Matchbook Magnets

These still exist right?

The Matchbook Covers illustration two: Mikes Restaurant. Rien n'est aussi bon que Mikes. Phillumenation: A personal matchbook collection and illustrated side project by phillumenist Jenelle Carter. phillumenation.com • thematchbookcovers.com

Lovingly and carefully re-created here - these designs look stunning in a frame!

Repurposed 1950s matchbook art for the Tropics Motor Hotel, Modesto, CA... a former Tiki / Polynesian Hotel & Bar

bullocks vintage matchbook safety match

the powla tandstickor sweden

I wish you like this

The Gator Bar and Lounge

The wagon-esque theme caught on big during the 1950s, inspired partly by TV westerns and partly by the fame of Las Vegas chuck wagon buffets which provided grub for gamblers from midnight ‘til dawn. If not for Vegas envy, why else would there have been one in Miami Beach in 1955? Apparently seeing no local cuisine worth merchandising, restaurateurs there chose from a grab bag of themes such as Smorgs, Polynesian, and Ken’s Pancake Parade.

Trader Vic's is a restaurant and tiki bar chain headquartered in Emeryville, California, United States. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. (December 10, 1902 in San Francisco – October 11, 1984 in Hillsborough, California) founded a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, "Trader Vic". He was one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. The other was his amicable competitor for many years, Donn Beach of the "Don the Beachcomber" restaurants.

Swipe whichever way you want.

Buck's

Built in 1961, this is one of five Polynesian-themed Tropics motels once owned by Ken Kimes. The most elaborate of the chain was in Palm Springs, now called the Caliente Tropics Resort. This motel was previously connected to the next door Tiki Cocktail Lounge. Further down was a Sambo's restaurant (which now houses Modesto Car Toys). Most recently, the Tropics Motel has been renamed the Tiki Lodge. The pool area is fenced off and is opened seasonally only. The four tikis carved by Ed Crissman around the parking lot now have lighting on their chests/foreheads and solar powered batteries on their heads.

California Tiki Hut

Super Monster

Shakey's Pizza is a pizza restaurant chain based in the United States. Founded in 1954, it was the first franchise pizza chain in the United States. In 1968, the chain had 342 locations. The chain had about 500 stores globally, and 58 in the United States, as of July 2019. Currently, the stores can be found in the states of California and Washington, as well as in the Philippines and Japan.

Baron's, The Bar on Powell, San Francisco, California, circa 1958

Matchbook Art

Mel's Drive-In is a term referring to two American restaurant chains, successors of a restaurant founded in 1947 by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs in San Francisco, California. It is closely associated with the film American Graffiti. There are a number of Mel's in Northern California that share the same general American Graffiti nostalgia theme and the similarly styled Mel's logo. These restaurants are called “Original Mels”. Their locations are not listed on the official Mel's Drive-In website but they have their own website, although an article from the Sacramento Business Journal shows that they're related.

Tucson's Most Modern Motor Hotel

World Famous Sam's Sea Food and Hawaiian Village Family Restaurant.

Pago Pago Paradise

Gone, but not forgotten, this vintage matchbook cover brings back memories of corned beef sandwiches and other home-cooked Jewish foods offered on Spadina Ave. in downtown Toronto during the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's.

Vintage matchbook sweden

vintage matchbook safety match lion

The Neptune Grill was opened by George Ganas on Capitol Hill in 1938.

Food Served Till Midnight

Abc impregnated safety match

Berlin Haupstadt Vintage Styled Stamp/Matchbook Design

In 1925, Howard Deering Johnson borrowed $2,000 to buy and operate a small corner pharmacy in Wollaston, a neighborhood in Quincy, Massachusetts. Throughout the summers of the late 1920s, Johnson opened concession stands on the beachfront property along the coast of Massachusetts. The stands sold soft drinks, hot dogs, and ice cream. Each stand was successful. With his success becoming more noticeable every year, Johnson convinced local bankers to lend him funds to operate a family-style restaurant. Negotiations were made and, toward the end of the decade, the first Howard Johnson's restaurant opened in Quincy. It featured fried clams, baked beans, chicken pot pies, frankfurters, ice cream, and soft drinks.

The Makai Room, 12125 Venice Blvd. Mar Vista, California.

Kon-Tiki Room

Camarra's, a beloved pizzeria in the north end of Toronto, existed between 1958 and 2019. If you loved Pizza and lived in North York, you certainly would have eaten here. Enjoy the memories and remember the food with this image of the restaurant's vintage matchbook covers.

Queen's, also called Queen's Surf, is one of the best waves in Waikiki. Straight off the beach from the east end of Kuhio Beach Park, before the lagoon, it's best for longboarding. Professional and amateur contests are often held here.

There was a time when smoking was allowed in public venues, and every restaurant provided matchbooks to customers as built in advertising. Thank Goodness that changed! However, looking at the matchbook art on this collection may bring back some fond memories of good meals and fun times with friends in some old Toronto restaurants.

Sunflower Mid Century Modern Matchbook Art