The Sun ‘n Sand Restaurant, which operated in the shadow of the distinctive neon sign for the long-closed motel by the same name in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, closed last Saturday.
The restaurant at 2050 Historic Route 66, which had erratic hours in recent years, announced the closure on Facebook.
Reached by Facebook Messenger, a representative for the restaurant said its owner is putting it up for sale.
“We never recovered from COVID,” the restaurant’s rep added.
The Sun ‘n Sand Restaurant was known for its cinnamon rolls and smothered breakfast burritos.
According to the Route 66 Times, the Sun ‘n Sand Motel and Restaurant was built in the mid- to late 1950s with 40 guest rooms spread over several buildings.
The huge, Zia-influenced neon sign for the motel was restored around 2000 with the help of a grant.
The motel closed in 2012 or 2013, and it became a magnet for homeless people. A severe hailstorm in 2013 severely damaged the buildings, making a full renovation cost-prohibitive.
The restaurant kept operating — until now.
(Image of the Sun ‘n Sand Restaurant by Jasperdo; image of the Sun ‘n Sand Motel neon sign by el-toro, both via Flickr)