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Lost Chicago Signs (page 1)

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Jubilee Gas for Less [gone]
Chicago, IL
Jubilee Gas for Less was still pumping gas as Phil & Sons in 2005. They were closed in 2006 when these photos were taken. By 2013, the building had been demolished and the sign removed. For more, see this website.

Rosario's Italian Sausage [gone]
Chicago, IL
The Rosario's Italian Sausage sign was restored in 2009 after this photo was taken. The sign was designed by the store's owner, Rosario "Roy" Repole. The sign was installed in 1968. It featured a gruesome yet cute depiction of pigs hopping into a meat grinder. Sausage came out of the grinder and continued with link-like lettering on the plastic portion of the sign. The nine neon pigs and the grinder were lit in a multiple sequence pattern. The sign was covered up in 1996 with a clear plastic panel to protect it from rock-throwing vandals. Despite that, the sign had been inoperable since at least the 1990s. The plastic had become translucent over time, nearly concealing the scene behind it. In 2009, the covering began to loosen and became dangerous. The owner's daughter decided to splurge and the sign was completely restored. However, in 2011, it was announced that the business would be closing and the sign would be removed. The store officially closed in 2016. The sign will be saved but the owner had not decided what to do with it. She wanted the sign to be displayed where people could see it. The sign spanned the full width of the building. The neon panel is about ten feet wide. The sign was removed in 2019 and it's not known where it went. For more, see this website.

Barry's Cut Rate Drugs [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Central Furniture
Mart [gone]
Chicago, IL
Barry's Cut Rate Drugs opened here in 1946. This sign was built in 1960 by Best Neon. The store closed in 2017. The sign was removed in 2018 and is now in a private collection.

Central Furniture Mart had been here since 1949. This sign was probably from then. This photo is from 2012. The store moved to a new location in 2014. The sign was removed in 2018. The central panel was saved by a collector but the rest was scrapped. For more, see this website.

Ruby
Dry Cleaners [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Standee's
Restaurant [gone]
Chicago, IL		 La Baguette Bakery [gone]
Chicago, IL
The Ruby Dry Cleaners sign was built in the 1940s or 1950s. The neon was removed at some point. The store closed around 2019. The sign was removed and is now in a private collection.

Standee's Restaurant was also known as Standee's Snack 'N' Dine. It opened around 1950 and this sign was built then. In 2010, Standee's moved to a new location where they could not legally install the sign. It was sold to a private collector for $500. The pink and turquoise neon and chasing bulbs were still functional when the sign was removed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The La Baguette Bakery signs are probably from the 1960s. By 2011, the neon cake sign was gone. The plastic and bulb sign on the left is still there. For more, see this website.

Jansen's
Furniture [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Nick & Tessie's
Jewelry [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Adams Factory
Shoe Outlet [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Guey Lon
Chop Suey Restaurant [gone]
Chicago, IL
Jansen's Furniture was long gone but this sign was still there when this photo was taken in 2009. By 2012, the building and sign were gone.

The Nick & Tessie's Jewelry sign was probably from the 1950s. It originally advertised for a restaurant and was reworked in the 1980s for the jewelry store. This photo is from 2006. The sign was still there in 2013. By 2015, the business and the sign were gone. For more, see this website.

The Adams Factory Shoe Outlet featured a nice old bulb and neon sign. The building was vacant when this photo was taken in 2006. Around 2012, the building was demolished and the sign was gone. For more, see this website.

Guey Lon Chop Suey Restaurant opened here in the 1950s. It closed in 2022 and this sign is gone now. For more, see this website.

Animal Kingdom [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Roosevelt
Hotel [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Rollin' Wheels
Motor Hotel [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Golden Heart Snack Shop [gone]
Chicago, IL
Animal Kingdom sold pets and pet supplies. The store opened at a different location in 1944. The business moved here in 1965. I don't know if this sign was built then or if it was brought from the previous location. The store closed 2009 and the sign was sold to a private collector. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Roosevelt Hotel was built in 1892. This sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. The hotel has been converted into apartments. This photo is from 2010. By 2011, this sign was gone.

The Rollin' Wheels Motor Hotel sign was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from around 2001. By 2010, the sign was gone and the motel had become a Rodeway Inn.

The Golden Heart Snack Shop sign was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2009. The sign was still there in 2015 but gone by 2016.

World Real
Estate [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Lucky Coin
Laundromat [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Levinson's Bakery [gone]
Chicago, IL
The World Real Estate business was long gone when this photo was taken in 2012. There was a law office below the sign. The sign was probably from the 1950s. The sign was removed in 2015.

The Lucky Coin Laundromat sign was most likely from the 1960s. The steel and chains must have supported a heavier neon sign with steel panels before this one. This sign was removed around 2020.

Levinson's Bakery has been here since at least the 1930s. The sign was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2006. The sign was still there in 2011 but it was gone by 2014. There are now backlit plastic letters on the building.

U Lucky Dawg [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Patio Motel [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Stars Motel [gone]
Chicago, IL
U Lucky Dawg was a Fluky's location until 2006. The Fluky's sign was adapted for the name change. Fluky's opened its first hot dog stand in 1929 and had two other locations. The sign was still there in 2011 but gone by 2014.

The Patio Motel was built around 1955 and this sign is from then. This photo is from 2006. The sign was removed in 2009. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Stars Motel was built in 1956 and this sign is from then. It was demolished in 2006. This sign was sold on eBay for $102 but the buyer backed out. The lot was still vacant and the sign remained until 2015. It is believed that the sign was destroyed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Lee
Lumber [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Tip Top
Motel [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Lincoln Motel [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Summit Motel [gone]
Chicago, IL
Lee Lumber opened here in 1952 and this sign is probably from then. The store closed in 2018 and the sign was sold. It is now at Glorieta Station in Albuquerque, NM. For more, see this website.

This Tip Top Motel opened in 1959. This sign was gone by 2009. The motel is now called the "River Park Motel" and has a plastic box sign. For more, see this website.

The Lincoln Motel opened in 1958. The motel was demolished in 2007 and the sign disappeared then. For more, see this website.

This Summit Motel opened in 1962. It is still here but the sign has been replaced with a plastic box sign. For more, see this website.

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