California Roadhouse soon will replace the recently closed Rusty’s Surf Ranch restaurant and music venue on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
The Santa Monica Daily Press reported:
The venture is the brainchild of Sean Ahaus, a Santa Monica native and current co-owner of VITO, a neighborhood restaurant at 2807 Ocean Park Blvd. that has served the community for more than 45 years.
Billing itself as “The Last Great American Roadhouse at the end of Route 66,” the restaurant will open just in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of Route 66, which is set to take place on the pier in April 2026. The location marks where both the 2,448-mile Route 66 from Chicago and the 2,460-mile Interstate 10 from Jacksonville, Florida, meet the Pacific Ocean. […]
“Santa Monica is the perfect place for The California Roadhouse — it’s where the entire journey of Route 66 culminates in celebration,” Ahaus said. “As a Santa Monican, I feel a deep connection to The Santa Monica Pier. We’re honoring the 108-year legacy of our building while injecting a powerful new energy of live performances, great food and community support.”
The restaurant will be near the “Route 66 End of the Trail” sign, signifying the symbolic (but not actual) western end of Route 66.
The actual western terminus is at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about a mile away.
Founded by Russell “Rusty” Barnard, Rusty’s Surf Ranch operated as the pier’s main spot for live music for over 30 years.
The pier itself dates back more than 100 years.
(Image of Rusty’s Surf Ranch at the Santa Monica Pier via Facebook)