The Great Lake Balaton Neon Overview – Bonus Edition
It kept bothering me that, although we had reached the end of our journey through the neon signs of Lake Balaton, a few exciting examples from the southern shore were still missing. So please welcome this little bonus chapter!
FONYÓD
Like Keszthely, Fonyód also had its own Balaton Department Store. It opened in 1960 and featured solutions that were remarkably modern for the time.
Unfortunately, I only know the building in its later incarnation as a shop selling cheap imported goods. Looking at the old photographs, however, it is clear how much cleaner and more refined its original appearance was, thanks in part to its neon sign.
Photos: the Balaton Department Store in 1960 on the left and in 2007 on the right, together with an advertisement in Somogyi Néplap announcing its opening.
You can read more about the building here:
https://retronom.hu/node/17198
BALATONLELLE
The Lelle Restaurant, commonly known as “Zanzibar,” welcomed guests during the 1970s and 1980s near the former petrol station between Balatonlelle and Balatonboglár. According to contemporary advertisements, it operated as a self-service restaurant during the day, then transformed into a traditional restaurant and dance venue in the evening.
Photos: Vörös Csillag étterem in 1959 by Fortepan on the left, Zanzibár étterem in 1966 on the right
Unfortunately, I could not find much information about the Vörös Csillag Restaurant. What is certain is that it operated sometime between the 1950s and the 1970s. A charming postcard has survived, on which the sender complains about the heat — one wonders what they would make of today’s “heat domes.” A contemporary illustration also preserves the memory of the building.
Photos: a postcard from 1963 on the left and a 1950 restaurant flyer from the MKVM collection on the right
The local ABC grocery store looked incredibly cool with its enormous lettering, although the large number of separate neon tubes must have created plenty of opportunities for faults and breakdowns. In the photograph on the right, a Csemege neon sign can also be seen faintly in the background.
Photos: ABC grocery store in 1970
BALATONFÖLDVÁR
The building that later became the holiday resort of the Budapest Gear Factory was one of the first structures in Hungary to use reinforced concrete for a non-industrial purpose. Built in 1905, it originally opened as the Balaton Club, serving as a yacht club and casino.
It was nationalised in the 1950s and subsequently used for organised holidays. The Budapest Gear Factory neon sign was most likely installed during this period.
The building passed into private ownership in 1995 and reopened in 2021 following a lengthy renovation. You can read more about its history and restoration in an article published by Építészfórum.
SIÓFOK
Utasellátó catering outlets operated from 1948 in connection with the Hungarian State Railways. Their buffets offered simple food and drinks such as chocolate rolls, Russian eggs and, of course, espresso coffee. At Siófok railway station, shown in the photograph, a wonderful ICE CREAM neon sign tempted children over to the buffet.
Several motels of this type once stood around Lake Balaton (see Keszthely). The buildings were originally used as accommodation during the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, before being purchased and repurposed as motels along the shores of Lake Balaton.
Photos: Utasellátó by Fortepan on the left, motel in 1955 on the right
Hotel Interpress was actually located in Balatonszéplak and served as the holiday resort of MÚOSZ, the National Association of Hungarian Journalists.
The most exciting part of the complex was the separate Club Orion building, which was probably inspired by the spaceship featured in the 1968 television series The Fantastic Adventures of the Orion Spaceship. Czechoslovak, French, Polish, East German, Austrian, Swedish, West German and Soviet journalists all stayed here. Sadly, the entire complex has since been demolished.
Photos: Hotel Interpress in 1970 on the left and the iconic Club Orion building on the right
ZAMÁRDI
From the 1960s onwards, the Tulipán Espresso was an important local meeting place, remembered for its distinctive neon sign and for the nearby stop used by the period’s MÁVAUT bus services.
The building was purchased in the mid-1930s by confectioner Lajos Ruth, who opened a pastry shop there. This later became the Tulipán Espresso.
Photos: Tulipán presszó in 1962 on the left and in 1965 on the right by Fortepan
And with that, I am finally bringing this extensive tour of Lake Balaton’s neon signs to a close. In case you missed the earlier instalments, you can read them here, here and here.
And should there still be a memorable neon sign missing from the series, please let me know!
Sources:
szellemvarosok.blogspot.hu
epiteszforum.hu
retronom.hu
egykor.hu
