I'm pretty sure I've never even seen a McDonald's sign that had a single arch. However, for the residents of the Alabama town of Huntsville, a single arch sign has been a familiar sight for more than 40 years. Their arch, which is only one of two left in the country, will soon be coming down. The sign is falling apart from the inside, and no longer meets building codes. City residents are sad to see the sign go, as for many it represents simpler times. Unfortunately, the time always comes to put old horses out to pasture, and the single arch is headed out to a very nice pasture: the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2008 @ 10:37AM
ntsc said...
I can remember when they all had those, and you only ordered food inside and had to eat in your car. Of course in those days they had only sold a couple of million or so and the sign told you exactly how many million had been sold. They changed a lot.
http://blog.charcuteire.com
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4-25-2008 @ 10:56AM
LinC said...
I live in Huntsville, and we will definitely miss that sign. It was an icon on one of the most heavily traveled roads in town. However, the sign had gotten so degraded that most of the original neon would no longer work. I'm happy it's going to a museum.
I grew up near one of the earliest McDonald's in Palatine, IL. I remember when it was only a walk-up restaurant that served hamburgers, fries and Cokes. For eat-there seating, there were three or four bolted-down stools next to a shelf built into the side of the building. It was a major deal for us kids when McDonald's added milk shakes! I thought McDonald's was a cool place, but I knew I couldn't work there because they only employed boys.
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4-25-2008 @ 10:57AM
psn said...
That reminds me that one of the oldest Dunkin' Donuts locations just replaced their wonderful and old sign with one of the new logos. Sad times. Sad times. I miss driving by that Brighton, MA location and seeing it. Now it's just another one of a billion and a half Dunkies.
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4-25-2008 @ 11:28AM
benedict M said...
There's a sign museum?
Wow.
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4-25-2008 @ 11:31AM
kevjohn said...
Just out of curiosity, since it's such a beloved fixture for the town is there anything preventing them from simply installing another single arch sign?
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4-25-2008 @ 1:10PM
John said...
They opened an new McDonald's in Bethlhem, PA a few years back, and it has the single arch. Also, it's a retro one.
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4-25-2008 @ 1:20PM
The Postindustrialist said...
heh. Read my mind Jon. When I saw this I IMMEDIATELY thought of the single arch one in southside Bethlehem. it's kind of funky to go in...
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4-25-2008 @ 2:14PM
Sam said...
Right next to Sarasota High School in (duh) Sarasota FL used to have one of those old arches with the pre Ronald mascot. It was cool, but I came back after a stint in the Army and it was gone. It lasted quite awhile and I have no idea why they would get rid of something so very cool.
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4-25-2008 @ 4:03PM
john said...
There's one in Michigan on Telegraph in Dearborn
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4-25-2008 @ 4:17PM
Jeff said...
I also live in Huntsville and travel on the Parkway past this McD's twice every day. The sign was something we were proud to have in town. A car hit the sign a few years ago and damaged the electrical system beyond repair. Speedy will be sorely missed.
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4-25-2008 @ 4:27PM
seo said...
Whats the name of the burger joint in Seattle in the Capitol Hill neighborhood? For a really bad hangover this place is your Tylenol!
I visited Seattle once, and all I ate was burgers from this place! LOL
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4-25-2008 @ 4:31PM
FoodForThought said...
seo:
You're thinking of Dick's Drive-In. Awesome.
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4-25-2008 @ 4:35PM
seo said...
FoodForThought:
YES!! Thanks!
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4-25-2008 @ 6:03PM
John said...
The article doesn't say where the other one is, but as of a couple of years ago there was a McDonald's near Houston that had the single arch. My family and I just had to stop there to eat and take a few pics. The building looked older, and there was historical memorabilia inside.
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4-25-2008 @ 10:00PM
Sara said...
There are 2 retro single arches in Virginia that I know of, so maybe that's the last of the ORIGINAL single arches.
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4-26-2008 @ 12:22AM
Patrick said...
I'm 99% certain there's still a single arch mcdonald's in mclean, va. If only they'd used as many preservatives in the signs as they do in the french fries...
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4-26-2008 @ 3:41AM
Kent said...
I believe there is an old single-arch MacDonald's in Tulsa (I live just outside of side the city in a suburb). I will try and confirm.
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4-26-2008 @ 4:30PM
Florida Arch said...
There is a single arch McDonalds in Winter Haven, Florida on Highway 17. It has been a stopping point for field trips before or after football games for years! It still has the Single Arch out front with how many people have been served there to date!
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4-29-2008 @ 2:16PM
Lex said...
There is also one in the north Detroit suburbs. I just drove by it the other day. There are definatly more than 2 single arch signs in the country.
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5-01-2008 @ 9:39PM
Valinda Chantrell said...
Another piece of history falls by the wayside, gone like my beloved drive-in movie theater! I remember when you received change back from your dollar and that was for a burger, fries and a coke. Nostalgia fills me with wanting, something old and simple, back again!
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