The Route 66 Bloomington-Normal, Illinois page on Facebook recently posted an interesting, if obscure, historical item for Black History Month -- the Chat 'n Chew restaurant and grocery in Normal. Here's the post, with Terri Ryburn of Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague Super Service station) in Normal supplying the photo: https://www.facebook.com/Route66BN/posts/153881979883693 A 2017 article, titled "Jim … Continue reading Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
Category: Restaurants
New chef at The Turquoise Room in Winslow’s La Posada also draws praise
A recent article in an Arizona newspaper answers a question -- who became the new chef at The Turquoise Room restaurant in La Posada of Winslow, Arizona, after John Sharpe retired in October? The short answer: Jesus Nunez, a native of Mexico who was Sharpe's right-hand man for more than three decades. According to the … Continue reading New chef at The Turquoise Room in Winslow’s La Posada also draws praise
Cookin’ From Scratch restaurant in Doolittle to close next month
The Cookin' From Scratch restaurant along Route 66 in Doolittle, Missouri, will close for good on March 16 due to an ownership change at the complex. According to Phelps County Focus, Tony and Melissa Sherrer of Ozark Oil Co. LLC wrote in a Feb. 12 letter to vendors that Cookin’ From Scratch’s last day would … Continue reading Cookin’ From Scratch restaurant in Doolittle to close next month
Former owner of Summit Inn at top of Cajon Pass dies at age 88
C.A. Stevens, the longtime owner of the Summit Inn restaurant at the top of Cajon Pass in Southern California, died Feb. 5 after contracting COVID-19. He was 88. Stevens owned the restaurant and an adjacent motel along old Route 66 for nearly 50 years until he sold it in 2016. A month after the sale … Continue reading Former owner of Summit Inn at top of Cajon Pass dies at age 88
Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque marks 50 years
The iconic Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque marked its 50th year in business earlier this week. The Albuquerque Journal posted a story about the eatery at 2400 Central Ave. (aka Route 66): “It’s sort of like a melting pot where people come and meet,” said Dorothy Rainosek, Frontier co-founder and owner. [...]Rainosek said when she and … Continue reading Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque marks 50 years
Amarillo TV station provides details about Barfield Hotel before it opens in April
An Amarillo television station filed an exclusive report about what's to come inside the historic Barfield Hotel when it's scheduled to open in April. KDFA-TV filed the report. Here are a couple of the excerpts: All rooms preserve the original 1920′s decor, with special nods to Barfield creator, M.D. Oliver.“We want to give homage back … Continue reading Amarillo TV station provides details about Barfield Hotel before it opens in April
The FourWay restaurant in Cuba has closed
The operator of the FourWay restaurant, housed in a vintage Phillips 66 gas station in Cuba, Missouri, announced last week it closed for good in late December after five years at a prominent corner of Route 66. Joan Patrice Weir posted this on Facebook with the announcement on Friday: https://www.facebook.com/fourway66/posts/2814134562167088 Weir elaborated a bit more … Continue reading The FourWay restaurant in Cuba has closed
Owner of Ann’s Chicken Fry House building wants to open a retro diner there
The owner of the recently closed Ann's Chicken Fry House building in Oklahoma City said he wants to open a retro diner at that location. The Oklahoman newspaper confirms what had been rumored with building owner Tony Maxey for several weeks since the restaurant closed: Maxey wanted to purchase Ann's and reopen it, but that … Continue reading Owner of Ann’s Chicken Fry House building wants to open a retro diner there
New developments complicate preservation of Adohr Milk Farms sign
The preservation of a once-covered Adohr Milk Farms neon sign along Route 66 in Pasadena, California, became complicated in recent months because of a city's inexplicable decision and the tangled history of the family behind the long-defunct milk business. For those who missed the previous reporting, Howlin' Ray's hot chicken restaurant was doing a face-lift … Continue reading New developments complicate preservation of Adohr Milk Farms sign
Restored Lincoln County Express child-size train ends up near Rock Cafe in Stroud
The Lincoln County Express child-size train that spent decades rusting away amid the brush along Route 66 east of Stroud, Oklahoma, has been restored and moved next to the landmark Rock Cafe in Stroud. Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin reported in a Facebook post on the Historic Route 66 page that the city … Continue reading Restored Lincoln County Express child-size train ends up near Rock Cafe in Stroud