Eagle Cafe (Closed)
Fresno, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Here's a roadside sign that calls for a second look while cruising through Fresno. The Eagle Cafe marquee looks a little like an old VFW sign from a distance. Get closer and check out the eagle spreading its wings above the big clock face. Quite a way to point out a place for a bite.
The cafe opened here in 1946 and served customers around the clock. Local lore has the owners throwing away the keys because they never planned to lock up. Now that's taking the late-night food stop seriously. The original Eagle Cafe closed in 1978, with other restaurants trying their turn afterward.
UPDATE: The Eagle Cafe is now home to a Thai restaurant. 12-08
UPDATE: The building stands vacant and boarded up, while the weathered eagle and clock sign remains out front. The neon is dark and the clock no longer runs, so best bring your own watch on this roadside stop. 09-26
Lyn's Cafe (Closed)
Tulare, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Pulling off Highway 99 at Avenue 200 in Tulare, check out Lyn's Cafe and its old roadside signs. The cafe building is one thing, but the signs are what make this a stop for the camera. A little time away from the freeway can turn up some good finds.
The “Ave 200 Lyn's” sign makes it pretty clear you've found the right exit. Then there's the roadside “CAFE” sign, doing its part to catch the attention of passing motorists. No need for a lengthy sales pitch when one word tells hungry travelers what they're looking for.
Lyn's Cafe (Closed)
Tulare, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Lyn's served as a 24-hour stop for truckers and others making their way through the valley. These were the places to look for when the drive ran late and lunch had somehow become dinner. Pull off the highway, take a break, and get back on the road when ready.
On a photo stop, though, those signs could keep you outside awhile. Check out the lettering, get a look from the roadside, then see how it all fits with the building. Maybe food was the reason for the exit, but the camera had a few things to do first.
El Charritos
Tulare, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: Lyn's Cafe has closed down and is now home to El Charritos. The roadside sign spelling out "cafe" is still there showing off the business off of the Highway 99 and the building is largely intact save for a new paint job. 12-08
UPDATE: By December 2008, Lyn's had closed and the freshly painted building was home to El Charritos. The “Ave 200 Lyn's” sign had been taken down and was leaning against the outside wall. The roadside “CAFE” sign lingered for a time, still pointing out the restaurant after the name had changed. The building later housed Birrieria Apatzingan, but the old Lyn's signage is now gone. The cafe survived the changeover, though a stop off Avenue 200 no longer brings the same collection of signs to photograph. 09-26
El Charritos
Tulare, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here is the new look of the former Lyn's Cafe off of Ave 200 in Tulare. Like many of the old businesses that used to thrive in this community, Lyn's used to serve up some hot food to both locals and travelers alike. The old sign for "Ave 200 Lyn's" can be seen on the ground leaning against the wall of El Charritos in the photo on the near left. 12-08
El Capitan Cafe (Closed)
Firebaugh, CA Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Passing through Firebaugh, check out the old time-worn sign for El Capitan Cafe. This is the sort of roadside find that calls for a pause while wandering the valley's back roads. A cafe name still hanging out front, a little weathering, and another reason to get the camera out before heading through town. 03-06
The original question was just how long El Capitan had been feeding hungry customers. Turns out Santos Carrasco, who came from Rosales, Mexico, owned and operated the cafe for 60 years. Quite a stretch of keeping a local cafe going, with generations of customers coming through the doors.
UPDATE: El Capitan Cafe is closed, and the current status of its old sign hasn't been confirmed. The sign was still there for the 2006 photo, but whether it's waiting for another camera stop on a return drive through Firebaugh remains an open question. 09-26
Peter N' Rae's Cafe
Eagle Cafe (Closed)
Lyn's Cafe (Closed)
Lyn's Cafe (Closed)
El Charritos
El Capitan Cafe (Closed)
