Traces of the lost Twin Towers around NYC: open.substack.com/pub/rolandop...

From gas station food to motels to unique landmarks, Journalist @rolandopujol.bsky.social discusses all aspects of road trips in new book.

Merci beaucoup!

MetroCard not going down without a fight!

Now you can not only visit McDonaldland again, you can WEAR it! My latest nostalgic adventure here: rolandopujol.substack.com/p/the-return...

It was a once-in-a-lifetime invite, like receiving the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. I was told, quite simply, to “get myself ready for a trip to McDonaldland."

Definitely a pinch-me moment: It was an honor to appear on the @atlasobscura.com podcast with Dylan Thuras to discuss roadside attractions and my book, "The Great American Retro Road Trip." www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pod...

Love Lucy? You'll love her hometown of Jamestown, New York! Let's take a Retrologist tour on what would have been her 114th birthday! rolandopujol.substack.com/p/exploring-...

I need to plan the second half of my August to align with McDonald's bringing back some classic McDonaldland.

So well done!

@mcdonaldsuss.bsky.social bites into nostalgia with new McDonaldland Meal campaign, with the characters, first launched in 1971, all back for the first time in decades.

Take a retro road trip with roadside Americana expert @rolandopujol.bsky.social as we talk about his new book, exploring the country, and some nostalgic roadside pit stops. open.substack.com/pub/american...

The Roll N Roaster in Brooklyn celebrates its 55th annivesary. If you’ve never been … go! Start by reading my Substack and peeping my pics. This place is a gem.

The Grand Canyon Lodge has been destroyed in a North Rim wildfire. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the lodge was the second one on the site, finished in 1937 to replace the 1928 original, also by Underwood and also destroyed in a blaze, in 1932. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/u...

This Ronald McDonald statue has been kidnapped. (Officer Big Mac clearly not on the job.)

Another part of old New York, going in 3, 2 ...

Thank you, Saturday Evening Post, for the kind words about my book! www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/07/news...

Dear friends, this is one of those pinch-me moments, the realization of a dream. I walked by The Strand Book Store tonight off Union Square and saw an ad for my book signing in the window! I invite you to join me this Wednesday at 7 pm at The Strand www.eventbrite.com/e/rolando-pu...

Meet me at The Strand Book Store in NYC Wednesday night at 7 for a book signing and chat about “The Great American Retro Road Trip”! Hope to see you. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/rolando-pu...

I had the pleasure of appearing on ABC News Live with Phil Lipof to chat about "The Great American Retro Road Trip." Check it out!

Thank you for this lovely review of my new book!

Rainy night, nifty neon make for Manhattan magic | 6/16/25

While poking around central Florida researching “The Great American Retro Road Trip,” I encountered the Yalaha Bootlegging Co. in Yalaha, Florida. I present this photoworthy roadside quirk in honor of National Moonshine Day! rolandopujolbook.com

My book release is less than 3 weeks away! Find out more about "The Great American Retro Road Trip" -- and preorder it -- on my new website! rolandopujolbook.com

The World’s Smallest Buc-ee’s, an art project along Highway 90 in southwest Texas. Featured in my book, “The Great American Retro Road Trip.” Preorder here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page...

McDonald’s will close its CosMc’s spinoff stores that were focused on beverages. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

“The Great American Retro Road Trip” is almost here and I have an exciting update to share with you all! Anyone who preorders the book (or anyone who has ALREADY preordered) can now receive a set of six postcards featuring photos from the book! www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page...

Extra extra! My newest edition of The Retrologist newsletter is hot off the presses! Oh, it's a little more than a month before the release of my book, "The Great American Retro Road Trip." You can preorder it now!

No time for a road trip? Dive into my latest newsletter and get a quick fix. (And my book, "The Great American Retro Road Trip," hits stores June 24! Preorder now at the link.) rolandopujol.substack.com/p/one-womans...

Let's visit a unique McDonald's that found its 'Classic' essence again after a tragedy.

Arthur Treacher’s has just opened a new standalone store, and the owner is looking to expand. Did you ever eat at Arthur Treacher’s back in the day? rolandopujol.substack.com/p/by-jove-ar...

A classic Taco Bell in Santa Barbara (the oldest still operating in its original building) doesn't make the cut for historic status. Another intact "mission" Taco Bell in Scottsdale, Arizona, from the same year, is about to close. Yo quiero that you read my latest newsletter! 🌮

Vignelli’s Revenge: Just spotted the new “retro” NYC subway map, the first overhaul since 1979 and a bold embrace of the geometric 1972 Massimo Vignelli map I’ve long admired.

My new book, “The Great American Retro Road Trip,” is available for preorder!

The MetroCard is almost dead. This 50th Street No. 1 train newsstand is already dead. But this sign for the MetroCard hangs on, an accidental museum piece and curiosity in our “tap and go” world of getting around down below.

David Childs, the architect of the new 1 World Trade Center, which replaced the Twin Towers in Manhattan’s skyline, has died at 83. 1 WTC was a difficult project, and Childs I feel got it right, in part because of his subtle nods to the original buildings in his design.

A 78-year-old Dairy Queen looks for a new operator; what’s up with the first Taco Bell 10 years after it was saved — and moved. These stories (and much more) in my latest Retrologist newsletter.

Latest Retrologist newsletter is out!

My latest newsletter has Shamrock Shakes, a no longer obscure 1970s fast food mascot, and a lot more nostalgia.

Happy Valentine’s Day! How beautiful and achingly perfect was the now shuttered home of Cupid’s Hot Dogs, in Northridge, California. I stopped by not long after it closed, leaving me with an empty stomach but a full heart. This store opened in 1964 and almost made it to its 60th birthday. 💕

Bite into McAtlas, a delicious book exploring McDonald's in more than 50 countries. Author Gary He sits down with The Retrologist for a Q&A.

Happy National Pizza Day! I present a meditation on @pizzahut.bsky.social Classics -- and check me out in a wonderful new video about the history of American pizza, produced by the brilliant @philedwardsinc.bsky.social!

New Substack! Headlines include the story of a bar fight over a famous sign; an orphaned 'Evil Clown' ; Hellmann's ad revisits 'Harry Met Sally' fake orgasm scene at Katz's Deli; a visit to Punxsutawney Phil's turf and much more. Read/subscribe now! rolandopujol.substack.com/p/bar-fight-...

On this snowy night, it was Delite-ful to see the warm neon of the Delite Bake Shop. A staple of Yonkers, New York, for over 80 years, Delite recently reopened after an electrical fire.

My latest Substack is out -- with some news about my new (and first!) book, which you can now preorder!

The more traditional, non-talking, McDonald’s Apple Tree.

Talking Apple Trees should be mandatory at every McDonald’s. This one in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, gets it right.

The ABC broadcast center in New York included "Twin Peaks" on a display of classic shows that aired on the network. RIP David Lynch.

A sweet vintage Wendy’s in Sunnyside, Queens, complete with sensational sunroom.

The social-media holiday gods inform us that today is National Bagel Day, so let’s celebrate at a former donut place. Bellflower Bagels, in the Southern California city by that name, was once a donut shop, part of the Big Do-Nut chain, with Randy’s the most famous example.