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Indianapolis Signs

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Stout's Shoes
Indianapolis, IN		 Wheeler Mission
Indianapolis, IN		 Barringer's Tavern
Indianapolis, IN
Stout's Shoes was established in 1886 and is still operating at the same location. This sign might be from the 1940s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Wheeler Mission building was built in 1929 and there was a vertical sign installed there then. That sign was still there in 1946. This sign is probably from the 1950s. Plexiglass panels protect the neon tubing. For more, see this website. [map]

Barringer's Tavern opened in 1879. This sign might be from the 1940s. By 2007, the sign was removed and replaced with a plastic box sign. A customer found the old sign in a dumpster and saved it. A few years later, the sign was given to the bar's new owners. It was restored and reinstalled. The bar closed and the sign was removed again by 2017. In 2019, the business reopened and the sign was reinstalled. [map]

Radio Radio
Indianapolis, IN		 Restaurant
Indianapolis, IN
Radio Radio, a live music venue, opened in 2001. This sign was built and installed then. For more see this website. [map]

I believe this Restaurant sign was installed on the Fountain Square Theatre building around 1994 during redevelopment. I don't know where this sign came from. [map]

Hedlund's Hardware
Indianapolis, IN
Hedlund's Hardware opened as a general store in 1929. In 1953, a new building was constructed and the business became a hardware store. The signs on the building were probably installed then. The pole sign and rooftop sign might have been added later, possibly in the 1960s. [map]

Kahn's
Fine Wines & Spirits
Indianapolis, IN		 Buca di Beppo
Indianapolis, IN		 Red Key Tavern
Indianapolis, IN
The Kahn's Fine Wines & Spirits sign was installed around 2009. [map]

This Buca di Beppo sign is modern. The restaurant chain was established in Minneapolis, MN in 1993. At its peak, there were about 100 locations. There are now about 40 left. [map]

The Red Key Tavern was established in 1933 as the Old English Tavern. It became the Red Key in 1935. The sign was built around 1951 and features a Manhattan and animated musical notes. The notes are from the song "How Dry I Am." In 2016, the top sign was replicated and the bottom panel was restored. For more, see this website. [map]

former Roselyn Bakery
Washington St. & N. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN		 former Roselyn Bakery
E. 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN
2009: 2025: 2009: 2025:
former Roselyn Bakery
Washington St. & S. Butler Ave.
Indianapolis, IN
2010: 2025:
former Roselyn Bakery
N. Post Rd.
Indianapolis, IN		 former Roselyn Bakery
W. Morris St.
Indianapolis, IN
The Roselyn Bakery was established in 1943. There were 34 locations when the chain folded in 1999. I believe these neon signs were built in the late 1950s and 1960s. They originally revolved and the neon "V" flashed. Some of the signs had integrated readerboards. The little girl at the top of the signs was called "Rosie Roselyn." I believe the only intact sign left is at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The Washington St. & N. Pennsylvania St. location's sign was adapted for a Panda Express, a Dunkin' Donuts, and a Pie Five Pizza Co. It was adapted for a Five Guys by 2018. [map]

The East 38th St. location's sign was adapted for H&R Block. Around 2023, it was adapted for the NY Gourmet Deli. [map]

The Washington St. & S. Butler Ave. location's sign was adapted for Lee's Cash & Go. Around 2017, it was painted black and began advertising for a Boost Mobile store. By 2024, it had been painted again for the Dulceria LA Cuarenta. [map]

The N. Post Rd. location has housed a Boost Mobile store since at least 2017. [map]

The W. Morris St. location has housed the Checkered Flag Tavern since at least 2009. [map]

There was another sign that had been adapted for a Payday Loans. That sign is gone now. If there are any other former Roselyn Bakery signs out there that I'm missing, please let me know.

Big Red Liquors
Indianapolis, IN		 Sam Wolf
Used Cars
Indianapolis, IN		 Reed Drapery Service
Indianapolis, IN
The Big Red Liquors sign was installed here around 2011 for Kahn's Fine Wines & Spirits. It already appeared to be an adapted sign from the 1950s or 1960s but I don't know where it came from. By 2014, it had been adapted for Big Red Liquors. [map]

The Sam Wolf Used Cars sign appears to be from the 1950s. It previously advertised for Tom Wood Pontiac and the round top panel had an Indian head. The sign may have advertised for Hedges Pontiac before that. By 2018, the neon on the sign's top panel was removed and it was painted over. For more, see this website. [map]

The Reed Drapery Service had opened by 1957 and these signs are probably from around then. By 2022, the store had closed but the signs remain. [map]

Wonder Bread
Indianapolis, IN
2005: 2025:
The Taggart Baking Co. began producing Wonder Bread downtown in 1921. It was later produced by the Continental Baking Company which moved to this location in 1957. This sign must be from then. The plant was still producing Wonder Bread and Hostess brands when it closed in 2012. In 2015, the plant was reopened by Flower Foods which continued production of Hostess products. By 2014, the red "Wonder Bread" panels had been removed from the sign. The "Welcome to Wonderland" text at the top has been changed to "Hostess Brands." The plant now operated by J.M. Smucker is closing in 2026. I don't know if there are any plans to save the sign. For more, see this website. [map]

D&S
Liquors [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Pine Motel [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Emrich's
Furniture [gone]
Indianapolis, IN
D&S Liquors opened in 1962 and this sign was probably from then. The sign appears to have been a mix of neon and plastic originally. The cocktail stirrer doubles as a clock. Around 2022, the sign was repainted and remodeled for Bottle Pop Liquors. [map]

The Pine Motel sign still had neon back in the 1990s. By 2013, the sign had been repainted. The "TV" and "Air Conditioned" text were gone. "Free WiFi" had been added to the bottom of the panel. In 2022, the sign was hit by a truck and removed. It is now in a private collection.

Emrich's Furniture opened in 1881 and closed in 1997. This sign was still there when this photo was taken in 2010. The sign was there in 2014 but gone by 2015.

Waffle House [gone]
Indianapolis, IN		 Waffle House [gone]
Bloomington, IN
These Waffle House locations are unrelated to the Waffle House stores which originated in the South. The Bloomington location opened in 1967. The one in Indianapolis probably opened shortly after that. The Indianapolis sign's waffle panel on top was gone by 2013. By 2018, the sign's panels had been replaced for the Continental Grill. It now advertises for the Taqueria Dona Sofi. The Bloomington Waffle House closed in 2013 and was demolished. That sign is gone. There was an abandoned sign in Indianapolis which has been adapted for Plumbers Supply Co. [map]

More Indianapolis:
Action Duckpin
Catalina Motel [vintage; gone]
Clover West Motel
Expo Bowl, Jubilee Bowl, Western Bowling Center, Woodland Bowling Center
Melody Inn [gone]
Murphy Art Center

Indiana
(page 1)		 Indiana
(page 2)		 Indiana
(page 3)		 Indiana
(page 4)		 Indiana
(page 5)
Indiana
(page 6)		 Indiana
(page 7)		 Indiana
(page 8)		 Indiana
(page 9)
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