How trustworthy are logo signs?

[roadman65]

Once upon a time, Quincy's Restaurant had stores in Florida with one location in Orlando being 3 miles south of an exit of I-4. Needless to say, after Quincy's left the Florida market and closed their stores in the Sunshine State, the logo sign on I-4 for that specific locale remained for years after the store closed.

Then in Grandview, MO in 2001 I was driving US 71 and saw a White Castle logo on an exit logo sign. Of course I practically grew up in New Jersey on their food, I was hungry at the time and it made my mouth water for a hamburger. So I exited finding the store closed and boarded up with the signs removed. Luckily I remembered that White Castles all had the same white facade to notice it abandoned on the side of the road. How many others wouldn't know that and be led on a goose chase?

Considering businesses over 3 or 4 miles away can advertise on them, they should pay attention to the businesses to avoid needless driving to find a location closed.  Considering the Quincy's logo was left several years later was even more so an example of carelessness.

How can you trust these signs after FDOT and MDOT posting defunct businesses.

[Bobby5280]

I'm surprised any state DOT agencies would leave business logo panels on promotional exit signs after a given business closed.

Typically the logo tile spaces on those exit signs are rented by the businesses being listed. I know that is definitely the case here in Oklahoma. We have plenty of these promotional exit signs where most of the tile spaces are blank and thus unsold. Some businesses get listed on the sign and when the contract expires the client doesn't renew it. ODOT or OTA has someone remove that logo panel and replace it with another business logo or just leave the listing blank.

[roadman65]

Well at one time they had requirements. A gas station had to be 24/7. A restaurant had to serve three meals. 

Now I've seen gas listed with stations closed at night. Restaurants like Hooters that don't serve breakfast are allowed.

BTW, the second Hooters to be in business after the chain started in 1983 closed in Lakeland, FL a few days ago.  The location is off Exit 7 of TOLL FL 570 with a logo on an exit business logo sign. It will be interesting when FTE ( the state agency that runs the toll road) removes the logo. It closed abruptly and didn't inform employees until the last day.

[wanderer2575]

I thought that highway logo signs are maintained by private outfits (such as Interstate Logos LLC) by arrangement with each state's DOT, and so the DOTs aren't directly involved with installation or maintenance.  The business pays an annual fee and has to meet other requirements for posting.  I suppose if the business never tells the logo sign contact that it's out of business, its logo could end up remaining on the signs at least until the end of the contract period.

[Big John]

I remember a Wisconsin sign placed on a wrong exit.

[SP Cook]

- I'm sure replacing and removing signs is the lowest priority for any DOT.  Something you do when nothing is going on.

- My state has started posting logo for places well off the highway.  My rule if that if I cannot see the business from the road, I'm not stopping.

- My state has added "attractions" as a category.  Now I could see a real attraction, like an amusement park, historical place, natural feature, but that have signed things like a handmade quilt store, a cigar lounge, a model airplane store. etc. which are just not proper.

[roadman65]

- I'm sure replacing and removing signs is the lowest priority for any DOT.  Something you do when nothing is going on.

- My state has started posting logo for places well off the highway.  My rule if that if I cannot see the business from the road, I'm not stopping.
 
- My state has added "attractions" as a category.  Now I could see a real attraction, like an amusement park, historical place, natural feature, but that have signed things like a handmade quilt store, a cigar lounge, a model airplane store. etc. which are just not proper.

Unless your on I-22 in AL    That freeway has nothing at the exchanges on its 96 mile journey. I ate at a Jacks Restaurant in Hamilton well off the highway cause I was hungry.  I thought, at the time it was Jack In The Box, until I went in. Both Jacks and Jack In The Box have similar logos so I was misled. Plus I never heard of Jacks before 2019. They're in the south, except not on the Gulf Coast though nor in Florida.  I've heard of Jack In The Box of course, but wasn't disappointed as Jacks was good.

[Rothman]

I thought that highway logo signs are maintained by private outfits (such as Interstate Logos LLC) by arrangement with each state's DOT, and so the DOTs aren't directly involved with installation or maintenance.  The business pays an annual fee and has to meet other requirements for posting.  I suppose if the business never tells the logo sign contact that it's out of business, its logo could end up remaining on the signs at least until the end of the contract period.

Sort of the case in NY.  Privates pay for the sign, NYSDOT permits it and what not.

Have to say I am surprised that when the rent stopped the sign didn't come down in the OP's situation though.  You do see a lot of empty blue signs in upstate NY nowadays...

Still, there was an issue I was aware of, where businesses were complaining about not enough space on the blue signs south of Syracuse...

[SectorZ]

Very trustworthy when you've got six blank spots on a new install that stays like that for a decade after.

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

[LilianaUwU]

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see.

To be fair, I have eaten at Subway for breakfast. It's far from something everyone does, though.

[CtrlAltDel]

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

The only really specific rules Massachusetts has for logo signs apply to lodging:

[Rothman]

Very trustworthy when you've got six blank spots on a new install that stays like that for a decade after.

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

Which Dunkin closes at 2?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

The problem is when the establishment you see on the freeway sign requires a secondary turn off the first road you exit onto, and sometimes that is inconsistently signed.

[Scott5114]

How can you trust these signs after FDOT and MDOT posting defunct businesses.

What did Michigan and/or Mississippi do that made you not trust them?

[Ted$8roadFan]

It can take some time to remove logos from a sign of a business that has closed. I remember it took a while to remove a Tim Horton's logo from I-95 (though that was in Attleboro for the former donut shop in Pawtucket, RI).

[Ted$8roadFan]

I do like signs that tell me that a certain hotel/restsurant/gas station is at a certain exit. OTOH, it's not as helpful to learn that, for example, said establishment is more than half a mile away, requires a left turn in heavy traffic, etc. Looking at apps/maps ahead of time helps. 

[Rothman]

Pfft.  Back in my day, if you found it was too far away, you just drove to the next advertised exit.

[jeffandnicole]

Most businesses found on the blue signs are supposed to be within 3 miles, except in certain circumstances. The closer the business, the more likely they get priority on the sign (if they request to participate).

I find the secondary street issue is more problematic. Distance wise, you can usually determine from the off ramp of you want to travel to the location. You can't tell till you are off the ramp if the travel involves other roads.

[roadman65]

Campgrounds can be within 10 miles.

I've seen businesses near each other on the same road directed from two different exits.

Then in Roxbury, NJ you have a hotel off I-80 at US 46, but the logo sign for it directs you via the next exit to NJ 183 and then a couple miles east on US 46.  However that may be cause the Landing Road & US 46 interchange lacks ramps going WB.  Yet recently NJDOT added a u turn jughandle just east of Landing Road which I think is much easier to reach the lodging facility.

[RobbieL2415]

It can take some time to remove logos from a sign of a business that has closed. I remember it took a while to remove a Tim Horton's logo from I-95 (though that was in Attleboro for the former donut shop in Pawtucket, RI).

Case and point: There hasn't been a Getty station at this exit since 2009. It's now a BigY Express.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8097889,-72.525721,3a,15y,100.09h,91.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6k1nPSRgeoyHdHtkOBGsAQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu

[SectorZ]

Very trustworthy when you've got six blank spots on a new install that stays like that for a decade after.

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

Which Dunkin closes at 2?

There are a few here and there I've seen; it's certainly not a common thing to see. Most of the ones around me close 6-9 PM. 6 PM should certainly remove eligibility.

[Mapmikey]

Campgrounds can be within 10 miles.

Each state has its own rules about the criteria.  In Virginia this is 15 miles, for instance.

Virginia also has a specific criteria for a business bumping another business off a sign...

[Rothman]

Very trustworthy when you've got six blank spots on a new install that stays like that for a decade after.

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

Which Dunkin closes at 2?

There are a few here and there I've seen; it's certainly not a common thing to see. Most of the ones around me close 6-9 PM. 6 PM should certainly remove eligibility.

*shrug*

[RobbieL2415]

Very trustworthy when you've got six blank spots on a new install that stays like that for a decade after.

I believe MassDOT is supposed to have a three meal rule for restaurants yet somehow SUBWAY SUBWAY SUBWAY exists on almost every sign I see. Dunkin' locations closing at 2 PM also don't seem to fit much in with that ethos as well.

Which Dunkin closes at 2?

There are a few here and there I've seen; it's certainly not a common thing to see. Most of the ones around me close 6-9 PM. 6 PM should certainly remove eligibility.

The Dunkin Donuts at Foxwoods (casino in CT for those that don't know) is 24/7.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I do like signs that tell me that a certain hotel/restsurant/gas station is at a certain exit. OTOH, it's not as helpful to learn that, for example, said establishment is more than half a mile away, requires a left turn in heavy traffic, etc. Looking at apps/maps ahead of time helps. 

The logo signs on I-35 at TH 19 west of Northfield, MN are like this. Northfield is about 7 miles east of I-35. You might as well stick it out until Lakeville or Faribault.