Here’s an interesting rumor that started the morning. A part of the report by WJOL radio in Will County, Ill.:
The possibility calls for a new Dell Rhea’s Chicken to go where the cuurrnt Launching Pad restaurant is located. The only sidetrack for some Route 66 lovers is the possibilty that the big green Gemini Giant that stands outside the Launching Pad, a popular Route 66 attraction, may be going away.
A manager at the original Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Ill., who said his name was Jeff during a phone interview, said he had no knowledge of the restaurant acquiring the Launching Pad. The manager said the owner, Patrick Rhea, was on vacation until Wednesday. When Jeff was asked to confirm his last name, he hung up.
According to an office worker at Realty Executives Ambassador in Orland Park, Ill., which has listed the Launching Pad for sale since January, the listing remains active. It should be noted that sometimes property listings can remain active for weeks, even while the purchase details are being worked out. A message to the restaurant’s Realtor hadn’t been returned at the time of this post.
If the rumor is true, it’ll be interesting to see how one Route 66 icon acquires another Route 66 icon.
I’ll add updates to this report as I get them.
UPDATE 8/23/2013: WJOL has taken down the story.
I spoke with the Launching Pad’s real-estate broker. A lot of the conversation was off-the-record. However, it seems safe to report the Realtor wasn’t aware of a pending transaction, if there is one at all.
UPDATE 8/27/2013: I received a reply from the Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket email account. It said this:
It’s a work in progress and I can’t give you a definitive answer at this time. If we do buy it the GIANT will stay!
That seems to indicate there is interest in buying the Launching Pad. However, it appears the Gemini Giant is in no danger, regardless.
(Image of the Gemini Giant in 2009 at the Launching Pad restaurant by Anne Hornyak, via Flickr)