A 30-foot-tall "Big Ron" fiberglass figure was added Thursday under the big Route 66 shield near the entrance to Route 66 MotorHeads Bar & Grill, Museum and Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois. The complex at 600 Toronto Road, in an old Stuckey's on an alignment of Route 66, already contains tons of Route 66 memorabilia … Continue reading 30-foot-tall “Big Ron” fiberglass statue added to Route 66 MotorHeads Bar & Grill in Springfield
Category: Restaurants
Four eateries on or near Route 66 win $50,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grants
Four eateries along or near Route 66 will receive $50,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. The primarily Route 66-based recipients, announced Monday, are: La Cita Restaurant, Tucumcari, New Mexico Doc's Just Off 66, Girard, Illinois La Paloma Mexican Restaurant, La Verne, California A lesser-known fourth … Continue reading Four eateries on or near Route 66 win $50,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grants
Owner and operator of Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville dies
Brian Gentry, the owner and operator of Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe along Route 66 in Victorville, California, has died. He was 58. According to a report in the Daily Press of Victorville, Gentry died peacefully on July 3. His life will be celebrated from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 3, followed by a … Continue reading Owner and operator of Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville dies
City of Clinton finally has a plan for orphaned Glancy Motel sign
Months after the motel itself was demolished, the City of Clinton appears to have settled on a new plan for the Glancy Motel sign. According to the Friday print edition of the Clinton Daily News, a report from a city council meeting stated the Oklahoma Highway Patrol would move the sign to 2225 W. Gary … Continue reading City of Clinton finally has a plan for orphaned Glancy Motel sign
New neon sign erected along Route 66 at Teofilo’s Restaurante in Los Lunas
The landmark Teofilo's Restaurante in Los Lunas, New Mexico, recently added a neon sign that pays tribute to its Route 66 location and heritage. According to the Valencia County News-Bulletin, restaurant owner Johnnah Torres wanted something more eye-catching and durable than the previous wooden sign. When thinking about what to do, Torres said it dawned … Continue reading New neon sign erected along Route 66 at Teofilo’s Restaurante in Los Lunas
A look at the Rock Cafe in Stroud 20 years ago
Dawn Welch, owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, flagged this video from 2004 created by Jack Frank. Welch said it was just six years into her ownership. My mother has passed and this may be the only video recorded of her helping at the cafe. She literally taught me how to cook … Continue reading A look at the Rock Cafe in Stroud 20 years ago
Ariston Cafe in Litchfield marks 100 years of operation
The landmark Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, is celebrating a century in business, though it wasn't always on its present location on Route 66. The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to mark the occasion. Former owners Nick and Demi Adam, who ran the restaurant for 52 years. are planning to … Continue reading Ariston Cafe in Litchfield marks 100 years of operation
Spencer’s Grill in Kirkwood closes; owner seeks a buyer for the business
The historic Spencer's Grill in Kirkwood, Missouri, suddenly shuttered last weekend, and the business is up for sale. St. Louis Magazine reported: The 47-seat business is for sale, according to owner Alex Campbell, who wants “more than anything, for the tradition of great food and unique hospitality to survive in the same way it’s existed … Continue reading Spencer’s Grill in Kirkwood closes; owner seeks a buyer for the business
New plaque commemorates the birthplace of the horseshoe sandwich in Springfield
The Visit Springfield tourism bureau on Thursday commemorated the birthplace of the horseshoe sandwich with a new plaque at the historic Leland Hotel building at Capitol Avenue and Sixth Street (aka Route 66) in Springfield, Illinois. For the uninitiated, a horseshoe sandwich consists of thick slices of toast, a hamburger patty or another type of … Continue reading New plaque commemorates the birthplace of the horseshoe sandwich in Springfield
Pineapple Whip, which started in the Ozarks in Springfield, marks its 50th year
As summer arrives in earnest, Route 66ers' thoughts understandably will go to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis. But another Route 66 city 200 miles west of St. Louis boasts its own frozen treat and considerable longevity -- Pineapple Whip, marking its 50th season this year in its hometown of Springfield, Missouri. The Springfield … Continue reading Pineapple Whip, which started in the Ozarks in Springfield, marks its 50th year