Unpaid property taxes and deferred maintenance are jeopardizing the historic Donnay Building in Oklahoma City, just three years after the complex was saved from the wrecking ball due to planned redevelopment. The Oklahoman newspaper has the details: Josh Thomas, the building’s owner who saved the property from destruction when he bought it in 2018, hasn’t … Continue reading Unpaid taxes, lack of repairs put Donnay Building in Oklahoma City in jeopardy
Category: Businesses
City of Albuquerque breaks ground on Imperial Inn redevelopment plan
The City of Albuquerque this week broke ground on a $7.6 million redevelopment project for the Imperial Inn Motel along Route 66. According to KRQE-TV in Albuquerque: The plans for the Imperial Inn on Central, just west of I-25, include 52 guest rooms and 16 residential suites, along with space for a dozen businesses including … Continue reading City of Albuquerque breaks ground on Imperial Inn redevelopment plan
65-foot guitar unveiled at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, Oklahoma, unveiled the lighting of a 65-foot-tall Gibson Les Paul electric guitar on Tuesday night. The big guitar is on the east side of the casino, along Route 66. Though the big unveiling was this week, the Hard Rock had been hinting at this for a … Continue reading 65-foot guitar unveiled at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa
Tulsa Market District will finish face-lift by next year
The Tulsa Market District, anchored by the Mother Road Market near Lewis Avenue and 11th Street (aka Route 66), will undergo a major beautification project in the next year. According to Public Radio Tulsa, plans for the big face-lift include new water and sewer lines, traffic lights, traffic calming measures, dozens of trees and benches, … Continue reading Tulsa Market District will finish face-lift by next year
Louie Keen shows mockup for future neon sign wall at Uranus Missouri
Louie Keen, the self-proclaimed "mayor" of the Uranus Missouri near St. Robert, Missouri, recently posted an artist's rendering of a neon-sign wall planned for the complex. Keen stated on Facebook that "the wall will be painted and each of the objects on the wall are big neon pieces." "We believe this will be a huge … Continue reading Louie Keen shows mockup for future neon sign wall at Uranus Missouri
Bel-Aire Motel sign in ends up at Route 66 Motorheads Bar in Springfield
The main neon sign for the defunct Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield, Illinois, now has resurfaced in a beer garden of the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum in that city. The Facebook page for the Motorheads establishment announced the move of the sign: It previously had been reported in 2015 that Ron Metzger, who … Continue reading Bel-Aire Motel sign in ends up at Route 66 Motorheads Bar in Springfield
Albuquerque announces “ABQ 66” promotional campaign
The City of Albuquerque's Economic Development Department recently announced it was launching an "ABQ 66" comprehensive marketing campaign to revitalize Albuquerque’s historic Route 66 by boosting consumer activity and sales revenue along the corridor as the city and nation begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a video that touts the campaign: https://youtu.be/y3LAUu9Pc7s The … Continue reading Albuquerque announces “ABQ 66” promotional campaign
Box Car BBQ building in Sapulpa becomes a medical marijuana dispensary
The old Box Car BBQ building along Route 66 on the west side of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, recently reopened as a Cannected Dispensary to sell medical marijuana, according to the Sapulpa Times. The interesting twist is the dispensary's owner is the son of the restaurant's longtime proprietor, George Groenwold. Lance Groenwold made his intentions known for … Continue reading Box Car BBQ building in Sapulpa becomes a medical marijuana dispensary
Alanreed Travel Center for sale; operators say they’ll likely close it in late July
The Alanreed Travel Center in the tiny town of Alanreed, Texas, is for sale, and one of the complex's longtime operators said they'll likely close the business in late July. Century 21 Commercial lists the property for $300,000. It includes the gas station, RV park and motel that includes a post office. According to the … Continue reading Alanreed Travel Center for sale; operators say they’ll likely close it in late July
Decopolis becomes 24th recipient of Tulsa’s Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program
The Decopolis gift shop along East 11th Street recently became the 24th recipient of Tulsa's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program. Here's an image of the new sign, courtesy of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission: Decopolis itself posted an image of the sign being installed on June 23: Tulsa's neon-sign grant program not only refurbishes … Continue reading Decopolis becomes 24th recipient of Tulsa’s Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program