Albert Okura, owner of Route 66 icon Roy’s and the town of Amboy, Calif., has formed a partnership with the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation to help get the business up and running again, it was reported Thursday.
The Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press published a story about the announcement today. But some information seemed to be absent, so I called Jim Conkle of the foundation to get more information.
Conkle told me that Okura, also owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain in the Los Angeles region, was having difficulty reopening Roy’s by himself. Conkle said the partnership allows Okura to take advantage of the foundation’s partners — the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County — to streamline the reopening process.
Roy’s probably will have its gas station fully operational within a month, Conkle said. It’s been previously reported that Okura plans to reopen the complex’s motel and restaurant later, after the gas station has generated some revenue.
Conkle also told me that the foundation is negotiating with the BLM to acquire nearby Amboy School. The school would then be converted into a Route 66 interpretive center.
What seemed to be absent?
It wasn’t clear who was in the partnership with Okura, and there was no explanation on why the partnership was necessary.
Also, the fact Okura was going to restore the motel isn’t exactly news. It’s been reported by other media outlets for months, including the San Bernardino County Sun and the Los Angeles Times.
Stopped by there Friday – looked like work was underway at a slow but sure pace. The person there (Larry) said just the number of visitors dropping by right now indicated the place could really see a lot of visitors (& revenue) if it could get fixed up right – which it seems Mr. Okura is committed to.