Tag Archives: Vintage advertising

Roadside Fun At Sara’s Restaurant

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If you have ever been to Erie, Pa odds are good you’ve been past Sara’s Restaurant. Only, it’s not just a restaurant. It’s a nostalgic, roadside attraction and tradition for visitors to Presque Isle State Park since 1980.

It started out as an ice cream stand but now has a menu of hot dogs, cheeseburgers, onion rings and the like and it is always busy. Luckily, there’s a big parking lot, lots of outdoor seating, plenty of fun things to look at and staff that hustles to keep things moving. 

Their motto is “Food tastes better with a smile” and we saw lots of smiles as families pose for pictures with things like Simpsons characters and a giant Humpty Dumpty perched atop a lifeguard chair. We wandered around outside so I could drool over advertising pieces before giggling at signs inside. 

We did just get shakes because there’s not much food on the menu that’s vegetarian friendly other than fries and onion rings and maybe not them depending on how they’re fried. But I am not their target market and there was still ice cream. 

There are sundaes, floats and cones to choose from but I opted for a shake. That’s the one thing I  forgot to take a picture of but it was just the right consistency, a mild chocolate, and the perfect size. 

I can see why folks have made a trek to Sara’s an annual tradition! Want to learn more? Visit their website so you can plan your visit. Hop over the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page today to see more pictures from my visit over Labor Day weekend!

The One That Got Away

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The neon sign still looked good against the blue Colorado sky. November weather in Denver can be a crap shoot but we won that day. It was jacket weather but sunny and beautiful – ideal for the cowboy that looked like he might tip his hat from atop the Davie’s Chuck Wagon Diner sign.

I’m a sucker for vintage signs. And for diners.

Really, for anything that harkens to an earlier time. That’s the only reason we were there. To see an old diner with a gorgeous old sign.

I promised my friend that I would buy her lunch if our diner breakfast was bad. That’s another crapshoot. Diner breakfast is either delicious or your basic greasy grub. 

There’s little middle ground. 

Davie’s is the kind of place that sells cold cereal alongside pineapple by the slice and something called the Chuckwagon Breakfast. 

Our waitress was an older lady who called her regulars hon. It seemed like she had a lot of regulars. She neither approved nor disapproved of my veggie omelette but she brought it quickly and kept my Diet Coke topped off so I liked her. I don’t drink much pop but an early morning after a long day of traveling is one exception to the rule. 

Our corner booth was situated just inches from the table next to us where an elderly man studied a newspaper crossword puzzle. His pencil, slow and deliberate, scratched in the letters. He never erased and never looked up from his work except when a coffee refill was offered or when he took a bite of hot cereal.

I had an irrational desire to strike up a conversation with this stranger but it wasn’t as strong as his apparent desire to be left alone.

And so I did. 

Later, I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and admired the tile work behind me. The wall tile was a mid-century pink but a closer look at the floor revealed some tiles featured images with a western theme. 

I wondered how long that man had been coming here. Does he not have cereal at home? Does he just enjoy the atmosphere? Does he have pleasant memories of bringing his children here to admire the cowboy sign out front? What does he think of the cowboy tiles scattered around the restaurant?

That man will always be like a good fishing tale to me. He was one that got away without telling me his story. 

Memories like this are etched in my mind’s eye. Like snapshots in a photo album, they flip through my consciousness and make me appreciate the pure delight of the places I’ve been and the near encounters I’ve had. 

Who needs a resort vacation when you can find neon, a great  breakfast and an intriguing character all in one place? 

Not me.

Pepsi Advertising

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When road tripping, I keep one eye on the road ahead and one on the rearview mirror. That’s so I know when it’s safe to slam on the brakes for fabulous sights like this one.

If you’re ever on Route 35 somewhere south of Muncie, Indiana, maybe you’ll slam on the brakes to see it too!

A Taste Of Tradition At The Peanut Shoppe

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Tucked away in a corner shop, just across the street from the Ohio Statehouse, is a small business that harkens to another time.

It’s called The Peanut Shoppe and the business is in its 86th year. It actually was opened by Planters Peanuts in 1936, one of about 300 such Planters retail locations across the country. All of those locations fell into the hands of private owners in the sixties and this one in Columbus is one of just a few still in business across the nation.

Today, it’s owned by Mike and Pat who said she’s worked there since 1972. “I’ve been doing this so long I don’t know what I would do if I weren’t coming in here,” she told me.

While they are know for roasted peanuts, fresh ground peanut butter and nut candies, they have a great selection of all kinds of fun candies.

I came home with a couple of kinds of peanut clusters, cinnamon gummy bears and the most delicious honey roasted nuts I’ve ever tasted.

Pat and Mike are super friendly and happy to share about the business. Turns out that when Planters sold out, they went around the country destroying the Planters signs and marketing materials at all the retail stores.

They left a trail of destruction in their wake until they arrived at a store in Michigan where workers encountered a young boy who begged them not to kill Mr Peanut. Mike said there was enough negative press to convince the company to completely suspend the killing of Mr Peanut.

They never made it to Columbus which is how Pat and Mike are in possession of the last of these signs in the world. It still works!

I have a confession to make. I looked up the store just to see the sign.

Yes, yes, I know that anyone who visits here regularly is not at all surprised by this revelation.

They have more Mr Peanut pieces including a great one that sits on a roaster and a costume similar to one Mike wore during his college days. Turns out, he earned much needed book money when he took a job wearing a Mr Peanut costume similar to this one pictured below.

They specialize in fresh roasted peanuts, freshly cooked party mixes, a large assortment of raw nuts and a colorful assortment of candies. They even sell some nice tins that they can fill to order if you’re in need of a gift.

Friends, I loved it there. The natural light, the glass front displays of goodies and friendly people happy to scoop up whatever treat your heart desires made my day. The place is both timeless and like a time machine back to your childhood.

Pat said to me “We serve up smiles here.”

Yes they do. I certainly was smiling when I left with my paper bag full of treats. Look them up the next time you head to a show at one of the downtown theaters or when you tour the Ohio Statehouse. You won’t be able to resist the goodies!

Find The Peanut Shoppe at 21 East State Street, just across from the Ohio Statehouse. You can also follow them on Facebook!

Short List Grocery

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If you ever travel State Route 93 between Oak Hill and Ironton, Ohio, you’ll pass by this old gem. After all these years, I finally pulled over to snap a photo one day last fall. It isn’t fancy but it looks like a classic rural carry out and a slice of Americana. The Coke and Pepsi advertising pieces are eye catching and in great shape.

Have A Theater Party

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My job took me to the old Logan Theater in downtown Logan, Ohio a couple of years ago. All three floors are being revitalized to serve local teenagers after school, to provide theater space and to provide a general purpose community space. It was pretty exciting to see their plans and progress.

When I was there, the space for the after school crowd was nearing completion and they were readying to move on to another area. They are working hard to create a useful modern space while being true to the integrity of this historic structure and I am pleased to see them do it.

I captured this bit of peeling paint and vintage advertising on that tour. Trust me to find the dark corner with the old sign!