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

Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announces more details on state Route 66 funding

The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau announced what it will do with more than $800,000 in state Route 66 funding. It includes an RV park and campground at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston; a mural at the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield; a drive-through Route 66 shield at Country Classic Cars in Staunton; … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announces more details on state Route 66 funding

Great Rivers & Routes video features Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard

The Great Rivers & Routes tourism bureau recently began a "Main Street of America" video series. The first video, which dropped in the last few days, features Doc's Just Off 66 soda fountain and restaurant in downtown Girard, Illinois. The video's hosts, Kevin and Emily, are understandably agog at the historic memorabilia on display at … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes video features Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard

Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public

Doc's Just Off 66, formerly Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, Illinois, opened to the public a few days ago after an ownership change, extensive remodeling and forming new menus. The owners held a "super" soft opening on Saturday, then posted their menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and soda-fountain treats on Facebook shortly after … Continue reading Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public

Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including a visitors center in a former Edwardsville gas station, reopening the old Cannonball Jail in Carlinville and a new Muffler Man on a restaurant in Berwyn. According to Riverbender.com and … Continue reading Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

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

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

Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard is up for sale

Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, Illinois, is on the market, according to a recent Facebook post from ROUTE Magazine. Here's what the post stated: ANOTHER GREAT ROUTE 66 SPOT IS UP FOR SALEDoc's Soda Fountain in the heart of Girard, Illinois, is up for sale. What a great opportunity for someone to own a … Continue reading Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard is up for sale

Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies

Wyman P. "Bill" Deck, co-owner of the historic Deck's Drug Store in downtown Girard, Illinois, died Monday at age 91 at a hospital in nearby Springfield. A Girard native, Deck was a pharmacy technician at the store and formerly was a librarian at Auburn Public Schools in nearby Auburn, Illinois, according to an obituary in … Continue reading Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies