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Knoxville Signs

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L&N Railroad
Knoxville, TN
Terminal Garage Inc. Auto Parts Co.
Knoxville, TN
The L&N Railroad sign was built by Post Neon and was built for the station in the 1950s. It was restored in 2015 by Neon Service Co. (see below). [map]

The Terminal Garage Inc. Auto Parts Co. was a garage, a towing service, and auto parts store. The business is long gone but this sign remains. It is probably from the 1950s. [map]

A.G. Heins Co.
Building Materials
Knoxville, TN
Neon Service Co.
Knoxville, TN
A.G. Heins Co. Building Materials was established in 1920. This appears to be a replica of a sign from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

The Neon Service Co. was established in 1953. This sign looks like it might be from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

MAC Auto Loans
Knoxville, TN
2005: 2026:
MAC Auto Loans, aka Manufacturers Acceptance Corp, opened in 1929. The sign was from much later. In 2023, the building was demolished. By 2024, the sign was removed. A new apartment and retail complex known as MAC on Fifth is being constructed. The sign is now in storage at Neon Service Co. (see above). It will be adapted with "On Fifth" and "Live | Work" replacing the Auto Loans text. [map]

Lonnie's Auto Trim Shop
Knoxville, TN
11-70 Motor Court
Knoxville, TN
Lonnie's Auto Trim Shop had been selling seat covers and convertible tops since 1947. The sign might be from then. By 2007, the neon had been removed and the panels repainted. The store had closed by 2011 but the sign remains. For more, see this website. [map]

The 11-70 Motor Court sign is shaped like a highway shield sign. The name is a reference to the motel's location at the junction of State Highways of 11 and 70. The motor court was probaly built in the 1930s or 1940s and this sign is probably from the 1950s. The rooms are now used as private residences. [map]

Mayo Garden Centers
Knoxville, TN
The Mayo Garden Centers chain was established in 1878 in downtown Knoxville. This location and the other one in Farragut closed in 2026. These signs might be from the 1960s. [map]

Merita Baking Co.
Knoxville, TN
Burlington Lodge
Knoxville, TN
This Merita Baking Co. plant has been closed since at least 2007 but these signs remain. The signs are probably from the 1950s. [map]

The Burlington Lodge was established in 1956 and the sign on the left might be from then. The sign on the right above was installed around 2018. [map]

Lusk Body Co.
Knoxville, TN
Sunset Motel [gone]
Knoxville, TN
Sara Lee Bread [gone]
Knoxville, TN
The Lusk Body Co. auto body shop is long gone but this sign remains. It is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This photo of the Sunset Motel sign is from 2007. By 2011, this sign had been replaced with a plastic box sign.

This Sara Lee Bread sign was installed on the roof of the former Kern's Bakery plant. The sign was originally painted with the Kern's label. It was lit at night with neon sequencing around the bread slices. The bakery was operating as Bimbo Bakeries when it closed in 2012. In 2015, there were plans to redevelop the building. In 2017, the property was being developed for restaurants and retail space. The sign was repainted with the original Kern's Bread label. The building is now known as the Kern's Food Hall with restaurants, bars, shops, and events. The sign was supposedly put in storage with plans to put back on display. However, that has not happened.

More Knoxville:
Aunt Helma's Restaurant
C&S Cleaners [gone]
Cliff Pettit Motors [vintage; gone]
Denton's Drive-in [vintage; gone]
JFG Coffee
Pizza Palace Drive-in
former Regas Restaurant

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