FROSTOP ROOT BEER & OTHER GIANT MUGS

The first Frostop Root Beer stand opened in Springfield, OH in 1926. The company expanded nationwide, reaching over 100 locations by 1958. By the 1960s, there were over 350 locations. Some previous known locations include: Kirksville, MO; Bowling Green, OH; Perrysburg, OH; Marysville, OH; and Wood River, IL. In 1954, the chain expanded to the South with the first location there in New Orleans. Three other stands were built in New Orleans with other known LA locations in Baton Rouge (three), Shreveport, La Place, Morgan City, Houma, Harahan, West Monroe, Mandeville, New Iberia, Crowley, and Chalmette. Three were built in Little Rock, AR. There were at least eight stands in MS (Batesville, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Greenwood, Greenville, Picayune, and Jackson where there were two). There were at least two stands in FL (Jacksonville & Bradenton). In the early 1960s, a stand was built in Winnipeg, Canada and others appeared elsewhere in the Northwest. The chain folded in the early 1980s. However, several stands still survive as shown below and continue to use the Frostop name although they are all independently owned. It is believed that the rotating mug signs were introduced in the 1954 at a New Orleans location. The sheet metal mugs are about 14' tall. I don't believe any of the original mugs had neon. It is not known how many locations had these mug signs. It is also not clear which were originally installed on the roof and which were placed on poles. For more, see this website.

former Frostop Valparaiso, IN	Frostop Greenville, MS		Bob's Root Beer Fallon, NV

The Valparaiso Frostop mug was originally at a different location in town. That stand opened in 1956 as "Hannon's Frostop". Sometime later, the mug was repainted "Hannon's". They closed in 1998. In 2001, the mug was restored and repainted "Frostop" when a new stand opened using the original name. That business was short-lived and, by 2005, the stand was replaced with a bank. The First National Bank of Valparaiso has kept the spinning sign on its lot. In fact, they even refer to this location as their "FrosTop branch". For more, see this website. Although the Greenville Frostop mug has been stripped of neon, it does appear freshly painted. The other sign in this photo is now gone. This mug no longer spins. Bob's Root Beer supposedly opened as an A&W in 1960. In 1962, it changed its name to Bob's Root Beer. I'm not sure when Bob's acquired this Frostop mug or if the restaurant was actually originally a Frostop. Bob's closed in 2006 and the mug was restored and installed at Top Gun Raceway. For more, see this website,

Frostop Ashton, ID

The Ashton Frostop has been here since the 1960s. The stand's giant mug is mounted on a pole. For more, see their website.

Frostop Salem, OH	Benny's Pizza Marysville, OH

The Salem Frostop still features a giant mug on their roof. Benny's Pizza has occupied this former Frostop since at least 1996.

Frostop Huntington, WV

The Huntington Frostop opened in 1959. The original building design remains the same and the rooftop mug still revolves. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Frostop Baton Rouge, LA

The Baton Rouge Frostop features a classic pole sign as well as a more modern mug incorporated into their canopy. This location opened in the 1950s. In the 1990s, the mug's neon was completely restored and it rotated. In 2004, the mug was restored but by then the neon was gone and the sign was stationary. The mug was repainted again around 2009. These photos are from 2006 and 2010. For more, see this website.

Frostop [gone] Raceland, LA	Frostop on the Bayou Thibodaux, LA

The Raceland Frostop featured a pole sign mug with missing neon. This photo is from 2006. The store has since closed and the mug is gone. This Thibodaux Frostop featured a rooftop mug when these photos were taken in 2006. Around 2007, they moved to a different spot in town - into a former Popeye's building. The mug is now displayed on a base on the ground. I don't know if it revolves. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Frostop Jefferson, LA (now Destrehan, LA)

This Jefferson Frostop opened in 1954 with a revolving rooftop mug. Thee mug appeared to have been recently repainted in 2006 when the second row of photos was taken. In 2007, this Frostop moved to a strip mall in Destrehan, LA. Due to sign regulations, they are not allowed to display the giant mug at the new location. It now lies behind their building. For more, see this website.

Frostop La Place, LA

before the 2007 restoration

after the 2007 restoration

The La Place Frostop opened here in 1958 with the mug originally installed on the roof. The mug was moved to a pole sometime in the 1960s. Neon was added to the mug and the building at that point. A dining room was added in 1962. The mug was first restored in 1987. A complete restoration took place in 2007. The mug was removed (third photo top row) and completely rebuilt for nearly $20,000. The barrel of the mug was replaced with rust-proof aluminum and painted like the original. The handle and foam piece from the old mug were used. The revolving mug is lit at night when the restaurant is open. Maintaining these neon mugs isn't cheap. This location has a $1,200 per year contract to keep the neon and rotation working properly. Their building was remodeled in 1981 and 1996. The original brown and cream tile was replaced with wood, siding, and now has cream tile. Their root beer is still homemade and served in frozen mugs. A vintage Frostop barrel is on display in the dining room. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [top row right photo, middle row right photo thanks Terry Toler]

Ted's Frostop New Orleans, LA

1998:

2006:

2010:

Ted's Frostop opened in 1955. Ted Sternberg owned several Frostops in New Orleans as well as three stands in Little Rock. This mug was originally installed on a pole (top photo). The building's rooftop signage was not damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, the mug was knocked off the pole and found upside down. They decided to move mug back a bit, install it still upside down on a base still, and use it as their logo. In 2007, the mug was restored (still in the upside down position). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [1998 photo thanks Rich Kummerlowe]

Frostop New Orleans, LA

This Frostop was also known as Charlie's Frost Top. It is located in the Algiers neighborhood and has similar signs to Ted's Frostop described above. I don't know of any other Frostops built with signs like these on the roof. The Ted's Frostop mug might have originally been installed over their rooftop sign like this one. This Algiers location has been closed and boarded up for a number of years. For more, see this website.

Riggen's Frostop Chrisman, IL		Frostop [mug gone] North Little Rock, AR

The Chrisman Frostop opened in 1954. This location features car hops who bring food to cars and the picnic tables. The is no indoor seating. The root beer concentrate is still from the original Frostop supplier. In 2010, a fire gutted the building. The owner is hoping to reopen. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The North Little Rock Frostop had a giant mug on a platform in front of their building. However, the restaurant moved to a shopping center nearby in 2008 and the mug was sold. Does anyone know what happened to it? For more, see this website.

Drive In Restaurant Taylors Falls, MN

The Drive In Restaurant opened as Allan's Drive-Inn in 1956, featuring Frostop root beer. The Frostop mug still revolves. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Mark Twain Dinette Hannibal, MO		Shipley Donuts Conway, AR

The Mark Twain Dinette opened around 1942. My guess is that they acquired this former Frostop mug and repainted it when they added drive-in service. The mug has been here since at least 2000. It was repainted around 2006. In addition to this sign which is mounted on a pole near the drive-in canopy, there is another pole sign on the corner next to the restaurant. For more, see this website. This Shipley Donuts sign started out as a modern Frostop sign. This shopping center Frostop was short-lived. By 2007, the location had become a Shipley Donuts and the sign was adapted with a new paint job and the addition of a donut.

Frostop Tell City, IN

This Tell City Frostop has been here since 1955. However, it closed shortly after these photos were taken in 2006. Although the restaurant is still vacant and for sale, the signs remain intact. This location doesn't have a giant mug but it does have a barrel outlined in neon poised on its roof. The lettering on the side of the roof and the structure on top are similar to the stand that was in Portage, MI.

Larsen's Frostop St. George, UT

Larsen's Frostop opened in 1965. They were originally part of the Frostop chain and did have a giant spinning mug. When the franchise folded, the mug was replaced with this nice neon sign. The mug was stored in the owner's backyard for several years and then was moved to a farm. Its location now is unknown. Larsen's also have a canopy and car hops. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

More Frostops, former Frostops, and Frostop Mugs: Frostop (Memphis, TN) [vintage; gone] Bountiful, UT [vintage; gone] Kanab, UT [no mug] Salt Lake City, UT [gone?] For more about these and other Frostops, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. If you know of any other Frostop mugs that are still around or have been adapted, I'd be thrilled to hear about them.

Burger Lounge South Lake Tahoe, CA	Corona Beer Mug Tucson, AZ

The Burger Lounge beer mug looks like it might be a reworked Frostop mug or a close impersonation. This Corona Beer Mug is part of a pole sign in front of the El Cachanilla Mexican restaurant. I don't believe this was ever a Frostop mug unless the handle and sheet metal body were replaced.

Thunder Road Drive-in Lima, OH

The Thunder Road Drive-in was built from 2004-2009, entirely by the owner. I suspect the the rooftop mug sign was inspired by the Frostop mugs. The building bears an incredibly strong resemblance to Ritter's Frozen Custard stands. For more, see this website. [photos thanks Mark Comstock]

Giant root beer barrels were used for Triple XXX Root Beer stands. For more about them and other root beer stands, see this section.

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