KTUL-TV in Tulsa recently did this story about the “rebirth” of 11th Street in town, known as Tulsa’s Route 66.
KTUL.com – Tulsa, Oklahoma – News, Weather
We’ve dutifully reported about many of these businesses — including Ike’s Chili — moving to the more-prominent alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. I was a bit saddened Ike’s moved from the older Route 66 alignment of Admiral Place, which has a few of its own charms. But if such a move provides greater assurance for the century-old Oklahoma landmark restaurant, I’m all for it.
And I suspect more businesses will follow to the 11th Street corridor. Lots of space is available, and the more tourists talk favorably of 11th Street, the more tourists eventually will follow.
(Image of decorative brick inlays along 11th Street in Tulsa by Don Thornhill via Flickr)
This story raises an interesting question to me, Ron.
Do many cities with multiple paths for 66 tend to end up favoring one over another?
A casual observation…it seems that the “older” alignments are always the more obscure, and suffer from less recognition / promotion?
I guess I can see the logic of focusing your efforts on one path for 66 tourists. Are there any towns that have been successful enough with 66 promotion that the “main” path for 66 was “full”, providing opportunity for the development of alternate paths? Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic here….
I’m not aware of Route 66 being so prosperous that another alignment doing well as an alternate. I think the Route 66 alignments that do well already have plenty of traffic on them, and the historic-themed businesses are more attracted to those, for obvious reasons.