Big Fish Supper Club, Bena, Minnesota — John Margolies, 1980

John Margolies’s 1980 photograph captures the extraordinary Big Fish Supper Club in Bena, Minnesota, an unforgettable example of American roadside architecture. Shaped like an enormous fish with a silvery body, vivid red fins, a bright eye, and an open mouth filled with pointed teeth, the structure transforms a roadside building into a monumental piece of visual Americana.

Set beneath a rich blue sky and surrounded by trees, grass, and a quiet roadway, the giant fish embodies the playful character of twentieth-century roadside design. Margolies devoted decades to documenting unusual commercial buildings, signs, attractions, and architectural curiosities across the United States, preserving a distinctive chapter of American roadside culture.

Artwork Details

• Artist: John Margolies
• Title: Big Fish Supper Club, Bena, Minnesota
• Original title: Big Fish Supper Club, Bena, Minnesota
• Series: John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive
• Date: 1980
• Period: Late 20th century
• Place of Origin: Bena, Minnesota, United States
• Medium: Color transparency, 35 mm slide format

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.