Lotus
Cafe (Gone)
Brigham City, UT Photo courtesy Tony Craig
This old weather-beaten sign still advertises the Lotus Cafe in Brigham City. Check out the antenna-like device atop the sign, looking almost as if it's communicating with the Lotus like aliens in the sky. Whether that was the intention or not, it certainly makes the sign one of the more unusual roadside sights around.
The Lotus Cafe opened in 1950 and remained a longtime fixture of Brigham City. Founded by George Taniguchi, the family-run restaurant served generations of local residents and travelers passing through town. Over the years, the cafe became known for offering a mix of traditional American favorites alongside Asian-inspired dishes, giving it a character all its own.
Lotus Cafe Building Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
UPDATE: The Lotus Cafe closed in 2008, ending nearly six decades of operation. The building stood vacant for a number of years before eventually being demolished. Today the site at 324 South Main Street is an overgrown vacant lot, making these photographs one of the few remaining reminders of a restaurant that once occupied a unique place in Brigham City's roadside history. 07-25
Brian's Top Notch Cafe
Great Falls, MT Photo courtesy Lumaclar Production House
Brian's Top Notch Cafe is an old roadside cafe located in Great Falls, Montana. Check out the multi-colored top adorning the marquee out front. It's the kind of sign that catches your attention from down the block and makes you wonder how long it's been there.
The restaurant traces its roots back to 1938 when it originally opened as the Top-Notch Lunch. Over the years it became a longtime downtown fixture, serving generations of locals and travelers passing through Great Falls. In 1989, Brian Kapphan purchased the cafe and gave it the name it carries today.
UPDATE: Brian's Top Notch Cafe is still going strong. More than eighty years after the original restaurant opened, the colorful marquee continues to light up Central Avenue. Brian remains closely involved with the business and has earned a reputation not only for serving classic diner fare but also for helping members of the local community when they need it most. 06-06
Cafe
Burley, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Here's an old cafe sign that still stands tall in Burley, Idaho. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the cafe, but the sign was interesting enough to warrant a photograph anyway. 08-06
The weathered marquee looks like a survivor from an earlier era of roadside dining. Signs like this once lined the highways and main streets of towns throughout the West, advertising everything from coffee and pie to a full hot meal for travelers passing through.
Sometimes the mystery is part of the appeal. If anyone knows the history behind this sign or the cafe it once advertised, I'd love to hear the story.
UPDATE: Unknown. If you have information about this sign or the former cafe, please let me know. 07-25
Nelson's Cafe and Pilot Lounge (Closed)
Burley, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Whether a cafe or a club, Nelson's Cafe in Burley featured an interesting front entrance and distinctive lettering. The building had plenty of character and looked like the kind of place that had accumulated a few stories over the years.
The business traced its roots back to 1934 when it opened as the Camp Verde Cafe along Burley's old main street. Over time it evolved into Nelson's Cafe and Pilot Lounge, becoming a familiar sight for both locals and travelers passing through town.
UPDATE: Nelson's Cafe and Pilot Lounge has closed its doors and is now a lost local landmark. While the business is gone, photographs like this help preserve the memory of a time when independent cafes and lounges like Nelson's were common sights along the old highways of the West. 07-25
Sav-On Cafe (Closed)
Boise, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
This old sign is for the Sav-On Cafe in Boise, Idaho. Both sides of the marquee look like they've been slowly fading away over the years, giving it the appearance of a roadside survivor from another era. 08-05
The business traces its roots back to 1946 when it opened as a grocery store. In 1951, it became the Sav-On Drug, serving the neighborhood for many years. Although the drug store eventually disappeared after filing for bankruptcy in 1966, the cafe carried on and became a familiar Boise landmark in its own right.
UPDATE: The Sav-On Cafe closed its doors in 2011 after roughly 70 years in business. The owners cited economic challenges as one of the reasons for the closure. While the restaurant is gone, this weathered sign remains a reminder of a business that evolved with the times and managed to outlive the store that originally gave it its name. 07-25
Another side of the Sav-On Cafe sign Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Lotus
Cafe (Gone)
Brian's Top Notch Cafe
Cafe
Nelson's Cafe and Pilot Lounge (Closed)
Sav-On Cafe (Closed)
UPDATE
