The historic Rockwood Court and Cafe complex along Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, recently reopened its restaurant, and the rest of the motel complex eventually will become apartments and units for overnight guests.
Joe Roberds of SGF Neighborhood News recently posted the scoop. Roberds noted activity around the property and reported:
The sign outside the restaurant shows a new name – Big Foot Subs. Owner Dannie Wright reported that she purchased the location in July 2018 and has been cleaning and making improvements to the motor court units and the restaurant. She related that the improvement process is slowly progressing to ensure that it is done correctly, while maintaining the Route 66-era motif.
The motor court units are being refurbished one at a time and with the aim of keeping with the original Route 66- era appearance. The initial plan is to make the units with kitchenettes into monthly rental units and the smaller units into nightly rentals, promoting the idea to the many Route 66 travelers that they can actually find accommodations in a historic Route 66 motor court. If this trendy idea of staying in a Route 66 motor court becomes popular, more of the units will be converted to nightly rentals.
The restaurant, Big Foot Subs, offers freshly prepared sub sandwiches with the option to dine in or to carry out. New seating has been installed in the dining area which has the Route 66 theme. Food is served 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Mark Mahy, a reader who also lives in the Springfield area, noted Wright launched a GoFundMe page for her endeavor in the fall.
Mahy shot this photo a couple of weeks ago of the restaurant:
Roberds states Rockwood Court and Cafe opened in 1931 at 2204 W. College Ave. (aka Route 66). Another source states it opened in 1929. Later, it became Ginny Lee’s Restaurant, Motel and Pub. Most recently, it was Tubby’s Diner.
(Hat tip to Mark Mahy; vintage postcard image of Rockwood Court and Cafe courtesy of 66Postcards.com)
A cool looking old place from what I can see. I look forward to seeing a few more pics when they open up. Maybe they’ll have a website or something, because I’m not finding a whole lot of images online aside form that one postcard.
This Google Street View link might help, Dave. But the main buildings tend to conceal the cabins in the back.
https://goo.gl/maps/nor9PvLPnYs
Thanks Ron!
I’m able to move the viewer down S. Park Ave. and see a bit of it. Good looking main building with it’s native stone work. Interesting jagged top to the walls.
So the rooms are individual cabins with with stone facades to match the main building. Looks like the place has survived the years pretty well. Neighbor hood, or immediate surroundings look decent as well.
From what I’ve been hearing from the locals the food is great. And they’re cleaning the place up so that’s a bonus.
We’ve been several times and the food is excellent. It’s spotless clean with a tasteful nod to its Route 66 diner heritage. The owner, Dannie, is quite friendly and an Army veteran.