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Indianapolis Signs

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Sam Wolf Used Cars
Indianapolis, IN		 D&S Liquors [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Wonder Bread
Indianapolis, IN		 Pine Motel [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Reed Drapery Service
Indianapolis, IN
The Sam Wolf Used Cars sign appears to be from the 1950s. The "Over 60 Years" part of the sign was probably a later update. By 2018, the neon on the top panel was removed and it was painted over. [map]

D&S Liquors opened in 1962 and this sign was probably from then. The sign appears to have been a mix of neon and plastic originally. The cocktail stirrer doubles as a clock. Around 2022, the sign was repainted and remodeled for Bottle Pop Liquors. [map]

The Wonder Bread plant features a huge neon sign and tours for those curious to see how the bread, Twinkies, and Ding Dongs are made. Wonder Bread was invented in Indianapolis in 1921. The sign has been here for many decades. This photo is from 2005. By 2014, the red "Wonder Bread" panels had been removed from the sign. The "Welcome to Wonderland" text at the top has been changed to "Hostess Brands." For more, see this website. [map]

The Pine Motel sign still had neon back in the 1990s. By 2013, the sign had been repainted. The "TV" and "Air Conditioned" text were gone. "Free WiFi" had been added to the bottom of the panel. In 2022, the sign was hit by a truck and removed. It is now in a private collection.

The Reed Drapery Service signs appear to be from the 1950s or earlier. By 2022, the store had closed but the signs remain. [map]

Dunkin' Donuts
(now Five Guys)
Indianapolis, IN		 H&R Block
(now NY Gourmet Deli)
Indianapolis, IN		 Checkered
Flag Tavern
Indianapolis, IN		 Lee's Cash & Go
(now Boost Mobile)
Indianapolis, IN
These Dunkin' Donuts, H&R Block, Checkered Flag Tavern and Lee's Cash & Go signs were originally revolving Roselyn Bakery signs. The Roselyn Bakery was established in 1943. There were 34 locations when the chain folded in 1999. The Dunkin' Donuts opened in 2008, taking over the location previously occupied by Panda Express. By 2014, Dunkin' had closed. In 2015, that location was housing a Pie Five Pizza Co. It now houses a Five Guys. The Lee's Cash & Go location now houses a Boost Mobile store. The sign has been painted black.

There is or was another location that housed a Payday Loans (now We Buy Gold). That sign might be gone now. If there are any other former Roselyn Bakery signs out there that I'm missing, please let me know. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [Five Guys map]; [NY Gourmet Deli map]; [Checkered map]; [Lee's map]

Stout's Shoes
Indianapolis, IN		 Wheeler Mission
Indianapolis, IN		 Emrich's
Furniture [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Barringer's Tavern
Indianapolis, IN
Stout's Shoes was established in 1886. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Wheeler Mission sign was restored around 2008 and is lit at night. Plexiglass panels protect the neon tubing. For more, see this website. [map]

Emrich's Furniture opened in 1881 and closed in 1997. This sign was still there when this photo was taken in 2010. The sign was there in 2014 but gone by 2015.

Barringer's Tavern opened in the late 1800s. In recent years, this sign was removed and replaced with a plastic box sign. A customer found the old sign in a dumpster and saved it. A few years later, the sign was given to the bar's new owners. It was restored and reinstalled. This photo is from 2010. The placed closed and the sign was removed by 2017. In 2019, the place reopened and the sign was reinstalled. [map]

Art Center
Indianapolis, IN		 Radio Radio
Indianapolis, IN
This Art Center sign hands on the Murphy Art Center building. I don't know what business it advertised for originally or if it was brought here from someplace else. The "South East Side" lettering appears to be fairly new. There was obviously a different word where "Art" is now. This sign is lit at night. For more see this website. [map]

Radio Radio is a live music venue. This sign is a modern one. For more see this website. [map]

Red Key Tavern
Indianapolis, IN		 Waffle House [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Waffle House [gone]
Bloomington, IN
The Red Key Tavern was established in 1933. The sign is from the early 1950s and features animated musical notes. The notes are from the song "How Dry I Am." Since 2015, the owner has been trying to raise money to have a replica sign made. It will cost about $14,000. For more, see this website. [map]

These Waffle House locations are unrelated to the Waffle House stores which originated in the South. The Bloomington location opened in 1967. The one in Indianapolis probably opened shortly after that. The Indianapolis sign's waffle panel on top was gone by 2013. By 2018, the sign's panels had been replaced for the Continental Grill. It now advertises for the Taqueria Dona Sofi. The Bloomington Waffle House closed in 2013 and was demolished. That sign is gone. There was an abandoned sign in Indianapolis which has been adapted for Plumbers Supply Co. [map]

More Indianapolis:
Action Duckpin
Catalina Motel [vintage; gone]
Clover West Motel
Expo Bowl, Jubilee Bowl, Western Bowling Center, Woodland Bowling Center
Hedlund's Hardware [map]
Kahn's Fine Wines & Spirits
Melody Inn [gone]

Indiana
(page 1)		 Indiana
(page 2)		 Indiana
(page 3)		 Indiana
(page 4)		 Indiana
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