The story
Circus Drive-In was opened in 1954 by Richard and Barbara Friedel. In 2004, the Friedels sold the restaurant to William Kayal; Kayal's son David Kayal became majority owner in 2010 and operated it until 2010, when he sold it to Rich Rose and Chuck Kavitsky. Rose renovated the restaurant.
Rose and Kavitsky offered the property for sale or lease in early 2017. One offer to purchase was from PETA, who proposed converting it into a vegan restaurant and museum of animal cruelty. It was sold to a buyer who closed down the business. The building was demolished in May 2018, and the neon sign, featuring a smiling clown and designed by Barbara Friedel, was removed in 2021. Wall Township placed it in storage for future display. A retail development was constructed on the site.
From Wikipedia’s article on Circus Drive-In, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3