LOCATION: Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, TN
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Attempted to “class up” Pizza Hut structure with bumped-out atrium entrance…but forgot they are still a title loan place.
PHOTO: Van Wilson
Title Max
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Taqueria El Guero
LOCATION: South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, GA
USED TO BE A: Waffle House
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Tried on two different BBQ restaurants before settling on blonde.
PHOTO: Grant Goggins/Marie Let’s Eat
Subway
LOCATION: Bells Ferry Road, Marietta, GA
USED TO BE A: Waffle House
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Unfortunately they got this wrong. None of the letters in the restaurant’s sign are burned out.
PHOTO: Grant Goggins/Marie Let’s Eat
Boost Mobile
LOCATION: Sandtown & Powder Springs, Marietta, GA
USED TO BE A: Dunkin Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This disappointing reminder of donuts past is only a little less bleak than a vape shop.
PHOTO: Grant Goggins/Marie Let’s Eat
Smokemat
BUSINESS: Smokemat*
LOCATION: California Avenue, Glendale, California
USED TO BE A: Fotomat
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: In the digital age, there’s nothing left for photographers to do but smoke themselves to death.
PHOTO: Greg McKinney
*We’re not actually sure it’s called that, but we’re calling it that.
Big John
BUSINESS: Big John
LOCATION: Fenton Road, Flint, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Apparently the bathrooms are really ADA compliant.
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Hollywood Wine & Spirits
BUSINESS: Hollywood Wine & Spirits
LOCATION: Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York
USED TO BE A: Hollywood Video
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: So Rochester.
PHOTO: Jeremiah Parry-Hill
Hat Creek
BUSINESS: Hat Creek
LOCATION: Burnet Road, Austin, Texas
USED TO BE AN: Arby’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: These guys were up hat creek without a paddle ’til they found an empty Arby’s just waiting for them to move in.
PHOTO: Eric Kennedy
Nibblers
BUSINESS: Nibblers
LOCATION: Ramirez Street near Highway 101, Los Angeles, California
USED TO BE A: Denny’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I don’t get it. You nibble on them? They nibble on you? You nibble together?
PHOTO: Peter Hughes
Sooo Good
BUSINESS: Sooo Good Southern Bar-B-Que
LOCATION: Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Absolutely inspired cold-to-hot transformation of twisty cone on sign into huge pile of fire.
PHOTO: DJ
Klub Cirok
BUSINESS: Klub Cirok
LOCATION: Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Red Lobster
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Sure hope they kept the lobster tank for the VIP lounge.
PHOTO: Robert G. Anderson
Family Pancake House
BUSINESS: Family Pancake House
LOCATION: Illinois Avenue, Dallas, Texas
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Taking a more local focus.
PHOTO: Eric Kennedy
Kettering Chiropractic Center
BUSINESS: Kettering Chiropractic Center
LOCATION: Kettering, Ohio
USED TO BE A: Ponderosa
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This Ponderosa-turned-chiropractor is great in a pinch if you can’t get to a nearby KFC-turned-chiropractor.
PHOTO: Nathaniel Kaelin
Biggby Coffee
BUSINESS: Biggby Coffee
LOCATION: Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan
USED TO BE AN: Arby’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Because a good cup of coffee was an important element of the pioneer days.
PHOTO: Suzanne Schimanski-Gross
Sami’s
BUSINESS: Sami’s
LOCATION: 8 Mile & Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Howard Johnson’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: A bit shoddy, sure, but Sami makes it look like it’s still pretty fun to go here. Other than the complete lack of cars in the parking lot.
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Great Lakes Dive Center
BUSINESS: Great Lakes Dive Center
LOCATION: Van Dyke between 21 & 22 Mile Roads, Utica, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Saved so much money not having to buy and install their own pier motifs!
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Tony’s Coney Island
BUSINESS: Tony’s Coney Island
LOCATION: Groesbeck Highway, Mount Clemens, Michigan
USED TO BE AN: Arthur Treacher’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Really wanna know what Tony changed his mind about on the lantern sign up there.
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Five Star Country Kitchen
BUSINESS: Five Star Country Kitchen
LOCATION: Groesbeck Highway, Mount Clemens, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Are we sure this wasn’t a Mexican restaurant in between?
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Mezzaluna
BUSINESS: Mezzaluna
LOCATION: Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Red Lobster
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Secretly still nautical.
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
House of Reuben
BUSINESS: House of Reuben
LOCATION: Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: House of Reuben trumps Bell of Taco any day in my book!
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Bay Cities National Bank
BUSINESS: Bay Cities National Bank
LOCATION: Manhattan Beach, California
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Money your way, right away.
PHOTO: Matt Shevin
China King Express
BUSINESS: China King Express
LOCATION: 1-94 & Belleville Road, Belleville, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Howard Johnson’s Restaurant
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: No snark here. This is freakin’ inspired!
PHOTO: Michael Pfaendtner
Kumo Sushi
BUSINESS: Kumo Sushi
LOCATION: Waterbury, Connecticut
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: So much of America believes icicle lights can fix anything.
PHOTO: Roger Katz
Subway
BUSINESS: Subway
LOCATION: Waterbury, Connecticut
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Incredibly large sandwich restaurant with a distinctly international feel.
PHOTO: Roger Katz
Greek Corner
BUSINESS: Greek Corner
LOCATION: San Diego, California
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Hellenic color scheme does not succeed in drawing the eye away from the DQ ovoids.
PHOTO: Carl Gustafson
Body Elements Beauty & Tanning
BUSINESS: Body Elements Beauty & Tanning
LOCATION: South Walker Street, Princeton, West Virginia
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: [insert chicken heat lamp joke]
PHOTO: Andrew Turnbull
Dino’s Sub
BUSINESS: Dino’s Sub
LOCATION: Amsterdam, New York
USED TO BE A: Quizno’s Sub
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I’m not sure what Dino did with the Q, U, and Z, but I hope it involved a triple word score.
PHOTO: Nick Constantino
Hot Dog Truck
BUSINESS: Hot Dog Truck
LOCATION: Spotted in Hoboken, New Jersey
USED TO BE A: US Mail Delivery Truck
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Arguably more important a public service than the USPS nowadays.
PHOTO: Jack Silbert
Dimple Donuts
BUSINESS: Dimple Donuts
LOCATION: 21st & Gage, Topeka, Kansas
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: So cute you just wanna pinch their widdle cheeks.
PHOTO: Christy Cheray
Boer Chiropractic
BUSINESS: Boer Chiropractic
LOCATION: 21st & Gage Streets, Topeka, Kansas
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: We have uncovered a dust-bowl-based-KFC-to-chiropractor phenomenon. You’re welcome.
PHOTO: Christy Cheray
Burgers
BUSINESS: Burgers
LOCATION: 35th Street, Austin, Texas
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: You may not have actually named your restaurant, but the car on the roof’s a nice touch.
PHOTO: Gabriel Jamail-Gutierrez
Subway/Tank Aquariums
BUSINESS: Subway/Tank Aquariums
LOCATION: Pacific Highway, Belmont, NSW, Australia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Because two bad conversions are better than one! Plus that fresh-baked-bread mixed with fish food smell is so hard to resist.
PHOTO: Stew Raper
Pearle Vision Center
BUSINESS: Pearle Vision Center
LOCATION: Hicksville, New York
USED TO BE A: McDonald’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If your vision is good enough, you can see just where the arches used to be.
PHOTO: Robert Gerard
Rumors
BUSINESS: Rumors
LOCATION: Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Actually, it seems this rumor is all too true.
PHOTO: Ernest Paik
Highland Florist
BUSINESS: Highland Florist
LOCATION: Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: At least I’m not the one who has to look themselves in the mirror after sending a funeral flower arrangement from a Taco Bell.
PHOTO: Ernest Paik
La Gondola
BUSINESS: La Gondola Spaghetti House
LOCATION: North Water Street, Decatur, Illinois
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Hey who wants to come over for a GIANT BUCKET OF SPAGHETTI?????
PHOTO: Michael R. Allen & Claire Nowak-Boyd
Tan Hut
BUSINESS: Tan Hut
LOCATION: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Disturbing military marching feel to the name almost makes me not feel like tanning?
PHOTO: Derek Lidbom
Church’s Fried Chicken
BUSINESS: Church’s Fried Chicken
LOCATION: Merrill Road, Jacksonville, Florida
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Giant yellow signs so distracting you may have momentarily forgotten about pizza.
PHOTO: Tommy Higgins
China Bowl Express
BUSINESS: China Bowl Express
LOCATION: San Antonio, Texas
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Chinese restaurant includes “sushiscape” in place of former playscape.
PHOTO: Discovery Gerdes
Allstar Donuts
BUSINESS: Allstar Donuts
LOCATION: Berkeley, California
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Where donuts, not design, are the star of the show. I hope.
PHOTO: Jeff Stendec
Gaston’s Auto Sales
BUSINESS: Gaston’s Auto Sales
LOCATION: Saint Catharine’s, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Makes ya feel just a little more confident in that used car purchase, doesn’t it?
PHOTO: Rob Antonishen
Craig’s
BUSINESS: Craig’s
LOCATION: Route 35, Middletown, New Jersey
USED TO BE A: Mobil
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: The red letter “a”. THE RED LETTER “A”!!
PHOTO: Ralph Brandi
JJ Fish
BUSINESS: JJ Fish
LOCATION: University Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: We are sorry, but your Burger King has been replaced by the popular symbol of downward mobility, a JJ Fish.
PHOTO: Brian Byrne
Turpin’s Car Wash
BUSINESS: Turpin’s Car Wash
LOCATION: Auburn, California
USED TO BE AN: A&W
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: It used to be an A&W, now it’s a gas station without the gas.
PHOTO: Lunar Shadows
American School of Jewelry
BUSINESS: American School of Jewelry
LOCATION: Sunrise, Florida
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Truly a diamond in the rough!
PHOTO: Chris & Allison Atkinson
Jimboy’s
BUSINESS: Jimboy’s
LOCATION: Auburn, California
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Wendy not down-home enough, even with the braids. Enter Jimboy.
PHOTO: Kat
Subway
BUSINESS: Subway
LOCATION: Sacramento, California
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: A Burger King both reclaimed by Subway and by nature. I think I won’t try the drive-thru.
PHOTO: Lunar Shadows
California Welcome Center
BUSINESS: California Welcome Center
LOCATION: Lincoln Way, Auburn, California
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: For those who have just mysteriously arrived in landlocked Placer County, California, the state would like to welcome you from this abandoned KFC.
PHOTO: Lunar Shadows
Filiberto’s
BUSINESS: Filiberto’s
LOCATION: Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Not just a Dairy Queen conversion but part of the great legacy of Alberto’s/Roberto’s/Norberto’s/Alanberto’s/
Julioberto’s taco copycats across the Southwestern US!
PHOTO: Brian Torwelle
Little Caesars Pizza
BUSINESS: Little Caesars Pizza
LOCATION: River Oaks, Texas
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This Mexican-turned-Italian restaurant may seem very exotic, but the parking lot streamers and American flags are here to remind you we’re still in Texas.
PHOTO: David Wesorick
Hunan Express
BUSINESS: Hunan’s Express
LOCATION: Corpus Christi, Texas
USED TO BE A: Wienerschnitzel
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Replaced hot dogs with foo dog.
PHOTO: B. Frame
El Torito
BUSINESS: El Torito
LOCATION: Worthington, Minnesota
USED TO BE AN: A&W
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Sad carport? Or world’s saddest carport?
PHOTO: Amanda Bengston
Dippin Donuts
BUSINESS: Dippin Donuts
LOCATION: SE 82nd, Portland, Oregon
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Cos, y’know, uh, sometimes you don’t really feel like dunking…just, uh…dipping.
PHOTO: George Helewa
Zap of Fresno
BUSINESS: Zap of Fresno
LOCATION: Mackenzie & Abby, Fresno, California
USED TO BE AN: Arby’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: “Hello? Is this Zap of Fresno? Do you have anything fuel-efficient in a covered wagon right now?”
PHOTO: Daniel F.
Enterprise
BUSINESS: Enterprise
LOCATION: Auburn, AL
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: When they pick you up, see if they can bring a pizza.
PHOTO: David Thornton
China Star
BUSINESS: China Star
LOCATION: Chili Boulevard, Rochester, New York
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: The streamers, the floodlights, the Chinese characters—this conversion really is a star!
PHOTO: Dan Varenka
Burrito Station
BUSINESS: Burrito Station
LOCATION: Halsted & Volmer, Chicago Heights, Illinois
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Still serves tacos, but the idea of arriving trainloads of burritos has me very eager to learn more.
PHOTO: David Aldridge
Cash Advance
BUSINESS: Cash Advance
LOCATION: Tulsa, Oklahoma
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Look, they said “cash” advance, not “architectural design” advance.
PHOTO: Gary & Aric
Little Caesars Pizza
BUSINESS: Little Caesars Pizza
LOCATION: Redford, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Unique and almost fancy Little Caesar’s dine-in experience thwarted by HOT-N-READY signs and…what are those yellow things?
PHOTO: Jim & Sue McClear
Courtesy Ford
BUSINESS: Courtesy Ford
LOCATION: Syracuse, New York
USED TO BE A: Friendly’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If you can’t be friendly any longer, at least be courteous.
PHOTO: Rachel & David Tarr
Shau May
BUSINESS: Shau May
LOCATION: Garfield Ave., Monterey Park, California
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Would it have killed them to turn the bucket into a giant Chinese takeout container?
PHOTO: Sun-ki Chai
Midway Hollow
BUSINESS: Midway Hollow
LOCATION: Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas
USED TO BE A: Denny’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Disjointedly “woodsy” sounding name tries to soften the blow of this terrifying looking veterinarian.
PHOTO: Gary & Aric
Our Cleaner World
BUSINESS: Our Cleaner World
LOCATION: Abrams Rd., Dallas, Texas
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Great name for a dry cleaner, an indie-pop album, or a Burger King.
PHOTO: Gary & Aric
Cafe Espresso Donuts
BUSINESS: Cafe Espresso Donuts
LOCATION: Renton, Washington
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I was going to stop at a regular donut shop but this one with espresso looks so upscale.
PHOTO: Jon Madison
Limp Lizard Lounge
BUSINESS: Limp Lizard Lounge
LOCATION: Syracuse, New York
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If your lizard’s not limp before you get there, it will be by the time you leave. It may also be scaly.
PHOTO: Rachel & David Tarr
8 Tracks Tavern
BUSINESS: 8 Tracks Tavern
LOCATION: Syracuse, New York
USED TO BE A: Friendly’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I realize some may not consider Syracuse to be on the leading edge, but a watering hole solely dedicated to 8 tracks? Pretty much the ultimate hipster move.
PHOTO: Rachel & David Tarr
Tipico’s
BUSINESS: Tipico’s
LOCATION: Dallas, Texas
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: It’s a surprise to many, but all authentic roadside food stands in Sonora look just like this.
PHOTO: Gary & Aric
Mi Pueblito
BUSINESS: Mi Pueblito
LOCATION: Pasadena, Texas
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Mi Pueblito takes the higher ground here by doing almost nothing, and gives the visual nightmare of a Taco Bell/Long John’s combo next door (such betrayal!) enough rope to hang itself.
PHOTO: Matt Measmer
Salsita’s
BUSINESS: Salsita’s
LOCATION: Kent, Ohio
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Bet you didn’t know Wendy was so picante that she had this secret nickname, eh?
PHOTO: Derek Erdman
Jilberto’s Mexican & Sea Food
BUSINESS: Jilberto’s Mexican & Sea Food
LOCATION: Dallas, Texas
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Suddenly incredibly festive pink makes me crave fish tacos. A success! (Bonus points for being a -berto.)
PHOTO: Gary & Aric
Waffle Palace Cyber Cafe Restaurant
BUSINESS: Waffle Palace
LOCATION: Southlake Parkway, Morrow, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Waffle House
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: These ambitious cybernauts have upgraded a mere house of waffles into a palace—simply by changing the sign. Ingenious!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Coffee Time
BUSINESS: Coffee Time
LOCATION: Saint Clair and Caledonia, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Harvey’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: In quintessential Coffee Time non-style, they have done basically nothing here. Nice hamburger sign!
NOTE: You may also enjoy this website.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Pizza Hut
BUSINESS: Pizza Hut
LOCATION: Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Made the ugly ’80s wacky-trapezoidal BK store look seem almost…natural.
PHOTO: The Evil Sam Graham
Ranch
BUSINESS: Ranch
LOCATION: Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Ponderosa
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Ponde…ponde…ponderrrr…I KNOW! RANCH!!!
(Jesus, people!)
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Magic Wok
BUSINESS: Magic Wok
LOCATION: Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Jade green and red retouching attempt to mask otherwise wholly nautical cottage motif. Note “dockside” pillars remain!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Baskin Robbins
BUSINESS: Baskin Robbins
LOCATION: Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio
USED TO BE A: White Castle
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This is certainly one of the most, um, regal Baskin Robbins stores around!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
KFC
BUSINESS: KFC
LOCATION: Perry Street, Port Clinton, Ohio
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Wow! It’s so rare you see such a major chain convert from such another big chain. You almost fooled me, KFC! But not quite.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
New Orleans Seafood
BUSINESS: New Orleans Seafood
LOCATION: Detroit Street, Cleveland, Ohio
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Handsome red-and-white planter boxes incorporated nicely into Cajun, as opposed to Kentucky, color scheme.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Original Pancake House
BUSINESS: Original Pancake House
LOCATION: Union Road at Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park, New York
USED TO BE A: Ponderosa
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Please pay special attention to the pole-mounted (ex-Pondo) sign and the ingenious placement of the word “house”.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Huntington Learning Center
BUSINESS: Huntington Learning Center
LOCATION: Union Road at Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park, New York
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If you want to get high school kids to pay to study for the SAT, you could have at least left the sundae bar.
NOTE: Next door to converted Ponderosa!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Starbucks
BUSINESS: Starbucks Coffee
LOCATION: SR 16, Watertown, Massachussets
USED TO BE A: Friendly’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Few people interpret another Starbucks taking over as “Friendly”.
PHOTO: Don Small
Enterprise
BUSINESS: Enterprise
LOCATION: Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia
USED TO BE AN: Arthur Treacher’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Oh, so sad! They took down the lantern! But it’s great that it’s more convenient to rent cars than eat fast food nowadays. Or…is it?
PHOTO: Carl Oberg
Arnie’s
BUSINESS: Arnie’s
LOCATION: Coolidge Hwy., Berkeley, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Sorry, Arnie—the Carl’s Jr.-styled Hardee’s sign carcass you left on the roof makes this bad conversion a gimme.
PHOTO: Doug Kalemba
Orlando’s Mexican Grill
BUSINESS: Orlando’s Mexican Grill
LOCATION: Clear Lake, Houston, Texas
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Relied on the trusty “put shutters up and pretend the windows weren’t trapezoids” method.
NOTES: Also converted from El Lago Burrito Company
PHOTO: Douglas Cudd
Budget Rent a Car
BUSINESS: Budget Rent a Car
LOCATION: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Captain D’s Seafood
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Drive-thrus for cars, by cars. It’s kind of mindblowing.
PHOTO: Randall Smith
Title Max
BUSINESS: Title Max
LOCATION: Lawrenceville Hwy, Tucker, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: On the forefront of the Taco-Bell-to-Title-Loan craze that’s swept the nation.
PHOTO: Greg Germani at Atlanta Time Machine
Oriental Kitchen
BUSINESS: Oriental Kitchen
LOCATION: Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Well, no, not really.
PHOTO: Jim Early at Columbus Restaurant History
Thai Town Express
BUSINESS: Thai Town Express
LOCATION: Hollywood Blvd. and Western, Los Angeles, California
USED TO BE A: Red’s Hot Dogs
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Nothing quite says Thai cuisine like a huge fiberglass hot dog with onions! (P.S. Dear Thai Town: please never take that hot dog down!)
PHOTO: Shannon Hoff
Jons
BUSINESS: Jons
LOCATION: Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California (and numerous others)
USED TO BE A: Von’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: V…v…v…VJON’S!
PHOTO: Shannon Hoff
Cafe Mingo
BUSINESS: Cafe Mingo
LOCATION: Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California
USED TO BE A: McDonald’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Stripped the fiberglass arches and added “You tried the rest…Now try the best!” slogan for uniqueness.
PHOTO: Doc
First on Queensway
BUSINESS: First on Queensway
LOCATION: Queensway, Prince George, British Columbia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: It’s truly amazing how versatile the standard Pizza Hut store is.
PHOTO: Douglas Koyama
Dairy K
BUSINESS: Dairy K
LOCATION: 84th St SW, Mukilteo, Washington
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Okay folks! We need to change the name from “Dairy Queen” to “Dairy Qu… Q… K… Dairy K!”
PHOTO: Megan and Matt Fesinmeyer
Marino’s Seafood
BUSINESS: Marino’s Seafood
LOCATION: Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio
USED TO BE AN: Arthur Treacher’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Didn’t even have to clean the grease traps.
PHOTO: Jim Early at Columbus Restaurant History
China Buffet
BUSINESS: China Buffet
LOCATION: Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachussets
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Once again, not even trying to fool anybody. Sigh.
PHOTO: Don Small
Ruby House
BUSINESS: Ruby House
LOCATION: Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachussets
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Painted the roof ruby. And they have a US mailbox for some reason.
PHOTO: Don Small
Quality 1 Auto
BUSINESS: Quality 1 Auto
LOCATION: Lawrenceville Hwy, Decatur, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Sonic
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Even more festive than an IHOP turned into a used car dealership!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Los Compadres
BUSINESS: Los Compadres
LOCATION: Buford Highway, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Sonic
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Is it Los Compadres or Los Cabos? Oh well, why not have more than one name?
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Basket Rabbit
BUSINESS: Basket Rabbit
LOCATION: Buford Highway, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Baskin Robbins
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Could I please just get a cone…hold the rabbit?
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Cafe Mex
BUSINESS: Cafe Mex
LOCATION: Long John Silver’s
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: From the great outriggers of Mexico comes the ol’ catch of the day! Burritos! Tacos! Hush Puppies!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Athens Pizza
BUSINESS: Athens Pizza
LOCATION: Clairmont Road, Decatur, Georgia
USED TO BE AN: Arby’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I think it woulda looked more Greek if they’da left the ten-gallon hat.
PHOTO: Greg Germani at Atlanta Time Machine
River Bend
BUSINESS: River Bend
LOCATION: Sam Rayburn Drive, Bonham, Texas
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen (ya think?)
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Good lord! None.
PHOTO: Nigel Gripp
Don Pollo
BUSINESS: Don Pollo
LOCATION: Corporate Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Decorative tiling and a trompe l’oeil chicken mural will keep 50% of people for mistaking this for a “hut”!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
La Feria
BUSINESS: La Feria
LOCATION: Buford Hwy & Corporate Blvd, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Denny’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This Denny’s is so totally festive! It almost looks like a Chi-Chis!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
China Palace
BUSINESS: China Palace
LOCATION: Collins Rd and Strickland St, Lakeland, Florida
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I’ve never thought of a KFC as palatial, but if you say so.
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Flowerama
BUSINESS: Flowerama
LOCATION: Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Kenny Rogers’ Roasters (and also Rax!)
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Can’t get her a bucket of chicken and mini-muffins? I guess you’ll have to settle for flowers.
PHOTO: Chris Hardesty
Na Go Ya
BUSINESS: Na Go Ya
LOCATION: Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Trying to confuse us into not noticing this is a Taco Bell by being some sort of Japanese named Chinese restaurant.
PHOTO: Chris Hardesty
Pario’s
BUSINESS: Pario’s
LOCATION: Dayton Blvd, Red Bank, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Shoney’s Big Boy
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Would have been way better if they had somehow managed to convert the actual Big Boy—perhaps with an Italian mustache?
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Mr. T’s
BUSINESS: Mr. T’s Pizza & Ice Cream
LOCATION: Dayton Blvd, Red Bank, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This restaurant pities tha foo.. oh nevermind.
PHOTO: Chris Hardesty
Typhoon of Tokyo
BUSINESS: Typhoon of Tokyo
LOCATION: Dayton Blvd at Morrison Springs Rd, Red Bank, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Bojangles
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Whoa! This Bojangles looks like it was hit by a typhoon!
PHOTO: Chris Hardesty
Regal Cleaners
BUSINESS: Regal Cleaners
LOCATION: Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, Tennessee
USED TO BE A: Bojangles
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Dudes, you left up the poles that used to hold up the word “Bojangles”. Some royalty.
PHOTO: Chris Hardesty
Des Moines Police Traffic Unit
BUSINESS: Des Moines Police Traffic Unit
LOCATION: Forest Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Oh my god! They turned a Pizza Hut into a Cop Shop! What, there were no abandoned Dunkin’ Donuts stores available?
PHOTO: The Evil Sam Graham
Chicago Style Gyros
BUSINESS: Chicago Style Gyros
LOCATION: Harding Road near I-24, Nashville, TN
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Now, I’m from Chicago, and I have to say it was not really our style to serve gyros out of a seafood restaurant.
PHOTO: Tah O’Connor
River City Donuts
BUSINESS: River City Donuts
LOCATION: Research Blvd. near Ohlen, Austin, Texas
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Reused all old interior signs but cut out or stickered over old Dunkin’ Donuts logo! (See detail)
PHOTO: Kelly Vaccaro
Mann’s BBQ
BUSINESS: Mann’s BBQ
LOCATION: Research Blvd. near Ohlen, Austin, Texas
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Maroon exterior is both convincingly jarring as well as reminiscent of BBQ sauce. Not bad!
PHOTO: Kelly Vaccaro
Aurora Donuts
BUSINESS: Aurora Donuts
LOCATION: Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, Washington
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: The weirdest thing about this conversion is that the brand-partnered Baskin Robbins store is still there next to it! (Also, did they reuse that pink ‘O’?)
PHOTO: Dawn Marsh Wilson
Taco John’s
BUSINESS: Taco John’s
LOCATION: US 212, Watertown, South Dakota
USED TO BE A: Wendy’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: They sneakily replaced Wendy with John, but otherwise I’m totally not buying it.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
The Castle Jeweler
BUSINESS: The Castle Jeweler (and Castle Accordion Store!)
LOCATION: 33rd and Lyndale, Minneapolis, Minnesota
USED TO BE A: White Castle
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: This is not a bad conversion but rather a totally bizarre conversion. The Castle Jeweler pays homage to the slider king by leaving nearly everything intact! Very classy.
NOTE: This former White Castle is on the National Register of Historic Places!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Pineda Tacos #2
BUSINESS: Pineda Tacos #2
LOCATION: Lake Street at Highland, Minneapolis, Minnesota
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Managed to tear off Pizza Hut lettering only to find it left marks. Then they threw some white paint up top, but it didn’t stick. There is no new signage actually on the restaurant either! This conversion is so pathetic the food must be amazing.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Disco Diner
BUSINESS: Disco Diner
LOCATION: North Ave NE, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Still claims to have best breakfast in town….disco style.
PHOTO: Greg Germani at Atlanta Time Machine
Lee’s Market
BUSINESS: Lee’s Market
LOCATION: High Street, Columbus, Ohio
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Retains “international” feel.
PHOTO: Paul Nini
Exaco
BUSINESS: Exaco
LOCATION: Sunset Boulevard and North Vista Streets, Hollywood, California
USED TO BE A: Texaco
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Ooh, this is giving Kembass a run for its money.
PHOTO: Garrett Belmont
Northeastern Title
BUSINESS: Northeastern Title
LOCATION: US 13, New Castle, Delaware
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Painted it yellow to make it look more Mexican.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Hang’s Express Chinese Restaurant
BUSINESS: Hang’s Express Chinese Restaurant
LOCATION: US 13, Dover, Delaware
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Actually I can still see the post-holes where the old DQ sign used to hang on the front. I guess Hang did his conversion in Express mode, too.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Rodeway Inn
BUSINESS: Rodeway Inn
LOCATION: Memorial Drive, New Castle, Delaware
USED TO BE A: Days Inn
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Dudes…we can all see that sun! Don’t try and distract us with your “specail” offers!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Main Street Medical
BUSINESS: Main Street Medical
LOCATION: Main Street, Athol, Massachussets
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Podiatry is now on the menu at this former home of the Whopper!
PHOTO: Don Small
Oasis
BUSINESS: Oasis
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: 86’ed the popcorn chicken, added belly dancing!
PHOTO: Doc
Sak & Run Foods
BUSINESS: Sak & Run Foods
LOCATION: Danforth Avenue near Main Street, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: 7-11
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: An ingenious conversion that manages to rip off local convenience chain Sak’s while clearly being an ex-7-11.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Lick’s
BUSINESS: Lick’s
LOCATION: Kingston Road, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Put up claptrap shutters to disguise signature Hut trapezoidal windows. But I’m on to them!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Reggies Hair Nails
BUSINESS: Reggies Hair Nails
LOCATION: North Druid Hills Road, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Hardee’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Hair nails sounds almost as unappetizing as a “Thickburger”.
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
England Piano
BUSINESS: England Piano
LOCATION: I-85 Access Road, Atlanta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Waffle House
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: “We have got to make sure everyone travelling on the interstate knows where the nearest EZ-ON EZ-OFF piano store is!”
P.S. Nice keys… that’s more than 88 though, right?
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Oasis Pool & Spa
BUSINESS: Oasis Pool & Spa
LOCATION: Canton Road, Marietta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If they can smooth out the hump in that rooftop, imagine how nice your in-ground calzone-shaped pool will look!
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
The Hobby Store
BUSINESS: The Hobby Store
LOCATION: George Busbee Parkway, Kennesaw, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: The Pizza Hut lunch buffet is like a hobby to some, so this is a fairly natural transition.
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Exterior Connections
BUSINESS: Exterior Connections
LOCATION: Main Street, Woodstock, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: “I don’t know that I’d trust a business that does exteriors when they managed to make a Pizza Hut even uglier.” —David Hornbuckle
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Dive Shop
BUSINESS: Dive Shop
LOCATION: Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: They actually tacked a pool onto the Taco Bell—and yet it is still clearly a Taco Bell.
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Cars to Go
BUSINESS: Cars to Go
LOCATION: Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Hardee’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: There is still a drive-thru! These cars are truly “to go”!
Also: that specials board is just aching for a combo deal.
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Beef O’Brady’s
BUSINESS: Beef O’Brady’s
LOCATION: Highway 92, Woodstock, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Hardee’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: What can I say? The Irish are known for their meat, right?
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
American Deli
BUSINESS: American Deli
LOCATION: Church Street, Decatur, Georgia
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: If by “American” you mean North American, as in including Mexico, well, then, maybe.
PHOTO: David Hornbuckle
Scarborough Funeral Centre
BUSINESS: Scarborough Funeral Centre
LOCATION: Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut…and before that, a Ponderosa!!!
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I guess the direct chain from fast food to funeral home is sort of uh, poignant. (Pizza Hut, please don’t sue me.)
NOTE: See this article from the March, 2004 National Post.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Oreck Floor Care Center
BUSINESS: Oreck Floor Care Center
LOCATION: US Rte 1, Saugus, Massachussets
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Without a doubt, a great deal of floor cleaning was required before anyone could move into this ancient KFC.
PHOTO: Don Small
El Rodeo
BUSINESS: El Rodeo
LOCATION: State Route 422, Niles, Ohio
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: There is nothing a little Spanish tile can’t do for an old fishery.
PHOTO: Allen LaValliere
Peking Malaysia
BUSINESS: Peking Malaysia
LOCATION: Route 35, Shrewsbury, New Jersey
USED TO BE A: Friendly’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Bricked-up the front door and moved capital of China to Malaysia. Innovative!
PHOTO: Ralph Brandi
Jerry’s
BUSINESS: Jerry’s
LOCATION: Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Virginia
USED TO BE AN: Arthur Treacher’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Festive lantern left intact—c’mon rangers, I know there are a lot more former Arthur Treacher’s out there!
PHOTO: J.T. Stanton II
Capt’n Joes Galley
BUSINESS: Capt’n Joes Galley
LOCATION: Andrews Road, Murphy, North Carolina
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: The nautical blue paint job is nice, but the, uh, Capt’n’s ideas about apostrophes are truly baffling.
PHOTO: Ernest Paik
2000 Wok
BUSINESS: 2000 Wok
LOCATION: Fillmore Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Daring combination of bad conversion and time-sensitive trendy “millennium”-style naming.
PHOTO: Mike Melanson
La Shish
BUSINESS: La Shish
LOCATION: Wayne Road, Westland, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: We have already seen that Taco Bells convert easily to Middle Eastern—the delicious La Shish has added handsome spires to this joint!
PHOTO: Josh Landau
Oldtown
BUSINESS: Oldtown Pancake House
LOCATION: Florissant, Missouri
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Smooth transition from pancake chalet to pancake chalet—surprisingly they are even getting away with some sort of Rooty breakfast!
PHOTO: Hal Hope
Shanghai Express
BUSINESS: Shanghai Express
LOCATION: Armenia Avenue at Tampa Bay Boulevard, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: You can take the cupola off of the roof, but I can still smell the hush puppies!
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Churrasco Gaucho
BUSINESS: Churrasco Gaucho
LOCATION: Florida Avenue north of Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE AN: Arby’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I have always wanted to see a converted Arby’s. I’m a little disappointed.
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Canton Chinese
BUSINESS: Canton Chinese
LOCATION: Florida Avenue north of Busch Boulevard, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Took a big step and replaced the “round rect” store sign with actual rectangle!
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Quest Autos
BUSINESS: Quest Autos
LOCATION: Florida Avenue north of Waters Avenue, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I’ll have the ’99 Explorer with a side of peach compote and a half carafe of juice, thanks!
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Boston Grill
BUSINESS: Boston Grill
LOCATION: Florida Avenue at Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Palm trees, stucco roof, arched windows left intact to conjure up image of good old Beantown.
PHOTO: Brad Hissing
Veggie Castle
BUSINESS: Veggie Castle
LOCATION: Church Avenue at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
USED TO BE A: White Castle
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: An impressive conversion from one kind of restaurant to its culinary antithesis.
PHOTO: Mike Epstein
Gilstrap Chiropractic
BUSINESS: Gilstrap Chiropractic
LOCATION: 71st and Elm Streets, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Um, Mr. Gilstrap… I don’t know how to tell you this… but there’s a giant bucket of chicken attached to your sign! Winner of NFA’s “Most Audacious Conversion” award, hands down.
NOTE: See this article!
PHOTO: Lee Sanders
Eggroll Street
BUSINESS: Eggroll Street
LOCATION: 71st and Elm Streets, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
USED TO BE A: Burger Street
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Whoa! What the heck street are we on, anyway!?
PHOTO: Lee Sanders
Marbie’s Donuts
BUSINESS: Marbie’s Donuts
LOCATION: Corning, New York
USED TO BE A: Dunkin’ Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Kept up orange-and-magenta color scheme for sign. Marbie’s got balls!
NOTE: After this was taken, Marbie’s was converted BACK to a Dunkin’ Donuts!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Kembass
BUSINESS: Kembass
LOCATION: Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE AN: Embassy Cleaners
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Kembass is the current holder of the “Least Clever” award over at NFA HQ. I mean, “Kembass”?
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Back in the Day Soul Food
BUSINESS: Back in the Day Soul Food
LOCATION: 8 Mile Road, Ferndale, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Little Caesars Pizza
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Nice use of stencilled lettering in mysterious circle on building. But get a new drive-thru awning fer chrissakes!
PHOTO: Doug Kalemba
Monte Vista Liquors
BUSINESS: Monte Vista Liquors
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Convenient adaptation of drive-thru for alcohol purposes—very Ohio.
PHOTO: Doc
Honey Bear’s BBQ
BUSINESS: Honey Bear’s BBQ
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona
USED TO BE AN: International House of Pancakes
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Patio seating a nice touch.
PHOTO: Doc
Best of Philly Cheesesteaks
BUSINESS: Best of Philly Cheesesteaks
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Unbelievable adaptation of clearly visible taco-style bell on sign.
NOTE: Next door to converted IHOP! I love Arizona.
PHOTO: Doc
Tuptim Thai
BUSINESS: Tuptim Thai
LOCATION: Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Long John Silver’s
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I am sorry to report they did take out the Captain’s Bell.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Furusato Sushi
BUSINESS: Furusato Sushi
LOCATION: Essa Road, Barrie, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Greek restaurant of some kind.
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Sushi…now, with Greek flair!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Rosie’s Xpress
BUSINESS: Rosie’s Xpress Take Out & Deli
LOCATION: Brock Street, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: KFC
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: That awning could use some more yellow paint, eh Rosie?
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Quality Properties
BUSINESS: Quality Properties
LOCATION: Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Burger King
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: You almost don’t notice it’s a Burger King. Almost.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Master Donut
BUSINESS: Master Donut
LOCATION: Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Mister Donut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: More assertive “Master” seems to have successfully attracted the biker crowd.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Icescapes Ices & Frozen Treats
BUSINESS: IceScapes Ices & Frozen Treats
LOCATION: Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Hot’N’Now
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Still looks like Hot’N’Now.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Hungry Howie’s Pizza
BUSINESS: Hungry Howie’s Pizza
LOCATION: Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: They actually knocked out the brick arches and made square windows here.
NOTE: Wedged between a converted Burger King AND a converted 7-11!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Hertz
BUSINESS: Hertz Rent-A-Car
LOCATION: The Queensway, Etobicoke, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Impressive conversion from fun to boring.
NOTE: This DQ actually moved across the street to share space with a Money Mart!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Hastie Market
BUSINESS: Hastie Market
LOCATION: Oshawa, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Hasty Market
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Sloppy work, people.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Harty Market
BUSINESS: Harty Market
LOCATION: O’Connor Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Hasty Market
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: They got the awning real dirty so we wouldn’t notice.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Gino’s East
BUSINESS: Gino’s East
LOCATION: Wells & Ontario Streets, Chicago, Illinois
USED TO BE A: Planet Hollywood
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Zilch.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Fortune House Super Deluxe Chinese Buffet
BUSINESS: Fortune House Super Deluxe Chinese Buffet
LOCATION: US 20 & US 421, Michigan City, IN
USED TO BE A: Ponderosa
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Still a buffet!
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
County Side
BUSINESS: County Side
LOCATION: Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Country Style Donut
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: I’m sorry, what the hell is a County Side?
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Country Site
BUSINESS: Country Site Cafe
LOCATION: Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Country Style Donuts
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Still looks kinda like “Country Style” if you maybe can’t read.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Coffee Time
BUSINESS: Coffee Time
LOCATION: Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Coffee Time stores all look ridiculous and un-uniform, so this is as good as any.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Chinese Hut
BUSINESS: Chinese Hut
LOCATION: Kennedy and Ellesmere, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Pizza Hut, duh!
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Excellent re-use of the word “hut”.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Big Bites Ice Cream & Burgers
BUSINESS: Big Bites Ice Cream & Burgers
LOCATION: Kingston Road, Toronto, Ontario
USED TO BE A: Dairy Queen
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Continued implementation of well-proven “frosty treats served in barn” ideology.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton
Al Noor Mediterranean Cuisine
BUSINESS: Al Noor Mediterranean Cuisine
LOCATION: Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti, Michigan
USED TO BE A: Taco Bell
CREATIVE INTERPRETATION: Made use of arched windows to evoke Middle Eastern feel.
PHOTO: Liz Clayton