Growing up in Brookfield, Illinois there was one roadside attraction that anyone around would recognize: the fiberglass cow on a restaurant roof that served as a guidepoint and landmark for everyone in town.
I grew up just a short distance from this cow and it was always a big part of my life, and was one of the first inspirations I had to seek out other large fiberglass animals across the country. I’d see this cow all the time, whether eating inside at the restaurant with my high school friends or using it as the guide for where to turn when giving directions to my house.
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Over the years the restaurant at the corner of Ogden Ave. and Prairie Ave. has changed hands multiple times, but the cow has remained a constant beacon for the busy street corner in town. He’s even gotten a few makeovers through the years.
The cow and location originated as Papa Vini Restaurant some time ago. It later changed to Brookfield Restaurant, then Nicholson’s Pub. And, at some point, the bull was painted in black and white with a Coors logo on his side.
In 2019 Tony’s Breakfast Cafe and Family Restaurant moved in. And the cow even made some special appearances at the local farmer’s market while the building was getting renovated. The cow was eventually repainted and restored by Douglas Auto Body and took its rightful place back on the roof.
The cow has been an icon of Brookfield, Illinois since at least the early 1980s and will hopefully watch over the intersection for a long time to come.
Photos of the Cow on a Restaurant Roof in Brookfield, Illinois
