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Indiana Eateries

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Lemon Drop Drive-in
Anderson, IN
The Lemon Drop Drive-in opened in 1954 and was named after owner Mike Lemon. It is the oldest restaurant in Anderson. I don't know if it was ever a "true" drive-in with window service and/or car hops. Does anyone know? In 2017, the sign was restored by Finyl Vinyl Signs. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Powers Hamburger Shop
Fort Wayne, IN
Powers Hamburger Shop was part of a hamburger chain which originated in Dearborn, MI in 1945. This location opened in 1940. There were two other locations in Fort Wayne built in 1947 and 1983 which are now gone. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
Indianapolis, IN
The La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant was previously the Torch Lounge & Restaurant. I don't know if the column at the center of the dining room is meant to resemble a torch or if there was another restaurant here originally. The top part of the sign was gone by 2015. It is now known as the Los Cuates Mexican Restaurant. [map]

former Chicken Coop [gone]
Elkhart, IN
The Chicken Coop chain was established in 1966. The company expanded to more than 50 locations in Southwest Michigan and Indiana. The original locations used the A-frame design like this one. The signs were built in the same shape. Sometime after 2005, this location became home to Daddy Dee's and then Oinker's BBQ. However, when this photo was taken in 2011, Oinker's appeared to be closed. In 2014, the Two Rivers Running Company opened in the building. By 2019, the building was vacant again. It was demolished by 2023. For more locations in Michigan, see this page.

Pizza King
Muncie, IN
Pizza King
Muncie, IN
Pizza King
Chesterfield, IN
Pizza King
Anderson, IN

Pizza King
Lapel, IN
Pizza King
Alexandria, IN
Pizza King
Tipton, IN
Pizza King [gone?]
Yorktown, IN

Pizza King
Marion, IN
Pizza King
Marion, IN
Pizza King
Rensselaer, IN

Pizza King [gone]
Lafayette, IN
Pizza King has been around since 1958 and now has more than 40 locations throughout Indiana. Rather than triangular wedges of pizza, Pizza King cuts theirs in squares. The Lafayette location featured booths with coin-operated TVs and a train that brings drinks. That location closed in 2017. The neon on the second Muncie sign shown above has been replaced with plastic letters. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

[Muncie map]
[Muncie map]
[Chesterfield map]
[Anderson map]
[Lapel map]
[Alexandria map]
[Marion map]
[Marion map]
[Rensselaer map]

More Indiana:
Mary Lou's Donuts (Lafayette)
The Siding: 1, 2 (Peru) [gone]

Indiana
Drive-ins
Indiana
Ice Cream
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