Andrea Pruett, the longtime owner of the landmark Bagdad Cafe along Route 66 in Newberry Springs, California, died on Jan. 13. She was 85.
Mead Mortuary in nearby Barstow, California, is handling arrangements, which are incomplete at this time. Many veteran Route 66 travelers have written tributes to her on social media.
Her grandson, Greg Landers, wrote that Pruett bought the restaurant in 1994 after becoming enthralled by the 1987 Percy Adlon cult film of the same name, which was shot there.
The eatery was known as the Sidewinder Cafe since the 1950s, and Pruett changed it to the Bagdad Cafe — named after the film and the ghost town along Route 66, about 50 miles east in the Mojave Desert.
The heart and soul she put into it, over 32 years, made this place truly special and she persists in spirit, in the very walls and bones of the structure.
Having grown up with her as my grandmother and in fact having been raised several years of my life under her care, I can tell you that the spirit, pomp and insoucience found in this very special place, personifies her perfectly.
Elmer Teodoro, a longtime traveler of Route 66, wrote:
She was one of those rare people who carried a quiet kindness that stayed with you long after you walked away. Her smile, her warmth, and the way she welcomed us into every conversation made each visit feel meaningful. Over the years, we were fortunate to spend time with her, and every moment felt like a gift. She had a way of making people feel at ease, as if you had known her much longer than you actually had.
After Pruett, an Arkansas native, bought the restaurant, it continued operating and welcomed a great many European tourists who were also entranced with the eccentric “Bagdad Cafe” film.
Several years ago, the Bagdad Cafe stopped serving food but remained open to tourists by selling T-shirts, Route 66 souvenirs, soda, beer and coffee. She and her restaurant had suffered a series of setbacks, including vandalism, storm damage, COVID-19 shutdowns and a fire that destroyed her home.
(Image of the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, by Vicente Villamon via Flickr)