Genuine Florida

Here’s the ‘Driftwood Grill’ sign, as the restaurant is now called.
The neon sign is on the main drag as you spin through Williston.

Lakeland has a literal open-air museum of wonderful signs. Here’s another: Dick’s Auto Sales. Started in 1945, the dealership now sells used cars. There are quite a few signs on this area of Main Street alone to see. They will slowly appear here.

Since 1957, it’s Harry Family Restaurant on Main Street in Lakeland.

Here we are at the intersection of Newberry Road and US 75 in Gainesville. As far as we know this is the last Kentucky Fried Chicken sign that still includes the bucket in the state of Florida. Please let us know if you know of another one we’ve missed.

Here’s the sign to look for for the best roast beef sandwich you’ll ever have! It’s on Bumby Avenue in Orlando. I started going to Beefy King when it opened in 1968. This year is Beefy King’s 40th anniversary. The Smith’s who own Beefy King are planning a big party for customers in June.

(There are a number of items on the website link which is managed by someone other than the folks who own Beefy King. Thank goodness, at least, there is a web presence of some sort. It did open in ‘68 and has drive-thru hours from 3 to 5:30pm.)

This is Carousel Realty in Port Charlotte on U.S. 41. Established in 1963, this realty company has managed to keep its sign despite huricanes.

This one still lights up at night on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach. It really hasn’t changed that much since 1948 when it opened.

A very neat sign, sans neon, in Lakeland. ‘Eat-A-Bite’ is just west of Wabash Avenue on New Tampa Highway. This restaurant primarily serves to the mobile home parks around it and the tons of employees of the Publix Corporation that otherwise surrounds the restaurant.

In Eustis. Learn more by clicking here.

Here’s a sign that’s still around! Kinda beat up - but it’s there! This is on State Road 60 in Indian Lakes Estates, which is a ’70s subdivision of homes in a remote area pf East Polk County. It’s west of Dave Siegel’s Westgate Ranch Resort. I don’t know more about it and the property. If you do, please leave a comment!