(Sign hanging above the cash register at the Country Store) When the Country Store opened on 11th Street in Tulsa nearly 40 years ago, it was, in fact, in the country. Four decades of urban sprawl later, the Country Store's location on historic Route 66 is considered part of midtown Tulsa. Farmers are an endangered … Continue reading Country Store may close
Category: Businesses
Historic hotel won’t be taken over by city after all
A few weeks ago, we passed along a report by the Kankakee (Ill.) Daily Journal that said the city of Wilmington was going to take over the historic Eagle Hotel on Route 66 on Jan. 15 because its owner, William Scales, didn't have it operating as a business by a city-imposed five-year deadline. On Monday, … Continue reading Historic hotel won’t be taken over by city after all
Tropics restaurant continues to languish
This story in the Lincoln (Ill.) Courier tells about a situation that's common even in prosperous towns along the Mother Road -- a business district that is indeed busy, but still has a lot of vacancies. One of those vacancies is The Tropics restaurant: Tropics co-owner Tami Goodrich of Lincoln said last week she and … Continue reading Tropics restaurant continues to languish
Glenrio, Odeon added to National Register
According to an e-mail from the director of the National Park Service, Glenrio's historic district -- which comprises most of the Route 66 community straddling the border between Texas and New Mexico -- was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 17. Glenrio's location in two states (and two counties) at … Continue reading Glenrio, Odeon added to National Register
DVD review: “Independent America”
As a Route 66 aficionado, I don't need encouragement to patronize mom-and-pop businesses. Visiting independent stores remains a vital part of the Mother Road experience. So a documentary that advocates supporting mom-and-pops is preaching to the choir. However, I learned from the just-released DVD of "Independent America" (subtitled "The Two Lane Search for Mom & … Continue reading DVD review: “Independent America”
Down at the ol’ Rabbit Ranch
It's always a treat to visit to Henry's Rabbit Ranch, located on old Route 66 in Staunton, Ill. Not only is proprieter Rich Henry an affable host, but it's fun to pet the ever-mellow Montana, one of his 37 pet rabbits, and see the new stuff Henry has acquired or planned. Henry's has a well-stocked … Continue reading Down at the ol’ Rabbit Ranch
Restoring the Meadow Gold sign
Greater Tulsa Reporter Newspapers has a story about the ongoing restoration and re-erection of the historic Meadow Gold neon sign on 11th Street (Route 66) in Tulsa. Much of the information has already been reported, but the article fleshes out new material about the sign's restorer, Claude Neon Federal Signs, and its work: The sign … Continue reading Restoring the Meadow Gold sign
Angels of the road
Peter Shelton of the Telluride Watch tells the tale of selfless mechanics on Route 66 who helped get his broken-down vehicle running again -- one time in Holbrook, Ariz.; the other time in Victorville, Calif. It's a good read.
Bent Door has a new Web site
Ramona Kiewert, the new co-owner with her husband Roy of the historic Bent Door in Adrian, Texas, e-mailed me to inform everyone that they moved the Bent Door's Web site to a new URL on WordPress.com, which is blog-hosting site and home to Route 66 News. The new URL is here. So please update your … Continue reading Bent Door has a new Web site
An update on Roy’s of Amboy
Mike Anton of the Los Angeles Times wrote an excellent story about the attempts by Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain, to resuscitate the historic Roy's in the lonely Route 66 desert down of Amboy, Calif. Okura hoped to be further along in fixing up the property, but progress has been slow: … Continue reading An update on Roy’s of Amboy