| Giant Containers |
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| 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. The chain folded in the early 1980s. The drive-ins' rotating giant mugs were introduced in the 1954 at a New Orleans location. The mugs are about 14' tall and made of sheet metal. I believe the neon was added later and that the mugs were all originally installed on the roof For more, see this website. |
| former Frostop Valparaiso, IN |
Frostop Greenville, MS |
Bob's Root Beer Fallon, NV |
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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 |
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| 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 |
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| Despite the wonderful giant mug on the roof, when I visited the Salem Frostop the root beer was absolutely vile (super syrupy and flat). Ordinarily, Frostop root beer gets high marks, so maybe they just had a bad batch? |
| Frostop Huntington, WV |
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| This Huntington Frostop was built in 1957. It does a booming business and is well-maintained. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Frostop Baton Rouge, LA |
Frostop on the Bayou Thibodaux, LA |
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The Baton Rouge Frostop features the classic pole sign as well as a more modern mug canopy incorporation. 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 owner is now considering a full restoration. For more, see this website.
This Thibodaux Frostop features a rooftop mug. They recently moved and have taken the mug with them. |
| Frostop [gone] Raceland, LA |
Frostop Jefferson, LA (now Destrehan, LA) |
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The Raceland Frostop featured a pole sign mug with missing neon. The store has closed and the mug is gone.
This Jefferson Frostop opened in 1954. Their rooftop mug was in great shape in 2006 and appeared to have been recently repainted. Note the pronounced water droplets and bubbles. 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 and it now lies behind their building. For more, see this page. [photo at right thanks Terry Toler] |
| Frostop La Place, LA |
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| The La Place Frostop opened here in 1958. The mug was originally on the roof and did not have neon. Today, it revolves on a pole and has blue, green, red, and white neon. The mug was restored in 1987. It was removed in 2007 and restored again (last photo) for nearly $20,000. The barrel of the mug was completely replaced/repainted while the original handle and foam were preserved. 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. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [three photos at right thanks Terry Toler] |
| Ted's Frostop New Orleans, LA |
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Ted's Frostop opened in 1955. Ted Sternberg owned several Frostops in New Orleans as well as three stands in Little Rock, AR. Their mug was originally installed on a pole (top photo). Although the building's rooftop signage was not damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, their mug was knocked off the pole. They decided to leave the toppled mug where it was and now use the upside down root beer mug as their logo. In 2007, the mug was restored (still in the upside down position). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [top photo ca. 1998 thanks Rich Kummerlowe]
There is a Frostop in Algiers (New Orleans, LA) with similar signage to Ted's. I assume Ted's once had a mug over the roof like this one. There is another Frostop in Houma, LA but they do not have a mug. |
| Riggen's Frostop Chrisman, IL |
Frostop North Little Rock, AR |
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The Chrisman Frostop opened in 1955. It was sold and became Riggen's Frostop in 1961. The root beer concentrate is still from the original Frostop supplier.
The North Little Rock Frostop has a giant mug on a platform in front of their building. However, they are now moving and can't take the mug with them. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Drive In Restaurant Taylors Falls, MN |
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| 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. |
| Frostop Tell City, IN |
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| This Tell City Frostop has been here since 1955. It 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 |
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| 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. |
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More Frostops, former Frostops, and Frostop Mugs:
Conway, AR [no photos or links; still there?] Fayetteville, AR [no photos or links; still there?] North Little Rock, AR South Lake Tahoe, CA [possibly originally a Frostop mug] The Mark Twain Dinette: 1, 2, 3 (Hannibal, MO) Benny's Pizza (Marysville, OH) 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 others still around, I'd be thrilled to hear about them. |
| Burger Lounge South Lake Tahoe, CA |
Corona Beer Mug Tucson, AZ |
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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. |
| 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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