Some Chicago Area Signs You Might Want to Check Out-- Part 3

JOHNNY'S WEE NEE WAGON, 15743 CRAWFORD AVE., MARKHAM

Owner John Cappas:  "The 6-foot hot dog we have in front is like our mascot.  We also have a florescent sign in the back, which is my dad's liquor store sign from 1929 that he got right around the time that Prohibition ended.

My dad opened the Wee Nee Wagon in 1955...."


PALACE GRILL, 1408 W. MADISON ST., CHICAGO

Owner George Lamperis:  "Our sign has been up since 1936, and we're celebrating our 75th anniversary this year.  You don't see a lot of neon signs anymore because they're very expensive to maintain, but ours is a real conversation starter.  We're a classic diner, and it's a classic diner sign."


MARGIE'S CANDIES, 1960 N. WESTERN AVE., CHICAGO

Owner Peter George:  "The sign has my mother's name on it and was constructed  by Acme Wiley Sign Company in 1954.  It's made up of porcelain, metal and neon.  My mother paid $3,500 for the sign, which was about as much as a Cadillac cost back then.

It costs about $200 a month to maintain, but it's worth it."

A Like Those Old Signs.  --RoadDog