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Donut Signs (page 7)

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Fox's Donut Den
Nashville, TN		 Harlow's Donuts [gone]
Memphis, TN
Fox's Donut Den was founded in 1973. The store moved to this location in 1977. It was then that owner Norman Fox bought this sign for $1,200 from a Harlow's Honey Fluff Donuts in Memphis. The chain had other locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and possibly Illinois as well. This vintage photo of Harlow's is from one of their locations in the early 1990s. The name on the sign was changed to Fox's but the rest of the lettering and the Dutch boy were kept. The Fox's sign features animated, rolling neon donut circles which I believe were part of the Honey Fluff sign.

The Fox's sign was removed in 2009 when the strip mall where the store is located was remodeled. There were plans to replace the sign with an updated version. However, support for the old sign was so strong that it was refurbished and reinstalled (bottom photo). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [Harlow's photo thanks Julie Wilson] [map]

Gibson's Donuts
Memphis, TN
Gibson's Donuts opened around 1973 at this former Honey Fluff Donuts. The sign on the building was originally built for Honey Fluff. It probably had a Dutch Boy originally like the Fox's Donut Den sign above. The donut circles are animated. I don't know if the pole sign was built for Gibson's or was also adapted from Honey Fluff. Both of these signs were repainted around 2009 (first photo from 2007; right photos from 2010). This has been the only Gibson's location. It is open 24 hours a day. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Howard's Donuts
West Memphis, AR		 Shelton's Donuts [gone]
Memphis, TN
This Howard's Donuts in West Memphis opened in the early 1970s as a Harlow's Honey Fluff Donuts. When the Harlow's chain folded in 1982, the name of the store was changed to Howard's. I don't know if this sign was built then or if it was adapted. Howard's opened about six or seven other locations over the years. There are still a few around but they are independently operated now. For more, see this website. [map]

According to a Memphis history expert, the broken sign shown above was located at the site of a former Shelton's Donuts which was long gone. The design appeared identical to the Howard's and Gibson's signs but I have not been able to find any evidence of a relationship. This photo is from 2007. This sign is gone now.

Southern Maid Donuts
Shreveport, LA
Southern Maid Donuts was founded in 1937 in Dallas, TX. This location originally housed a Conoco gas station. The pole sign with plastic panels was adapted to read "DONUTS". The neon signs were moved here from another location. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Southern Maid Donuts
Odessa, TX
This Southern Maid Donuts has been here since 1955. There is a glass window where you can watch the donuts being made. I believe this sign is from then although it was, most likely, repainted and "DONUTS" was probably lit with bulbs originally like the Dixie Inn sign below. It probably also read "Many Varieties" or the number of varieties at the bottom where it now reads "The Magic Donut." [map]

Southern Maid Donuts
Dixie Inn, LA		 Southern Maid Donuts
(now Same Good Donuts)
Tyler, TX		 Southern Maid Donuts
Sherman, TX
This Southern Maid Donuts sign in Dixie Inn is probably from the 1950s. It is installed at Hamburger Happiness which was built around 2011. I don't know where this sign was located originally. From this vintage photo (location unknown), it looks like these signs originally were painted with a dark color and the channel letter "DONUTS" were filled with bulbs. I suspect that the Dixie Inn sign has the original paint. [map]

This Southern Maid Donuts sign in Tyler is more modern. I'm guessing 1970s. The original store in Tyler opened in the early 1950s or so and then moved across the street to this location at some point. Around 2022, the pole sign and sign on the roof were changed for the new name of "Same Good Donuts." [map]

This Southern Maid Donuts in Sherman had been there since at least 2007. This store appears to be closed now. The building is probably from the 1960s. Does anyone know what business was here originally? [map]

Southern Maid Donuts
Odessa, TX
This second location of Southern Maid Donuts in Odessa appears newer than the one described above. Does anyone know how long it's been here? [map]

Mary Lee Donuts
Baton Rouge, LA
This Mary Lee Donuts is the original location. It opened in 1969 and these signs appear to be from then. The chain has 21 locations in the area. [map]

Huck Finn Donuts
Chicago, IL		 Donutville USA
Dearborn, MI
Huck Finn Donuts is open 24 hours and has two other locations in the Chicago area. This plastic sign appears to have been repaired with an updated, less artistic side at one point. I'm sorry about the angles of these photos: the sun was directly behind the sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Donutville USA has been around since 1966. The sign and building appeared to be original. This is the company's only location. Around 2020, the lower panel was replaced with one that has backlit plastic letters. [map]

Lone Star Donuts
Dallas, TX
Lone Star Donuts was founded in 1950. I believe this building was constructed in 1963. The upstairs office was added in 1965. Lone Star Donuts moved here in 1967. I don't know if there were ever other locations. [map]

Winchell's Donut House
[in storage]
West Hollywood, CA		 Paul's Bakery
Van Buren, AR		 Star Donuts
Tyler, TX
This Winchell's Donut House sign is 17 feet tall. It was originally installed in Upland, CA in 1967. The sign was donated to MONA (Museum of Neon Art) in 2005 by the Route 66 Mother Road Museum of Barstow, CA. After being restored, the sign was installed in Plummer Park in 2010. It was removed in 2014 and is now in storage. This is the oldest Winchell's sign and the only one of this type known to still exist. Winchell's Donut House was established in 1948 in Temple City, CA. The company still exists with more than 170 locations in 12 states. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Paul's Bakery opened in 1959. It was Mace's Bakery before that. This sign combines the images of donut and baker. This sign apparently had neon at one time. It was repainted sometime between 2010 and when this photo was taken in 2012. New panels were installed around 2019. The cake now has candles and the coffee has steam arising from the cup. [map]

Star Donuts is probably not the original name of this place. This sign looks like it's from the 1950s. [map]

Golden Donut [gone]
Torrance, CA		 Doughnuts to Go
Stockton, CA		 Donut Man
Glendora, CA
The Golden Donut building now houses a Mexican food restaurant. The donut and letters were removed in 2014 just after this photo was taken.

Doughnuts to Go features a simple rooftop sign. The sign came from Mel Frances Rollin' Doughnut which was located in Stockton. It had neon originally. [map]

The Donut Man opened in 1972 and this backlit plastic sign appears to be from then. The shop is open 24 hours a day. For more, see this website. [map]

Haskell's Donuts
West Monroe, LA		 Gourdough's Public House
Austin, TX		 Sip N' Dip Donuts
St. Cloud, FL		 Dude's Daylight Donuts
Joplin, MO
This Haskell's Donuts sign was built when this location opened around 2000. [map]

In addition to doughnuts, Gourdough's Public House features burgers served between a doughnut rather than a bun, other doughnut entrees, beer, and other drinks. The business started with a trailer on 2009. This location opened in 2012. This sign which appears to be animated must be from then. There was another modern sign at the business' downtown location which has closed. For more, see this website. [map]

Sip N' Dip Donuts opened in 1996. The sign's letters and colors were obviously inspired by Dunkin' Donuts. There was previously an ice cream cone on top of the sign. It was swapped out for this donut around 2016. [map]

Dude's Daylight Donuts opened in 1954 and is still operating. In 2011, the store and sign were destroyed in a tornado. A new building and replica sign were built soon after that. [map]

More Donut Signs:
DK's Donut (Santa Ana, CA) [gone]
Dunkin' Donuts (Sierra Vista, CA) [vintage; gone]
Sputniks (San Jose, CA) [map]
King Louve's Donuts (Monroe, LA) [vintage; gone]
Honey Do-Nut Shop (Cambridge, MA) [vintage; gone]
Cops & Doughnuts (Clare, MI)
Mel-O-Glaze Bakery (Minneapolis, MN) [map]
Dohman's Donuts (Vicksburg, MS) [gone]
In & Out Donuts (Jefferson City, TN) [map]
Mrs. Baird's (Houston, TX) [gone]
Doughnut Mill (Red Deer, AB) [map]
Decadent Donuts (Vancouver, BC) [gone]
Sunshine Doughnuts (Burlington, ON)
Donut World (Toronto, ON) [gone]

If you know of any donut signs that I might have missed, I'd love to hear about them.

Donut Signs
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page 4		 Donut Signs
page 5		 Donut Signs
page 6		 Dawn Donuts Mister Donut
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