What-A-Burger
Mooresville, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the What-A-Burger located in Mooresville, NC. This drive-in eatery is a roadside classic with its giant sign and drive-in spaces. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 05-08
Cruising through downtown Mooresville, it's hard not to notice the giant "Welcome to What-A-Burger" sign rising above the parking lot. Add in the covered drive-in spaces and you've got one of those classic roadside burger joints that seems to have changed very little over the years. What-A-Burger is the kind of place that makes you want to pull in, roll the windows down, and enjoy a burger without ever leaving your car.
This location has been serving customers since 1965 and is part of a small North Carolina chain that got its start in 1956. While many drive-ins have disappeared over the years, this one has managed to hold onto the features that made roadside dining so much fun. The giant sign still welcomes motorists, and the covered parking stalls continue reminding visitors of the days when a meal could be enjoyed right from the driver's seat.
What-A-Burger
Mooresville, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
If you're hungry, don't overlook the local favorites. Burgers piled high with chili and slaw have long been part of the menu, and washing one down with a Cherry-Lemon SunDrop seems like the perfect way to complete the experience. It's a combination that's about as North Carolina as it gets.
One thing worth mentioning is that this What-A-Burger has no connection to the much larger Texas-based Whataburger chain. This is a hometown North Carolina original that earned its own loyal following decades before the national chain arrived in the area.
UPDATE: What-A-Burger continues serving customers from its downtown Mooresville drive-in, and the giant roadside sign remains one of the town's most recognizable landmarks. 08-26
Cook Out
Charlotte, , NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here are pictures of a place called Cook Out. This particular one was off I-85 at the north border of Charlotte (Across from Bubba's to be exact). Pretty much a local chain as far as I can tell. They are not super common but you do see them from time to time. All I saw were carry out only except for the one in Salisbury, The place was good, burgs and chicken on a grill. I can tell you this, big or small the south knows how to make a good burger. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 07-08
The restaurant has the simple roadside look that made the early Cook Out locations easy to recognize. Most were built for carry-out, with double drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window instead of a dining room. Pull in, place your order, and before long you're back on the road with a fresh burger or grilled chicken sandwich. It was fast food with a little more personality.
Cook Out
Charlotte, , NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
One thing that always stood out about Cook Out was the food itself. The burgers were cooked over a real charbroiler instead of a flat grill, giving them that backyard cookout flavor the chain became known for. Add in barbecue, hot dogs, hush puppies, and an endless list of milkshakes, and it didn't take long to understand why people kept coming back.
UPDATE: Cook Out has expanded from a small North Carolina chain into a major Southeastern favorite with hundreds of locations. The Sunset Road restaurant continues serving customers just off Interstate 85. 08-26
The huge Krispy Kreme Doughnuts sign is located on Person Street in Raleigh, NC near the campus of Peace College. The sign was on around 4am but unfortunately they were closed. Many thanks to Tait Hilliard for info. 08-08
UPDATE: The Raleigh location was recently remodeled and reopened to a large crowd on June 1, 2010. This Krispy Kreme on Person Street originally opened in 1971. The original building was built in 1939 further down the street. For more information, see the News Observer article. 09-10
Nothing gets your attention quite like a giant glowing Krispy Kreme sign in the middle of the night. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on Person Street has one of North Carolina's best, towering above the street with its familiar neon while tempting hungry travelers to stop in. This Raleigh favorite has occupied its current location since 1970, continuing a local Krispy Kreme tradition that dates back to 1938. Sitting across from Peace College, the vintage sign and classic building have become familiar landmarks for generations of doughnut lovers.
UPDATE: The shop is still open today, and the giant neon sign continues welcoming motorists along Person Street. 08-26
Krispy Kreme (Rem.)
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Kevin Powers
This Krispy Kreme near downtown Atlanta, GA is an original model. The rotating Krispy Kreme sign encased in neon still turns on the roof today. Many thanks to Kevin Powers for info. 02-09
Driving along Ponce de Leon Avenue, it's hard to miss the classic Krispy Kreme sign rising above the roof. The rotating neon sign has been a familiar Atlanta landmark for decades, letting hungry motorists know that hot doughnuts aren't far away. It's one of those signs that seems to make people hungry the moment it comes into view.
This location has been serving Atlanta since 1965 and became one of the city's best-known Krispy Kreme shops. The original building had all the mid-century charm you'd expect, and the spinning rooftop sign made it even more memorable, especially after dark when the neon was doing its job.
Krispy Kreme (Rem.)
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Kevin Powers
Unfortunately, a devastating fire destroyed the original building in 2021. The good news is that the famous roadside sign was saved, carefully restored, and returned when a brand-new Krispy Kreme opened on the site in 2023. It's nice to know at least one familiar piece of this Atlanta landmark is still greeting travelers along Ponce de Leon Avenue.
UPDATE: The rebuilt Krispy Kreme is open today, and the restored vintage roadside sign continues welcoming doughnut lovers just as it has for generations. 08-26
Majestic Diner
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Kevin Powers
Cruising down Ponce de Leon Avenue, it's hard to miss the glowing neon at Majestic Diner. The vertical sign and the familiar promise of "Food That Pleases" have been welcoming hungry Atlantans for generations, making this one of the city's best-known roadside landmarks. After dark, the neon wrapped around the building makes the diner look every bit as inviting as it did decades ago. 02-09
The Majestic first opened in 1929 before moving to its present home in 1939, where it became one of the original businesses at Briarcliff Plaza. For years it was the place to grab a meal any time of the day or night, and its classic Art Deco styling, rounded marquee, and bright neon helped make it a favorite stop for locals and travelers alike.
The diner has also enjoyed a little time on the big screen. Its vintage look has made it a popular backdrop for movies and television productions filmed in Atlanta, but it never feels like a movie set. It still feels like the kind of place where you can slide into a booth, order breakfast, and watch the city go by outside the windows.
UPDATE: Majestic Diner is still serving customers today, although it no longer stays open around the clock. The iconic neon signs continue lighting up Ponce de Leon Avenue. 08-26
