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The Tamale
Montebello, CA |
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The Tamale has been here since at least the 1920s. The tamale-shaped building was originally a Mexican Restaurant. I believe it was still used as a restaurant until at least the 1980s. The building now houses Charley's Beauty Salon.
I don't know if this vehicle of a similar design from the 1920s was ever built.
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The Clam Box
Ipswich, MA |
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The Clam Box is a seafood restaurant in the shape of a take-out container. It was built in 1938 by Dick Greenleaf. The sign says "since 1935" so I assume there was a different building or location for the first three years. Originally, the building was just the Box itself with a kitchen and takeout windows. The upper floor was used for storage. In 1961, the dining room addition was made. There was a second location built in 1980 in Salisbury but I don't think it's there anymore. I don't believe it was shaped like this. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Pizza Slice
Boston, MA |
Jendy's Pizzeria
Austin, IN |
Mammoth Cheese
Perth, ON |
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The Pizza Slice was created for Jessica's Deli. The business is now Sam & Anne's Deli.
Jendy's Pizzeria features a giant wedge of pizza over their entrance.
The Mammoth Cheese is a monumental tribute to the giant cheese that was produced in Perth for the Chicago Fair of 1893. The original, real cheddar cheese wheel was 6' tall, 28' around, and weighed 22,000 pounds. This full-sized monument was produced in 1943. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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Cheese House
Wells, ME |
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Cheese House
Arlington, VT |
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The Wells Cheese House, now the "Wine and Cheese Shop", was part of the Cheese House chain. There were 18 of these cheese-shaped locations in New England. Apparently, there are only three known buildings left. The stores were built in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. They were constructed of wood with a cut-out wedge for the entrance and windows. They are nine feet tall and forty feet in diameter. In the late 1970s, the chain disbanded due to financial problems. The Wells store became "The Cheese Wheel". New owners added a kitchen in 1982 and it became known as "Sparky's Take Out."
The Wells store now sells gourmet food, cheese and wine. The original "Chucky", a six foot tall mouse, is still on the roof of the building. According to some sources, his name might have originally been "Tony" or "Chunky". The statue was still holding his wedge of cheese around 2002. However, that's gone now. In 2003, he lost an ear in a storm. In 2004, he was "roughed up badly" by some vandals who broke his legs. By 2009, he was repaired and put back on the roof.
The Arlington Cheese House was built in 1965 and was the first location for the chain. The building now barely resembles a wheel of cheese with its roof and addition. It appears from the postcard that Chucky, now gone, possibly had a bluebird on his right shoulder.
The third building is located in Sturbridge, MA. It now houses Bonardi's Formal Wear. I'll try to get some photos soon. For more giant mice, see this page.
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Egg Water Tower
Newberry, SC |
Giant Egg
Mentone, IN |
Giant Egg
Winlock, WA |
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The Egg Water Tower proclaims "Newberry County, Milk and Egg Capital".
The Mentone Egg was created in 1946 for the local egg festival. It is made of concrete over a steel frame and is approximately 10 feet tall.
The Winlock Egg is 14 feet long and 7 1/2 feet tall. Winlock's first giant egg was created in 1923 from canvas. A plastic one was made in 1944. In the 1960s, a fiberglass egg was made, lasting until the early 1990s. This one was produced in 1993 from plastic and plywood. It was painted like an American flag for many years but has been plain white since 2006. Winlock was considered the Egg Capital of the World at one time and still celebrates with an annual Egg Days festival. There are also several Giant Chickens around town. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
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Loaf of Bread
Urbana, OH |
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This giant Loaf of Bread is made of fiberglass. It is around the side of the American Pan building. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
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The Loaf
Elysburg, PA |
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The Loaf appears to be a former concession stand at Knoebels Amusement Park. The building looks like it is used only for storage now but there seems to be bread-making equipment inside as well.
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