Luna Cafe

The Luna Cafe, with its aged wooden siding, large verandah, and epic neon sign, has been going strong since it first opened in 1924 - yes - 1924!!! It pre-dates Route 66!

It is steeped in local legend, including the rumor that Al Capone was a regular customer, and that there was a secret casino in the basement. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It is said that when the ruby colored glass red cherry on the neon sign was lit up, a certain type of lady was in the house, eager and ready to entertain lonely gentlemen if you know what I mean wink, wink.

You can definitely picture it as a hideout for prohibition era gangsters, and a glamorous hive of illicit activity back in the day when the long gone giant neon moon shone from the building’s roof, and people came from miles around to eat, drink, gamble, and you know what.

Today, despite the beautiful and functioning neon sign outside, and portrait of Al Capone inside, The Luna Cafe operates as a local roadhouse, with gambling machines lining the walls, and big TV's glowing from all corners. Pool tables and neon beer advertisements confirm our suspicions that today it happily operates as the local dive bar.

“Dining" is limited to potato chips and reheated frozen pizzas…. so don’t believe the neon sign proclaiming great chicken, steaks, and seafood … ummm … no. But if beer is your thing - then yes. Beer and fabulous stories of a colorful past straight out of the movies.

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Midwest USA No. 43 - last visited October 2023