If the landmark Joe & Aggie's Cafe in Holbrook, Arizona, ever reopens, it probably won't be as a restaurant. That means folks who dined there in the fall of 2020 might have enjoyed among the last meals served in Holbrook's oldest restaurant before it quietly closed. According to Joe & Aggie's long-dormant Facebook page, the … Continue reading Joe & Aggie’s Cafe faces uncertain future after closing, death of its longtime owner
Category: Restaurants
Route 66 Food Truck Park, including Muffler Man, put up for sale
The Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield, Missouri, has been placed on the market, along with its 25-foot-tall Muffler Man statue the owner commissioned the venture. KY3 in Springfield reports that owner Kirk Wheeler, who opened the food-truck park nearly two years ago, is wanting to retire, so he's selling that and his Mother … Continue reading Route 66 Food Truck Park, including Muffler Man, put up for sale
Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard lands new owners
The 130-year-old Doc's Soda Fountain site in downtown Girard, Illinois, has landed new owners, and one of them has ties to the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. Steve and Casey Claypool of nearby Chatham, Illinois, closed on the purchase Friday. They plan to reopen it sometime in April after some interior renovations. Casey also is … Continue reading Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard lands new owners
Renovations begin at Hotel Brunswick in Kingman
A major renovation project began a few days ago at the century-old Hotel Brunswick along Route 66 in downtown Kingman, Arizona, according to several social media posts. The Bee, a media outlet in the region, posted a photo on Facebook of the renovations being done on the back of the property and stated: The project … Continue reading Renovations begin at Hotel Brunswick in Kingman
More about the historic Whirl-A-Whip restaurant in Girard
The Virden (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce this month posted on Facebook a Spotlight Business of the Month with the Whirl-A-Whip restaurant in nearby Girard, Illinois. Snippets of information about the eatery, which is off the 1926-1932 alignment of Route 66 before the highway was moved to the east: The restaurant current is owned by Brent … Continue reading More about the historic Whirl-A-Whip restaurant in Girard
Real-life gang fight in San Bernardino inspired “West Side Story”
The play and film "West Side Story" is well known as the story of a fictional turf war between white and Puerto Rican street gangs in Manhattan. However, "West Side Story" was inspired by a real-life gang fight in 1955 in San Bernardino, California, about a half-mile north of Route 66. The historic Mitla Cafe … Continue reading Real-life gang fight in San Bernardino inspired “West Side Story”
Sky Railway makes its first run between Santa Fe and Lamy
Railroad buffs have a new attraction to check out if they're in northern New Mexico. The Sky Railway made its debut Dec. 3 from downtown Santa Fe to Lamy with a dragon-painted locomotive. It was the first run on those 16 miles of tracks in eight years, though Amtrak makes regular stops in Lamy. A … Continue reading Sky Railway makes its first run between Santa Fe and Lamy
The man behind the Charley’s Automobile Service building in Grants
Blue Miller of the well-researched Never Quite Lost blog recently wrote about Charley Diaz, longtime operator of the Charley's Automotive Service, aka Charley's Radiator Shop, in Grants, New Mexico. The long-closed complex of five buildings included a restaurant, Star Cafe, at 1308-1310 W. Santa Fe Ave. (aka Route 66). It was designated to the National … Continue reading The man behind the Charley’s Automobile Service building in Grants
M’tucci’s gives details about plans for Kellys Brew Pub site in Albuquerque
M'tucci's Restaurants, a small regional chain in Albuquerque, recently gave details on its plans for the former Kellys Brew Pub property in the city's Route 66 corridor. According to Albuquerque Business First, the former Kellys will be rebranded M'tucci's Bar Roma, with a scheduled reopening of spring 2022. Because of the property's landmark status, the … Continue reading M’tucci’s gives details about plans for Kellys Brew Pub site in Albuquerque
Carl’s Coney Island in Tulsa recently marked its 50th year
Carl's Coney Island, a mainstay in the historic Crystal City Shopping Center along Route 66 in Tulsa, in October marked its 50th year and welcomed new owners. According to a Facebook post a few weeks ago, Carl's celebrated its half-century on Oct. 21. It served 50-cent Coney dogs that day. It also announced owners Mike … Continue reading Carl’s Coney Island in Tulsa recently marked its 50th year