The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced this week is it conducting a survey of businesses, attractions, and sites along Route 66 to gauge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The partnership wrote in an email: The goal of the survey is to understand the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted Route … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead is conducting a survey about COVID-19’s effects
Category: Businesses
Tulsa wants its own Route 66 asset survey to account for city’s older alignment
The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office will conduct a survey of historic assets along Route 66, but the Tulsa Route 66 Commission wants to conduct its own survey that includes the city's older alignment near downtown. According to Public Radio Tulsa: The state is taking an inventory of structures like movie theaters, gas stations and … Continue reading Tulsa wants its own Route 66 asset survey to account for city’s older alignment
Jack Rabbit Trading Post has an emotional reopening after being closed 46 days
A number of Route 66 businesses have announced current or imminent reopenings after being shut down for weeks during the coronavirus pandemic. But this one, by the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, Arizona, is special. Check out this live video from Monday morning by co-owner Cindy Jaquez. Keep tissues handy: It had to … Continue reading Jack Rabbit Trading Post has an emotional reopening after being closed 46 days
The story behind the buzzard on Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri
The Springfield News-Leader newspaper in Missouri has a regular feature that serves as an Answer Man column, where Steve Pokin tries to dig into and solve local mysteries -- some serious and some not-so-serious. Pokin was on vacation, so staff writer Wyatt Wheeler took over during the interim. Wheeler received this question in his email: … Continue reading The story behind the buzzard on Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri
New retro sign goes up at Josh Stout Gallery in southwest Tulsa
A new but retro-looking sign for Josh Stout Gallery lighted the night for the first time Tuesday evening in the Red Fork neighborhood just off Route 66 in southwest Tulsa. Stout, who specializes in creating sculptures and paintings, said in a telephone interview Tuesday he moved his gallery from his home in March into the … Continue reading New retro sign goes up at Josh Stout Gallery in southwest Tulsa
Newest neon sign lights up the sky on Tulsa’s Route 66
Yet another new neon sign -- the Tulsa Welding School -- is aglow along the 11th Street alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission posted a photo of the new sign Thursday, just hours after Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66 lighted its new signs. Here's another close-up of the … Continue reading Newest neon sign lights up the sky on Tulsa’s Route 66
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios in Tulsa throws the switch on its new neon sign
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa threw the switch on its new neon signs Wednesday evening during an event broadcast live on the internet because of the coronavirus pandemic. About 300 people tuned in on Facebook Live to watch the ceremony, which included honky-tonk music from Jacob Tovar and a documentary about … Continue reading Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios in Tulsa throws the switch on its new neon sign
Few businesses reopen in Grants; city manager fired for clashing with mayor
Only four of about 80 nonessential businesses in Grants, New Mexico, ordered closed because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened Monday despite the mayor urging them to do so. Meanwhile, the mayor said he fired Grants' city manager for not ordering city employees back to work at the municipal golf course, though the firing still has … Continue reading Few businesses reopen in Grants; city manager fired for clashing with mayor
Grants mayor vows to let nonessential stores open despite governor’s order
The mayor of the Route 66 town of Grants, New Mexico, said he would let non-essential stores reopen Monday, flouting the governor's order to close them until mid-May because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Associated Press reported: Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks said he’s giving businesses permission to reopen on Monday and is ordering … Continue reading Grants mayor vows to let nonessential stores open despite governor’s order
One business’ suffering from coronavirus, travel ban
A Joplin, Missouri, television station focused on one Route 66 business in nearby Carthage, Missouri, that's feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and European travel ban. The business taking the brunt of lack of business is the Boots Court, which dates to 1939. KOAM-TV talked to Deborah Harvey, co-owner of the motel: The Boots … Continue reading One business’ suffering from coronavirus, travel ban