The California Historic Route 66 Association reports the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, currently is not serving food but is open for visits by tourists and is selling T-shirts, Route 66 souvenirs, soda, beer and coffee.
The association and her son also plan something special for owner Andrea Pruett on her 83rd birthday on June 19.
“Please join CHR66A in wishing Andrea a marvelous birthday and send her a card. Let her know that Roadies around the world LOVE her. Andrea does not have a computer or reliable wifi.”
Her address is as follows:
Andrea Pruett
P.O. Box 37
Newberry Springs, CA 92365
“Her Grandson let me know that Andrea is in good health and happy to see visitors returning to her beloved Bagdad Cafe and California Historic Route 66,” the association added.
Pruett and her Route 66 restaurant suffered a series of setbacks in recent years, including vandalism, storm damage, COVID-19 shutdowns and a fire that destroyed her home.
Shortly after buying the restaurant more than 20 years ago, Pruett changed its name from Sidewinder Cafe to Bagdad Cafe to capitalize on the 1987 “Bagdad Cafe” film, which was shot there. The film proved popular in Europe, and at one point 75% of the restaurant’s visitors were French tourists.
Another Bagdad Cafe once operated in the now-defunct Route 66 town of Bagdad, California, about 50 miles east of Newberry Springs.
(Image of the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, by Vicente Villamon via Flickr)
Wishing You the Happiest and Blessed Birthday ever, Andrea