Dairy Queen
Charlotte, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's one Dairy Queen that's almost guaranteed to make you slow down. Sitting along Wilkinson Boulevard, this old Dairy Queen still sports one of the most unusual roadside signs you'll find anywhere. Perched on the roof is a giant painted Eskimo character holding frozen treats, the kind of oversized advertising that once made roadside America so much fun. 04-08
Opened in 1947, this little walk-up stand is the oldest operating Dairy Queen in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the Southeast. While most early Dairy Queens have been remodeled beyond recognition or replaced altogether, this one still looks much like it did decades ago. The compact Art Deco-style building, curved glass corners, and simple walk-up window make it easy to picture families stopping for a cone on a warm summer afternoon before continuing down the road.
Dairy Queen
Charlotte, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The rooftop sign is what really steals the show. Unlike the familiar corporate signs seen today, this beautifully painted early Dairy Queen mascot still watches over Wilkinson Boulevard, making it one of only a handful of these original character signs left anywhere in the country. It's the kind of roadside landmark that reminds you when restaurants competed for your attention with memorable architecture instead of bigger parking lots and taller buildings.
If you appreciate vintage roadside Americana, this is one stop that's well worth seeking out. It's a wonderful reminder of how much personality even a simple ice cream stand could have.
UPDATE: The Dairy Queen remains open, but the property has recently been offered for sale, raising questions about the future of this remarkable roadside survivor. For now, the vintage rooftop sign continues welcoming travelers. 08-26
Old Soda Shop
Davidson, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
In the college town of Davidson, NC and right across the street from a nice little campus is this old Soda Shop. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 05-08
Opened in 1951 across from Davidson College, the little shop has been serving students, locals, and visitors for generations. It began life as the M&M Soda Shop, named after founders Mary Potts and Murray Fleming, and before long it became one of those places where everyone seemed to have a favorite booth or favorite flavor.
From the sidewalk, the vintage sign hints at what's waiting inside. Walk through the door and you'll find a classic soda fountain with black-and-white tile floors, a long counter, and wooden booths that feel like they've been welcoming customers forever. It's the sort of place where a hand-spun milkshake, phosphate, or fresh orangeade still seems perfectly at home.
The best roadside stops aren't always the biggest or flashiest. Sometimes they're quiet little places like this that have simply kept doing things the same way for decades. If you're wandering through Davidson, it's worth slowing down long enough to pull up a stool and enjoy one of North Carolina's classic soda shops.
UPDATE: The Soda Shop remains open on Main Street, and its vintage sidewalk sign still welcomes customers just as it has for generations. 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
Heading down Ponce de Leon Avenue, it was hard to miss the old Krispy Kreme. The classic brick building was topped by a rotating rooftop sign wrapped in neon, making it one of Atlanta's best-known roadside landmarks. Whether you planned to stop or not, it always seemed to catch your eye. 02-09
Opened here in 1965, the shop became a favorite stop for generations of doughnut lovers. In 2016, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal purchased the landmark, helping keep the longtime location going. Unfortunately, two fires in 2021 destroyed the vintage building and its famous rooftop sign.
UPDATE: A new Krispy Kreme reopened on the site in 2023. While the original rooftop sign is gone, the restored roadside marquee still welcomes motorists along Ponce de Leon Avenue. 08-26
Kreme Delite Marquee
Athens, AL Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
Need something to cool off on a hot Alabama afternoon? Kreme Delite has been doing just that since 1951. From the moment the script neon sign comes into view above the roof, you know you've found one of those classic roadside ice cream stands that seems to have changed very little over the years. It's the kind of place that's almost impossible to drive past without thinking about stopping for a cone. 04-09
Long before giant drive-thrus and frozen dessert chains became the norm, little dairy bars like this were scattered along highways and through small towns across the South. Kreme Delite is one of the lucky survivors. The compact walk-up building, the covered patio, and the familiar rooftop sign still create the same welcoming roadside scene that travelers have enjoyed for generations.
Kreme Delite Sign Close-up
Athens, AL Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
The menu is filled with old favorites. Soft-serve cones, chili dogs, banana splits, and thick shakes have been bringing people back year after year. Whether you're making a special trip or simply happen to be passing through Athens, it's the sort of place that turns a routine drive into a pleasant excuse to pull over for a while.
The rooftop sign is what really makes this stop memorable. Perched high above the building, the glowing script has become one of Athens' best-known roadside landmarks. It's simple, colorful, and full of personality, exactly the kind of sign that once helped family-owned businesses stand out along America's highways. After dark, the neon gives the whole corner a warm glow that's hard to resist.
Kreme Delite Restaurant
Athens, AL Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
Places like Kreme Delite remind you that roadside architecture doesn't have to be elaborate to be memorable. A small building, a great sign, and good ice cream are sometimes all it takes. Nearly every town once had a place like this. Very few have managed to survive with so much of their original character still intact.
If you're exploring northern Alabama, this is one stop that's worth working into the route. Grab a cone, admire the neon, and enjoy one of those increasingly rare roadside places that still feels much the way it did decades ago.
UPDATE: Kreme Delite remains open, and its classic rooftop neon sign continues welcoming customers more than 75 years after the stand first opened. 08-26
Peach Pit Ice Cream (Gone)
Ellerbe, NC Photos and info courtesy Tony Craig
Need an excuse to stop for ice cream? Peach Pit Ice Cream had a pretty good one. The little stand was built inside an old railroad caboose, making it one of those roadside stops that was almost impossible to drive past without taking a second look. 02-07
Parked alongside the highway in Ellerbe, the caboose served homemade peach ice cream and plenty of summertime treats to travelers passing through North Carolina's peach country. It was a simple idea, but the caboose gave the place a personality all its own.
UPDATE: The caboose has since been removed, and Peach Pit Ice Cream is no longer there. 08-26
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Old Soda Shop
Kreme Delite Marquee
Kreme Delite Sign Close-up
Kreme Delite Restaurant
Peach Pit Ice Cream (Gone)
