The historic Hi-Way Cafe & Tavern building along Route 66 in Edwardsville, Illinois, is being converted into a Plaid Coffee Roasters shop.
Cheryl Eichar Jett of The Buzz Monthly reported the mother-and-son team of Kim Goodner and Trevor Taynor, who also own a bakery in town, are transforming the Hi-Way property at 463 E. Vandalia St. (aka Route 66).
Goodner, who bought the building in January 2023, had considered acquiring the property for years, especially because it was on Route 66.
Looking at the exterior designs for Plaid, the interior décor is also pretty easy to envision – contemporary, a bit industrial, a Route 66 vibe, and some references to the family’s Scottish heritage. (Hence, the Plaid Coffee Roasters name.)
Included in the interior design plan is a tartan plaid accent wall with family genealogy highlights in the dining area. […]
Behind the dining room will be a commercial kitchen with pizza ovens. […] The antique bar from the Hi-Way Cafe era will function as a coffee bar with a new pastry case added in front of it and other retail selections displayed opposite the bar. The coffee roasting operation will be located in the space behind the coffee bar room, with sufficient glass in between that people can see the roasting facility. Although the coffee roasting will take place at Plaid, a second location has been acquired to house the bakery operations.
“We’ll end up doing a breakfast or brunch menu and other treats here. The other pastries and sandwiches are going to be at the bakery [at the location] where that’s going to live,” Goodner said.
They hope to open Plaid Coffee Roasters to the public by early June.
Sicilian immigrants Frank and Dora Catalano opened the Hi-Way Cafe and Tavern — a combination liquor store, cafe and tavern — in 1934. The business expanded into a house next door. It was known for friendly service, spaghetti and biscuits-and-gravy. It later became Neumann’s Bar and Restaurant for 25 years.
The Hi-Way Cafe and Tavern was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2014.
(Image of the repainted Hi-Way Cafe & Tavern building via Facebook)