Kotler Exterminating (Gone)
Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

Now this is how you advertise an exterminating company. Kotler Exterminating on Poplar Avenue in Memphis had quite a marquee, with the Kotler name outlined in rows of light bulbs and neon lettering underneath. Hard to miss this one while cruising down Poplar. 02-06

Kotler operated for years at 1313 Poplar Avenue, just west of Cleveland Street. The company was headed by Louis Kotler and became a familiar Memphis name in the pest control business. But for roadside fans, the real attraction was that big old sign hanging over the sidewalk. Bulbs, neon, and plenty of character made it a nice survivor from the days when even an exterminator could have a great marquee.

Unfortunately, neither the sign nor the building made it. Kotler Exterminating eventually closed, and the old Poplar Avenue building was later demolished.

UPDATE: The Kotler Exterminating building and its memorable bulb-and-neon marquee are both gone. The former 1313 Poplar Avenue property is now vacant land. 08-26

Contri Bro's Gift Basket and Florist
Birmingham, AL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's an old Birmingham roadside survivor that's still doing its job. Contri Bro's Gift Basket and Florist has been a familiar sight along 1st Avenue North for generations, with this great old sign advertising the family business out front. 06-06

The Contri Brothers story goes back to 1925, when the family business started as a neighborhood grocery known as Contri Bros. Food Basket. Flowers and gift baskets were added later, and by 1997 the grocery side was gone as the business concentrated on flowers, catering and those familiar gift baskets.

Best of all, the old sign survived along with the business. In 2020 it was taken down for restoration and then returned to its longtime spot looking much like it did back in the day.

UPDATE: Contri Brothers remains open on 1st Avenue North, and the vintage sign photographed here has been restored and reinstalled. Nice to see both the business and its roadside calling card still around after all these years. 08-26

Berry's Loan (Gone)
Nashville, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's another old downtown Nashville neon that once caught the eye. Berry's Loan had this great red neon sign hanging outside its longtime location near the Nashville Arcade. Nothing fancy here, just the kind of straightforward sign that looked especially good after dark. 06-06

Berry's dates back to 1941, when Sol and Lester Berry opened the business on Deaderick Street. It later moved to 4th Avenue and became a familiar downtown fixture, operating over the years as Berry's Loan, Berry's Jewelry & Loan and eventually Berry's Pawn.

The old downtown location is gone now, along with the neon photographed here. The Berry's name didn't disappear, however, and continues at other pawn shop locations around Nashville.

UPDATE: The former Berry's storefront at 217 4th Avenue North has been renovated as part of the Nashville Arcade redevelopment and is now home to Naked Farmer. The familiar red Berry's neon sign has been removed. 08-26

Soap Opera Laundry (Gone)
Nashville, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Who says doing laundry can't be a soap opera? Soap Opera Laundry certainly had some fun with the name. The old sign along Nashville's Dickerson Pike came complete with bubbles floating above the lettering, making this laundromat a little harder to pass without noticing. 06-06

Soap Opera was located at 2872 Dickerson Pike, along a stretch of Nashville once loaded with old motels, restaurants and roadside signs. The laundromat was still operating when this photo was taken, and the bubbly neon sign was very much part of the scenery. Unfortunately, the show eventually came to an end. By around 2014, the Soap Opera lettering and neon bubbles had been stripped from the sign, leaving the old sign cabinet behind.

UPDATE: Soap Opera Laundry is closed and its whimsical neon sign is gone. Don't confuse it with Soap Opry Coin Laundry farther down Dickerson Pike, which is a different business. 08-26

Drake Hardware (Gone)
Nashville, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Cruising along Nashville's old Dickerson Pike, this weather-beaten rooftop sign for Drake Hardware was hard to miss. By the time of this photo it had definitely seen better days, but enough remained to show what a great roadside display this must have been when everything was working. 06-06

The real attraction was up on top. The Drake Hardware sign once featured three animated neon birds flying across the roofline, adding a little movement to an otherwise ordinary neighborhood hardware store. Dickerson Pike was once filled with this sort of thing, with motels, restaurants and small businesses all competing for the attention of passing motorists.

The years weren't especially kind to the Drake sign. By 2007 much of the neon was no longer working, and around 2011 the remaining tubing was removed and the old panels painted over. The empty framework hung around a few more years before finally disappearing in 2015.

UPDATE: Drake Hardware is closed and the old rooftop sign is gone. The former hardware store building has since seen other uses, but those animated birds no longer fly above the old pike. 08-26

Simpson's Florist
Decatur, AL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a nice old flower shop sign still blooming along US 31. Simpson's Florist has been a Decatur landmark since 1957, and the pink and green roadside sign out front is hard to miss with its flowing script and neon rose. 06-06

Mary Simpson started the florist in 1957, and the business has remained in the family through several generations. Even the one-story brick building dates from 1957, making this one of those increasingly rare roadside stops where the old business, building and sign have all managed to stick around.

There's another piece of the past here too. Simpson's still owns its 1963 Chevrolet panel delivery truck, purchased new for the florist and restored in 2023 after spending some 35 years off the road. Between the truck and that old neon sign, this place hasn't forgotten its roots.

UPDATE: Simpson's Florist remains open in Decatur, Alabama, and the vintage roadside sign still stands out front. 08-26

Crumpy's Hot Wings (Gone)
Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy Sherry McGee

This wall mural was painted in the dining room of one of the Crumpy's Hot Wings locations. Less than two weeks after this photo was taken, the location closed. There are still several Crumpy's (it's a family owned business) but I don't think any of them have this painted mural. As a side note, this location is now a Dyer's Cafe, which features deep fried hamburgers. Here is a picture of the neon Dyer's sign from the downtown location. This particular location does not have a neon sign. Many thanks to Sherry McGee for info. 07-06

Here's something a little different from the usual roadside sign. This colorful wall mural was found inside one of the Crumpy's Hot Wings locations in Memphis. Crumpy's got its start in 1991 with Donald Crump and became a familiar Memphis stop for whole wings with plenty of heat.

UPDATE: Crumpy's Hot Wings is still around Memphis, but this particular location and its colorful mural are long gone. 08-26

Grimes Memorial Methodist Church Mural (Gone)
Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy Sherry McGee

This mural is painted on an outer wall of Grimes Memorial Methodist Church located on Summer Avenue. I believe it was done by a member of that church several years ago. I used to work with a lady who attended church there and that was the information I got from her. I know it's hard to judge from the picture the size of the painting, but it takes up almost the entire outer wall. Many thanks to Sherry McGee for info. 07-06

The church had been part of the neighborhood for decades, with this building dating to around 1960. Sherry McGee caught the mural while it was still looking over Summer Avenue.

UPDATE: Grimes Memorial closed in 2019 as its congregation dwindled. The church building and mural were later demolished, and a Chick-fil-A now occupies the property. 08-26