email: roadarch@outlook.com

Tennessee Signs (page 3)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Southern Finance
& Thrift Corp.
Kingsport, TN		 Kingsport Office Supply
Kingsport, TN		 Hog Wild
Saloon [gone]
Kingsport, TN		 Lynn Garden
Restaurant
Kingsport, TN
The Southern Finance & Thrift Corp. sign was built in the 1950s and was originally at a different location. The business moved here around 1964. The sign was restored by Bristol Sign in 1992. Around 2018, the sign was loosened by a storm and removed. In 2022, after the building's exterior was refurbished, the sign was restored and reinstalled. The "$200 Up" has been changed to "$500 Up." [map]

Kingsport Office Supply changed its name to Kingsport Imaging Systems but the sign remains. They now sell and service office equipment. [map]

The Hog Wild Saloon occupied a former Howard Johnson's restaurant. It later became the Aladdin's Restaurant, hence the lamp. The Howard Johnson's motel rooms and gatehouse still remain. The restaurant building was demolished by 2021 but this sign remained. In 2024, it was removed by a sign seller.

The Lynn Garden Restaurant opened in 1949. This sign might be from then or shortly after that. This photo is from 2010. The sign has since been repainted. Although the neon overlaying the text was removed decades ago, the neon rings are still lit. [map]

More Kingsport:
Parkway Plaza Shopping Center [gone]

Kingston:
Baggett Pharmacy

Sunset Motel [gone]
Knoxville, TN		 Sara Lee Bread
Knoxville, TN
This photo of the Sunset Motel sign is from 2007. By 2011, this sign had been replaced with a plastic box sign.

This Sara Lee Bread sign is on the roof of the former Kern's Bakery plant. The sign was originally painted with the Kern's label. It was lit at night with neon sequencing around the bread slices. The bakery was operating as Bimbo Bakeries when it closed in 2012. In 2015, there were plans to redevelop the building. In 2017, the property was being developed for restaurants and retail space. The sign was repainted with the original Kern's Bread label. [map]

MAC Auto Loans
Knoxville, TN		 Lonnie's Auto Trim Shop
Knoxville, TN		 Original Freezo
Knoxville, TN		 11-70 Motor Court
Knoxville, TN		 Dix's Plaza
Motor Lodge
Lebanon, TN
MAC Auto Loans, aka Manufacturers Acceptance Corp, opened in 1929. The sign and cool, recessed-front building were from much later. In 2023, the building was demolished but the sign remains. A new apartment building is being constructed. The sign will likely be adapted. [map]

Lonnie's Auto Trim Shop has been selling seat covers and convertible tops since 1947. The sign might be from then. It obviously had neon originally. This photo is from 2005. By 2011, the panels had been replaced. The text is now a different font style. For more, see this website. [map]

Original Freezo has been around since the 1950s. This sign was repainted around 2001. The sign previously read "A Taste Thrill". In this 2005 photo, it now reads "The Original Freezo". The sign has been repainted again. There were once other Freezo locations in Knoxville. This seems to be the only one left. [map]

The 11-70 Motor Court sign is shaped like a highway shield sign. The name is a reference to the motel's location on the merged State Highways of 11 and 70. The rooms are used as private residences now. [map]

Dix's Plaza Motor Lodge features a shish kebab style sign. [map]

More Knoxville:
Aunt Helma's Restaurant
C&S Cleaners [gone]
Cliff Pettit Motors [vintage; gone]
Denton's Drive-in [vintage; gone]
Heins Co. Building Materials
JFG Coffee
L&N [map]
Lusk Body Co.
Pizza Palace Drive-in
former Regas Restaurant [map]
Terminal Garage Inc. Auto Parts

Cross Dry Cleaners
Lexington, TN		 KK's Pawn Shop
Manchester, TN		 Oak Liquors
Manchester, TN		 J&G Pizza and Steak House
Manchester, TN
The Cross Dry Cleaners opened in 1947. This sign might be from then but is more likely from the 1950s. [map]

The KK's Pawn Shop sign letters came from Big K stores. They have been there since at least 2007. Big K was a Nashville-based department store chain which was established in 1962 and bought out by Walmart in 1981. For more, see this website. [map]

The Oak Liquors sign is probably from the 1950s. The bulbs scintillate. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The J&G Pizza and Steak House opened in 1973. This sign appears to be from then. [map]

Madison:
Madison Bowl

Martin:
The Hearth Restaurant

Fraley's
Furniture [gone]
McMinnville, TN		 Dinty Moore's
McMinnville, TN		 Pappy's Drive-in [gone]
Milan, TN
Fraley's Furniture was still open when this photo was taken in 2003. By 2013, the store had closed and the signs were gone.

I don't know when Dinty Moore's restaurant opened or closed. The building housed The Regal Begal after that. That restaurant was gone by 2008. As of 2013, the building is still vacant but the sign remains. [map]

This photo of the Pappy's Drive-in sign is from 2010. Later that year, the bottom of the sign was crunched as if it was hit by a truck. In 2011, Pappy's closed and the building was demolished. This sign was still there in 2016. A new restaurant was built on the property and this sign was gone by 2022. For more, see this website.

I-24 Flea Market
Monteagle, TN		 Jim Oliver's Smoke House Restaurant
Monteagle, TN		 Gurkin's #4
Moscow, TN
The I-24 Flea Market features this hillbilly caricature. I don't know if this sign was part of a previous business at this location or erected by the Flea Market. This photo is from 2007. The sign was still there as of 2022. [map]

Jim Oliver's Smoke House Restaurant was in 1960 as the Bee Hive Drive-In. The Smoke House was built in 1975 at this location. The sign appears to be from then. In 2021, the restaurant burned down. It reopened in the Smokehouse Patio Grill building behind the original one. [map]

This neon ice cream cone is installed on a pole next to the Gurkin's #4 food stand. [map]

More Moscow:
Brad's Bar-B-Q [gone]

Murfreesboro Motel
Murfreesboro, TN		 Chambers
Guitars [gone]
Murfreesboro, TN
The Murfreesboro Motel sign features a Tennessee Walking Horse. This motel might have had a different name originally and added this plastic box. [map]

Chambers Guitars features a literal sign accented with LED tubing. This photo is from 2010. By 2015, the store had closed and the sign was gone.

Holden Hardware
Murfreesboro, TN		 Mullins Jewelry [gone]
Murfreesboro, TN
Holden Hardware has been here since 1948. The letters on the building have been painted orange. [map]

Mullins Jewelry opened in 1938. The store moved to a new location around 2007 and I don't know what happened to this sign.

More Murfreesboro:
Murfreesboro Strike & Spare

Tennessee
(page 1)		 Tennessee
(page 2)		 Tennessee
(page 4)		 Memphis Nashville

Main Signs Page