A clearinghouse of news and events about historic Route 66, the Mother Road.
Waylan’s Ku-Ku reopens after owner’s months-long medical leave
The Waylan’s Ku-Ku restaurant in Miami, Oklahoma, recently reopened after its longtime owner shuttered it for months due to unspecified medical leave.
The Joplin Globe reports owner Gene Waylan closed the Route 66 restaurant in July and reopened it just before Christmas.
“I had to leave for medical reasons, but I’m doing better,” Waylan said. “We are working shorter hours, though, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.” […]
Even at 75 years old, Waylan continues to work and doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
“I don’t plan on retiring,” he said.
The week of the reopening produced waiting lines of 30 minutes or more, according to posts on social media.
Waylan before had taken medical leaves of several weeks due to hip surgeries, but this one was particularly extended. He’s the one behind the grill, and he can’t make sure things are done right if he’s laid up.
Waylan told us years ago his business is the last of a chain of about 200 restaurants in the Midwest from the 1960s. He has owned the Miami site since 1973. The restaurant itself dates to 1965.
The Travel Channel featured the restaurant in 2012. Here’s the local newspaper’s video about the Ku-Ku:
(Image of the Waylan’s Ku-Ku sign in Miami, Oklahoma, by Stu Rapley via Flickr)
One thought on “Waylan’s Ku-Ku reopens after owner’s months-long medical leave”
I was at Waylans Ku Ku just a couple of days ago and he was behind the counter cooking up a storm in a Saturday afternoon about 1pm. About a half hour wait due to the large crowd but great drive in food.
I was at Waylans Ku Ku just a couple of days ago and he was behind the counter cooking up a storm in a Saturday afternoon about 1pm. About a half hour wait due to the large crowd but great drive in food.