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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Donut Signs (page 3) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Donut Drive-in St. Louis, MO |
American Doughnut Company [gone] St. Ann, MO |
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The Donut Drive-in opened in 1952 with this sign. The original business name remains unclear. The neon stopped working around 1993 and the sign crashed to the ground from internal rot in 2007. The sign was restored in 2008 with grant money from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the National Park Service. The three-way flasher creates the illusion of descending donuts on the side of the sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]
The American Doughnut Company sign had an arrow originally. It still had neon in 2010. By 2012, when this photo was taken, the shop had been converted into a daycare center but the sign was still there. By 2013, the sign was gone. |
| Jack n Jill Donuts Waco, TX |
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| This Jack n Jill Donuts is part of a chain with other locations in Texas. This neon sign was probably built in the 1950s. It might have originally been installed on the pole where the plastic sign is now. I don't believe any other Jack n Jill Donuts have neon signs. This may have been the original location or may be the oldest location left. [map] |
| California Do-Nut Co. St. Louis, MO |
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| The California Do-Nut Co. shop opened in 1948. The sign on the facade appears to be from then. The building has been vacant since at least 2005. The storefront has been boarded up since around 2009. The plastic sign only has one panel left now. In 2015, it was announced that the donut shop will be reopening. However, that fell through and the space remains vacant. [map] |
| Country Inn Donut Drive-in [gone] St. Louis, MO |
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| As far as I know, the Country Inn Donut Drive-in was not related to the Donut Drive-in described above. This sign may have been inspired by the Krispy Kreme design from the late 1950s and early 1960s with the same round letter design. It might actually be a reworked Krispy Kreme sign like this one in St. Louis which is gone now. The "Country Inn" plastic panel was broken in 2007 and later replaced. This portion of the sign might have been neon originally. The store may have gone by another name. There was also a plastic sign on the building. By 2012, the store had closed and the sign was in storage at the Antique Warehouse. For more, see this website. |
| Sonrise Donuts Springfield, IL |
Mel-O-Cream Donuts Springfield, IL |
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Sonrise Donuts opened in 1947. This sign was built around 1949. The spelling of the business name remains a mystery. The donut shop closed in 1998 and the building has been occupied by several restaurants since then. In 2018, the building's owner put the sign up for auction. The City's Convention and Visitors Bureau worked with the Ace Sign Company and had the winning bid of $22,000. Ace agreed restored one of the eight-foot-wide triangulated panels for free. The other panel will be restored through online fundraising and other efforts. The original neon appeared to be ruby red and white. Over 90% of the tubing was broken. The bulbs on the abstracted sun were either gold or white and were originally sequentially lit. The restored panel is now lit and displayed inside Ace Sign. The other panel has been restored and is displayed inside Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill in Springfield.
Mel-O-Cream Donuts was founded in 1932. They began franchising in 1964 and by 1980, they had 14 stores. Since then, they have focused on wholesale production. They have five locations in Springfield and another in Lincoln, IL but only this one on North Grand has the old signage and shop. These photos are from 2005. The pole sign was refurbished sometime between 2007 and 2010. The neon was removed from the crown at that time. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
| Honey Creme Donut Shop New Albany, IN |
Donuts Delite Rochester, NY |
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The Honey Creme Donut Shop neon sign is protected behind plexiglass. For more, see this website. [map]
Donuts Delite opened in 1958 and closed in 2005. After the building sat vacant for five years, it was then taken over by Salvatore's Pizza. Then, in 2010, Donuts Delite returned. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
| Dutch Uncle Donuts Coldwater, MI |
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| Dutch Uncle Donuts looks like it's probably from the 1960s. I believe this was the only location. [map] |
| Dutch Boy Donuts [gone] Denver, CO |
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| Dutch Boy Donuts opened in 1947. The windmill sign is believed to be from 1960. The store closed in the 1990s. The main sign featuring cascading donuts is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. Although another business occupied the building in 2004, the pole sign was still there but covered up. I don't know what eventually became of it. There were two windmill signs on the roof. One went to the American Sign Museum and the other was meant to go to the Colorado Historical Museum. The sign intended for the historical museum was too badly damaged during its removal to be saved. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [photos thanks Harry Grass] |
| Dutch Girl Donuts [gone] Detroit, MI |
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| Dutch Girl Donuts opened in 1947. As far as a I know, this was the only location. The store closed in 2021 and, by 2021, this sign was gone. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Kane's Doughnut House Saugus, MA |
South Paw Donuts [gone] Metropolis, IL |
Six O One Donut Shop Pittsburg, KS |
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Kane's Doughnut House opened in 1955. This sign flashes on and off at night. For more, see this website. [map]
South Paw Donuts featured this giant donut sign. The store has been here since at least the 1990s. This photo is from 2010. The store was still there in 2013. However, in 2018, the building and sign were gone. The Six O One Donut Shop is named after its address, 601 South Broadway St. The building is a former gas station. Around 2018, the sign was painted green. The giant donut on the roof is gone now. [map] |
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Donut Signs page 1 |
Donut Signs page 2 |
Donut Signs page 4 |
Donut Signs page 5 |
Donut Signs page 6 |
Donut Signs page 7 |
Dawn Donuts | Mister Donut |
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Main SCA Article Companion Page |
Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |