The Mel-O-Cream Donuts shop that dated to 1964 and was located on Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois, moved to a new location in town but away from the Mother Road.
The Mel-O-Cream moved after making its last batch of doughnuts Sunday at 704 Keokuk St. (aka Route 66) to a newer, larger space at 227 N. Kickapoo St., a couple of blocks north of the Logan County Courthouse, reported the State Journal-Register in Springfield.
The old site was on the original 1926 to 1977 alignment of the Mother Road.
The newspaper reported:
The Lincoln franchise is one of only two left of the doughnut brand born in Springfield in 1932. […]
But there was a time when the Mel-O-Cream doughnut brand touted franchise locations from the Quad Cities to St. Louis. Today, there is the Springfield franchise owned by Amanda Crossland and the Lincoln franchise owned by Joe Ryan and Greg Patel.
Mel-O-Cream Donut International founder Kelly Grant Jr. and original Lincoln franchise owner Carl Meyer designed and built the simple, open counter, complete with built-in ashtrays at each seat for the Lincoln store.
Meyer worked production in Springfield’s Mel-O-Cream stores before opening the Lincoln franchise in 1964.
The newspaper noted the Lincoln shop remained old-school to the end, with Formica countertops and low-slung stools.
Images of the old shop live on its Yelp listing.
Mel-O-Cream has six locations in Springfield, Illinois, including one on Route 66 at 3010 S. Sixth St., near the landmark Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant.
(Edited image of the old location of the Mel-O-Cream Donuts shop in Lincoln, Illinois, via Yelp)