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All the United States Wisconsin Cozy Inn Restaurant
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Cozy Inn Restaurant

Wisconsin’s oldest Chinese restaurant, still glowing beneath its historic neon sign.

Janesville, Wisconsin

Added By
Chet Reynoldz
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Cozy Inn’s Iconic Neon Sign   Chet Reynoldz / Atlas Obscura User
Janesville June 2024   Michael Barera
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About

The Cozy Inn restaurant is an enduring institution in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Not only is it beloved by locals, it’s historic: The business opened in November 1922 and is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Wisconsin. It’s also the second-oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States, meaning it has remained in the same location since the day it opened.

The restaurant’s iconic neon sign, long a beacon on Milwaukee Street, was recently restored and officially designated a historic landmark, ensuring that its distinctive glow will continue welcoming diners for years to come.

Inside, the Cozy Inn preserves much of its vintage charm, offering traditional Chinese-American dishes served in an atmosphere that hasn’t changed much in a century. It’s a rare surviving example of early Chinese immigrant entrepreneurship in the Midwest, and a cherished community landmark.

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History & Culture Food Restaurants Neon

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Not wheelchair accessible, entry requires climbing staircase that leads up to the cozy, retro dining room.

Community Contributors

Added By

Chet Reynoldz

Published

December 11, 2025

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  • https://www.channel3000.com/features/in-the-608-cozy-inn-wisconsin-s-oldest-chinese-restaurant-celebrates-100-years-in-janesville/article_9fcc08ec-7f80-5df1-8999-c0a9ce468d0e.html
  • https://wisconsinlife.org/food-traditions/beef-cantonese-chow-mein/
Cozy Inn Restaurant
214 W Milwaukee Street
Janesville, Wisconsin, 53548
United States
42.681688, -89.026606
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Nearby Places

Milton House Museum

Milton, Wisconsin

miles away

Historic Auto Attractions

Roscoe, Illinois

miles away

Panther Intaglio

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wisconsin

Wisconsin

United States

Places 184
Stories 30

Nearby Places

Milton House Museum

Milton, Wisconsin

miles away

Historic Auto Attractions

Roscoe, Illinois

miles away

Panther Intaglio

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wisconsin

Wisconsin

United States

Places 184
Stories 30

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