Charlie’s Radiator Service, which was established during the 1940s on Route 66 in Grants, N.M., will be renovated into an automobile museum and gift shop, according to an article in the Cibola County Beacon.
The long-closed shop and diner at 1308-1310 W. Santa Fe Ave. faced the wrecking ball less than two years ago after the city declared the property a nuisance. But owner Joe Diaz, who grew up on the property, pledged to do something and decided to see whether he could get Charlie’s Radiator Service declared a state historic site.
And it received that designation, and also was named a historic cultural property.
“It was the only place between Gallup and Albuquerque along Route 66 to get auto repairs,” pointed out Jaramillo. “And the Star Diner next door used to be where the miners would buy their lunches. The bus that took workers to the mines stopped at that diner.”
The Diaz buildings were some of the first pumice-block structures in the state, according to Jaramillo. John Murphy, New Mexico State Cultural Properties’ committee member agreed.
“The three pumice-block buildings, part of the modest commercial complex, represent the ambitions and domestic life of Charlie Diaz, a Grants’ and U.S. Highway 66 entrepreneur,” said Murphy.
Joe Diaz was recently awarded a $30,000 cost-share grant from the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Diaz will contribute $42,000 to the renovations.
The original garage will become an automotive museum and also offer community groups meeting space. Renovations to the Star Café structure will convert the interior into a Route 66 memorabilia gift shop. “It will have all kinds of things for people to buy such as tee shirts, posters, mugs, shot glasses – pretty much anything that bears a Historic Route 66 design,” explained Hoffman.
Renovations are scheduled to begin once the funds are received, which should be within the next few months.
A photo of Charlie’s Radiator Service can be seen here.
Where does this route 66 garage sale start & end?