A new Route 66 gift shop in a custom, 16-foot Airstream trailer as opened in the Pacific Park amusement area on the Santa Monica Pier, according to a news release from Pier Communications.
The shop doesn’t have a specific name, but is an additional retail outlet in Pacific Park, according to the park’s communications director.
According to the release:
The interior is enhanced by an automotive décor with three oldtime gas pumps, a license plates map of Route 66 states and specialty wood deck flooring.
And guests can get hip to this timely tip: don’t miss the more than 200 novelty to collector items for purchase ranging from $2 to $200 that includes uniquley designed Route 66 T-shirts, handbags and shot glasses to clocks, artwork and coffetable books. […]
Five free-wheeling multi-level custom display tables are parked in various spaces around the Route 66 gift store including one that features the frontend of a motorcycle that accentuates the open-air shopping concept.
Pulled-up alongside the Airstream is a custom designed point-of-sale counter that resembles the tailend of an Airstrream complete with rivited aluminum, custome taillights and chrome trim.
The custom Airstream Route 66 gift store pays homage to its historic Route 66 legacy with highly recognizable metal die cut symbols on its gift shop door. The icons best represent the cities located on the more than 2,200 mile highway including the Chicago Theatre Sign, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, an Oil Well Derrick, a Saguaro Cactus and the Santa Monica Pier Arch, among others.
This would be at least the third shop on the Pier that sells Route 66 memorabilia. The others are 66-to-Cali and Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle. As recently as 10 years ago, Route 66 souvenirs were almost nil at the pier.
All this burgeoning interest about Route 66 mostly can be attributed to 66-to-Cali owner Dan Rice, who erected the “66 End of the Trail” sign in 2009 that quickly became one of the most-photographed landmarks associated with the Mother Road. The Santa Monica Pier long had been a traditional — if not real — endpoint for westbound Route 66 travelers, and Rice’s efforts solidified that.
In an email, I mentioned 66-to-Cali to Cameron Andrews of Pier Communications. This was his reply:
Pacific Park is one of many tenants on the Santa Monica Pier that have similar or overlapping businesses. And with the overwhelming popularity of historic Route 66, we’re proud to be able to celebrate the legacy with an additional unique space.
We look forward to working with 66-to-Cali as we do with all Santa Monica Pier tenants.
(Images courtesy of Pier Communications)
I must have missed their call to “work together.” I’ll sit by the phone and let you know when it comes.
That’s funny Dan…I was just getting ready to ask:
“We look forward to working with 66-to-Cali as we do with all Santa Monica Pier tenants.”…is this the same group that gave Dan so much trouble in the past?
Perhaps they have finally seen the light.
I went to see it. It’s all schlock from China run as a pier concession. I doubt the sales staff had ever heard of Route 66. On the other hand, a lovely older couple from Wisconsin had just finished driving the entire road and we’re joyously toasting their accomplishment at 66 to Cali.