see this website. [map]

Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL
2012: 2025:
The Chicago Cubs have played baseball at Wrigley Field since 1916. This sign hangs above the entrance. It was installed in 1934 and was originally painted blue. The lower part of the sign had changeable letters then. It was painted red in 1965. I don't know when the LED message board section was added to the sign. The sign was restored in 2016. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Redwood Lounge
Chicago, IL		 Athenian
Candle Co.
Chicago, IL		 Golden Apple Restaurant
Chicago, IL
The Redwood Lounge has been closed since 2009 but these signs remain. The plastic sign might be from the 1960s. The stainless steel letters might be older. [map]

The Athenian Candle Co. was established in 1922. The store continues to produce religious candles and also sells statues, rosaries, prayer cards, crucifixes, books, and other items. The business moved to this location in 1961. The sign might be from then or, possibly, it was built in the 1950s and moved here when the store relocated. [map]

The Golden Apple Restaurant was originally a Golden Nugget Restaurant. The bulbs at the top of the sign represent a gold nugget. This was part of the Golden Nugget Pancake House chain which was established in 1966. There are still four locations in Chicago. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

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