By mid-March, Visit Springfield, Missouri plans to move its downtown visitor welcome center a few blocks west on Route 66, across the street from the historic Gillioz Theatre.
That’s just a few weeks before the city’s massive Route 66 Centennial Kickoff event that begins in late April.
Mark Hecquet, president and CEO of the tourism bureau, told the Springfield Business Journal that the move to 318 Park Central East from 815 E. St. Louis St. — the latter of which includes the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center — aims to promote the city to more people.
Meanwhile, the change comes in time for local and national celebrations linked to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, America’s 250th birthday and the FIFA World Cup to be played in Kansas City in mid-July.
“Certainly the location there on the corner of the building, first and foremost, that’s where the Route 66 Birthplace Plaza will be going in, prior to the centennial kickoff in April,” Hecquet said […]. “Obviously, we’re close to downtown, the square, across from the Gillioz [Theatre]. And so we wanted to be near more foot traffic closer to some of our attractions in the city. It was a no-brainer of a location for us to move to.” […]
Cora Scott, Springfield director of public information and civic engagement, said the municipality supports the move.
“The city of Springfield is very excited about Visit Springfield’s new visitor center at Park Central Square, especially as the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration will bring tens of thousands of people to town,” she said in a provided statement today. “Its adjacency to the planned Birthplace Plaza at the site of the former Colonial Hotel, makes it an ideal location.”
Visit Springfield, Missouri signed a five-year lease at its new space.
(Screen-capture image from Visit Springfield, Missouri video of a neon directional sign at the Rail Haven Hotel)