An authentic Mexican restaurant becomes the latest tenant to move into the building in Springfield, Illinois, that contains the historic Sonrise Donuts neon sign on its roof.
Taqueria Moroleon opened in the building at 1101 S. Ninth St. (aka Route 66) that contains a horseshoe-shaped Formica counter and red counter stools, reported the State Journal-Register.
The newspaper reports Sonrise Donuts was the first doughnut and coffee shop in the city.
The newspaper talked to the new tenant:
“This is the real, real Mexican food,” said business owner Salvador Lopez, who christened his restaurant after his homeland in Mexico’s Moroleon region.
“I wanted to do real Mexican food. Not the Tex-Mex you find around here.”
Keeping it authentic includes toppings like tongue, cow brains and intestines.
The last sentence may not sound appetizing to a gringo, but those toppings are an encouraging sign to any person who loves street tacos.
The last tenant was Emilio’s New Coney Island, which closed there about a year ago. In 2010, Gibby’s Orbits opened, specializing in diner food plus county-fair fare including mini-doughnuts, corndogs, and lemon shake-ups.
According to the newspaper, Sonrise Donuts opened in 1947 and closed in 1998 after owner Don Greenslade died.
(Image of the Sonrise Donuts sign in Springfield, Illinois, by Mark DePaola via 66icons on Facebook)