Jim Ross sent us some photos he shot Monday of the raising of the 66-foot-tall giant pop bottle and drinking straw that will stand near the Pops convenience store and diner along Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. Pops is the brainchild of Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon. Ross wrote: Here are some shots of the … Continue reading Raising the Pops bottle
Category: Businesses
Spirit of Aviatrix Ballroom revived
Carlton Scales, a former big-band leader, started the Aviatrix Ballroom on Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, in 1939. The venue drew such performers as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey. Sadly, the Aviatrix closed in 1988 after business dwindled for years. Now the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required) reports that Scales' daughter, Maggie, 49, … Continue reading Spirit of Aviatrix Ballroom revived
More SUV than the driver can handle
The combination of a traffic accident and the weight of ice and snow caused the collapse of the Carthage Route 66 Antique Mall at 1221 Oak St. in Carthage, Mo., earlier this week. The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reported: The incident began when a car ran into the building and one of the supporting trusses on … Continue reading More SUV than the driver can handle
The realities of running a bed-and-breakfast
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader has an interesting article about the other side of the idyllic existance that bed-and-breakfasts convey. Co-owner Michaelene Stevens of the Dickey House, which is in the Route 66 town in Marshfield, Mo., were candid enough to tell the newspaper that running such a lodging business is a lot of hard work. … Continue reading The realities of running a bed-and-breakfast
This is a church?
The Creek County (Okla.) Board of Adjustment rejected Charles Elliott's request for zoning exceptions so he can host a motorcycle rally on his property off Route 66 near Depew, according to the Sapulpa Daily Herald. Elliott hosted one rally last year, but a second was halted by a court injunction because it violated zoning rules. … Continue reading This is a church?
New Joplin business opens in historic building
Route 66 TV Online reports that a new business, Columbia Traders, has opened in the 114-year-old Columbia Building at 420 S. Main St. in downtown Joplin, Mo. The Deli and grocery serves local residents and Route 66 visitors breakfast and lunch from 6:30 am to 7 pm weekdays, 9 to 5 on Sat. and is … Continue reading New Joplin business opens in historic building
‘Major manufacturer’ may move to Route 66
This article in the Suburban Journals owned by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a "major manufacturer" is poised to locate on old Route 66 in Pacific, Mo. Apparently the property in question is the old George's Apple Orchard site. Anyone know anything about it? Either way, it's apparent the Mother Road still remains a … Continue reading ‘Major manufacturer’ may move to Route 66
Active Arcadia
Yesterday, I drove through the Route 66 town of Arcadia, Okla. It's not very big (pop. 280), but there's a lot of activity going on there. First, it appeared the canopy superstructure of the Pops convenience store, which is the brainchild of Chesapeake Energy CEO and Route 66 fan Aubrey McClendon, is nearly up. Having … Continue reading Active Arcadia
A look at the Western Trail Trading Post
We've had the pleasure of talking to John Dunning several times at his Western Trail Trading Post in Oklahoma City. The antiques business, located on a more obscure alignment of Route 66 at 9100 N. Western Ave., has been around only five years, but he's a tireless champion of the Mother Road. The Daily Oklahoman … Continue reading A look at the Western Trail Trading Post
Nut House is set to re-open
Two couples recently purchased The Nut House on Route 66 near Claremore, Okla., and the business will re-open Thursday. The Nut House gift shop, at 26677 S. Highway 66, was purchased at an auction by Darryl and Hazel Ward and Fred and Joyce Hannah, all of Claremore. Its hours will be from 10 a.m. to … Continue reading Nut House is set to re-open