A long-vacant gas station at a prominent corner of Miami, Oklahoma, will be converted into a Route 66-themed bistro, tea house and ice cream shop.
The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma recently purchased the former Texaco station that dates to the 1920s, reported the Miami News-Record. The property sits at South Main Street and Steve Owens Boulevard, both of which are Route 66 alignments.
Chief Ethel Cook of the Ottawa Tribe told the newspaper it would serve breakfast and lunch, with the possibility of dinner.
“We’re going to have a counter with stools that spin,” she said, aiming for a motif old the days when Woolworth had a lunch counter in its store on Main Street.
She said on the north side there will be garage doors that can be opened during nice weather as well as a patio for dining.
“We’re going to have root beer floats in mugs,” Cook said. “In a meeting, we talked about having frosted mugs with our logo on it so that way you can take it home with you as a souvenir.”
Cook said the tribe also want to paint murals on the sides of the building.
She said Pruitt Brothers Construction is renovating the station. Cook said the tribe wants to open the business in the spring.
UPDATE 12/5/2020: The Joplin Globe has an update about the development.
(Excerpted image from Google Street View of the Texaco service station the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma is converting into a restaurant)
Oh dear – yet another eaterie and drinkerie. If only it was being put back to its original use. If only…… If people are keen to drive along Route 66, then surely they will buy Route 66 petrol and diesel. Just for the heck of it.