Chopstick Cafe (Closed)
Pocatello, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This marquee on the front of the Chopstick Cafe looks like it was recently painted. The business likely dated back to the 1950s, making it a longtime fixture in downtown Pocatello. The colorful sign and distinctive lettering helped make the restaurant a familiar sight along Main Street for decades. 09-06

The cafe was originally established by the Hom family and became part of Pocatello's downtown landscape during the postwar era. Like many independent restaurants of its generation, it managed to survive changing tastes, economic ups and downs, and the arrival of national chains before eventually reaching the end of its run.

UPDATE: The Chopstick Cafe closed its doors on June 1, 2018. Fortunately, the story doesn't end there. Prior to the closure, the cafe's vintage neon sign was restored through Pocatello's "Relight the Night" program with assistance from YESCO, the sign company famous for many of Las Vegas' iconic neon displays. While the restaurant is gone and the sign has been removed from the original site, the restored marquee survives and continues to be appreciated as a piece of Pocatello's roadside history. 07-25

Stoney's Desert Inn Cafe (Gone)
Mountain Home, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Stoney's Desert Inn Cafe was the kind of roadside place that always seemed to be there when you needed it. Located in Mountain Home, Idaho, the cafe advertised 24-hour service and welcomed travelers at all hours of the day and night. 09-06

For many years, the restaurant was owned and operated by Earle and Mary Stone, becoming a familiar stop for both locals and those passing through town. Places like Stoney's were once a common sight along the highways of the West, offering a hot meal, a cup of coffee, and a place to take a break before getting back on the road.

UPDATE: Stoney's Desert Inn Cafe met a tragic end when the building was destroyed by fire in December 2016. The property was later cleared, bringing an end to a longtime Mountain Home landmark. Fortunately, the Stone family legacy continues. In 2020, Earle and Mary's daughter and grandson opened Stoney's Restaurant in town, carrying on the family name and tradition that made the original cafe a local favorite for so many years. 07-25

Koffee Kup Cafe (Closed)
Hammett, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Not sure if this place was really named the "Coffee Cafe," but anyplace with a neon cup is a welcome stop.

As it turns out, the business was called the Koffee Kup Cafe. Located in the small town of Hammett, it was one of the many roadside cafes that served travelers back when much of the traffic between Boise and Twin Falls passed through town on the old highway. The neon coffee cup out front made it hard to miss. 09-06

UPDATE: The Koffee Kup Cafe has been closed for many years. While the restaurant is gone, the iconic sign remains standing and has become a favorite subject for roadside photographers and fans of vintage Americana. The old neon coffee cup continues to watch over Hammett as a reminder of an earlier era of highway travel. 07-25

Savoy Cafe
Trinidad, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Check out this sign for the Savoy Cafe in Trinidad, Colorado. When this photo was taken, the cafe was still operating, though I wasn't sure whether the hotel above it was as well. The building itself dates back to 1893, making it one of the older commercial structures in downtown Trinidad.

For decades, the Savoy Cafe was a familiar part of the local streetscape, serving customers beneath the shadow of the historic hotel. The combination of the vintage sign, old brick building, and long history gave the corner plenty of character and made it feel like a holdover from an earlier era. 11-07

UPDATE: The Savoy Cafe has since closed its doors, but the historic building remains. The old restaurant space is vacant today, while the upper floors continue to operate as the Savoy Hotel. More than 130 years after the building was constructed, the landmark still stands as part of downtown Trinidad's historic commercial district. 07-25

Sullivan's Cafe (Gone)
Cedar City, UT
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

Here's the well-known sign at Sullivan's Cafe in Cedar City, Utah. Sullivan's Cafe had been serving customers since 1946 and remained in the Sullivan family for three generations before being purchased by its longtime general manager in 2007.

According to the sign, the place was known for its home made food. 01-09

UPDATE : Sullivan's Cafe is now closed for business. Following the retirement of the owners, the restaurant shut its doors and the original Sullivan's lettering was removed from the sign. 08-15

UPDATE : The last time I passed through town, the Arcade lettering had faded and there didn't appear to be an operating cafe at the site. Yet another Utah roadside landmark has quietly slipped into history. 07-25

Sullivan's Cafe and Sulli's Steakhouse sign
Cedar City, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a close-up of the marquee from 2001. The sign advertises homemade food along with a two eggs and chicken fried steak special for $3.79. It even has pancakes!