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Neon Eateries Texas

 

Outside of the Continental Club is this fine neon sign, catching the eye of passing motorists.

The Continental Club first opened in 1955 and is known to be on of the oldest Austin clubs. It was home to a super club, burlesque club, and eventually bar over the years. Word is the building had been a laundromat and a garage before its original owner Morin Scott turned it into a nightclub. Located on South Congress, the club was refurbished is considered a historic landmark.

The Continental Club
Austin, TX
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Continental Club
Austin, TX
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

 

Texas Cafe (Removed)
Austin, TX
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Neon roadside eatery signs are always great to see, both when you're hungry and in the mood for a good neon gem. This marquee for D&L's Texas Cafe still lights up the roadside along a boulevard in Austin.

 

UPDATE 01/07 : D&L's Texas Cafe and its sign are no more along Congress Ave. 01-07

 

Hill's Cafe (Closed)
Austin, TX
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This neon marquee advertises the Hill's Cafe, which dates back over 50 years. An old standby of the main boulevard in Austin, check out Hill's for some good eats.

This cafe is located on 4700 S. Congress Avenue next door to the Classic Inn off of Congress Avenue in Austin.

 

UPDATE 11/20 : The Hills Cafe closed down in September 2018 as this area of South Congress continues to evolve into mixed-use development. The area's rapid growth and high property taxes is making it almost unaffordable for the venerable Austin businesses to stay alive in Austin, especially in this area.

Hill Cafe Neon Sign
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

 

The cafe opened back in 1947 and has featured comfort food to locals and travelers alike for over 70 years such as chicken fried steak and burgers.

 

El Patio
Austin, TX
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The marquee for the El Patio Mexican Food restaurant in Austin just seems to stand out at night. I guess it helps when the sombrero on the sign is neon lit and a bright red. 05-04

 

UPDATE 11/20 : The El Patio started in 1954 and still serves hungry folks in Austin to this day. See the El Patio Austin website for more.

 

El Patio reflecting off the front dining window
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The restaurant announced that they would be closing after 65 years so that the owner could retire. After one month, the restaurant reopened again at the same location and menu.

 

U Drop Inn Cafe
Shamrock, TX
Postcard courtesy Dan MacPherson

Here's a shot of the recently restored U Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock, TX. This art deco treasure, built in 1936, was restored as part of the neon restoration program along Route 66.

The U-Drop Inn was built in the 1930's and is joined with the Tower Gas. The place now house the local Chamber of Commerce. 03-05

See more Texas Route 66 treasures and at Roadside Peek's Spotlight From the Road Texas - Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe

 

Doc's Motorworks (Gone)
Austin, TX
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a shot of the neon sign at Doc's Motorworks Bar and Grill. This Austin, TX location is usually open til' midnight and has quite a turnout. The sign was designed and built by Todd Sander's from Roadside Relics. 01-07

 

 

UPDATE 11/20 : Here's another photo of the Doc's Motorworks. . The South Congress location closed its doors in December 2016 due to mixed use development encroaching and replacing this property.

 

Doc's Motorworks
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

 

 

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© Copyright 1998-2023 Syd Nagoshi. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the author.