Johnny Martinez Jr., the longtime owner and chef of the landmark Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, died Friday. He was 88. One local expressed his condolences: The town's former newspaper publisher weighed in: According to his obituary: At an early age Johnny became interested in cooking and made it a … Continue reading Longtime owner of The Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa dies
Category: History
Mr. Powdrell’s Barbecue closing its Albuquerque Central Avenue location after 50+ years
Mr. Powdrell's Barbecue House is closing its Central Avenue location in Albuquerque at the end of this month after more than 50 years at that Route 66 location. Albuquerque Business First (subscription required) reported the restaurant at 11301 Central Ave. NE will close on Sept. 30. Mr. Powdrell's second location at 5209 4th St. NW … Continue reading Mr. Powdrell’s Barbecue closing its Albuquerque Central Avenue location after 50+ years
Joliet history museum to open Slovenian grocery store museum on Sunday
The Joliet Area Historical Museum on Sunday will open the circa-1920s Planinsek Grocery and Meat Market in Joliet, Illinois, as a house museum. The market at 1314 Elizabeth St. (map here) will have free admission that day. After that, the Planinsek Grocery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday until … Continue reading Joliet history museum to open Slovenian grocery store museum on Sunday
University of Tulsa to host photographer Edward Keating’s “Lost Dream of Route 66” exhibit
The University of Tulsa next month is hosting Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Edward Keating's "Main Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66" exhibit that was published as a book a few years ago. The exhibit by the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities at 101 E. Archer St. will run from Oct. 6 through Nov. 18. Here's … Continue reading University of Tulsa to host photographer Edward Keating’s “Lost Dream of Route 66” exhibit
Frankoma Pottery in Oklahoma will offer tiki mugs for the first time in more than 50 years
Oklahoma-based Frankoma Pottery Co. will host a tiki party this afternoon and Saturday to commemorate the creation of limited-edition tiki mugs, the first Frankoma tiki creation in at least a half-century. The tiki mugs will be debuted at 1 p.m. today and Saturday at Frankoma's store at 17117 S. Union Ave. in Glenpool, Oklahoma, south … Continue reading Frankoma Pottery in Oklahoma will offer tiki mugs for the first time in more than 50 years
Next round of Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program announced
Applications for the next round of the Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program, administered through the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, are being taken through Oct. 31. According to a news release from the partnership: The grant program is one of the first in a series of “birthday gifts" to be given to Route 66 in the years … Continue reading Next round of Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program announced
Retro-styled coffee shop opening Sept. 18 at the former site of Red’s Giant Hamburg
Trailer Perk Coffee of Springfield, Missouri, is graduating from a trailer operation to a retro-styled permanent location at the former site of Red's Giant Hamburg restaurant. The Springfield Daily Citizen reported Trailer Perk will hold a grand opening on Sept. 18 at its new spot at 2848 W. Chestnut (aka Route 66). Owner Amber Ottoson … Continue reading Retro-styled coffee shop opening Sept. 18 at the former site of Red’s Giant Hamburg
Ike’s Chili in Tulsa to mark its 115th anniversary on Sept. 9
Ike's Chili in Tulsa will celebrate its 115th anniversary on Sept. 9 with a car cruise, coney-eating contest, live music and giveaways. The restaurant at 1503 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) will hold the event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day. Ike's will include a mini-chili cheese coney and a soda, both … Continue reading Ike’s Chili in Tulsa to mark its 115th anniversary on Sept. 9
‘CBS Sunday Morning’ takes a closer look at history of Muffler Men, new museum
The long-running "CBS Sunday Morning" program recently produced a 4-minute segment about the history of Muffler Men, including those on Route 66, and Joel Baker, who has dedicated years to documenting and preserving them. It also talks about the American Giants Museum that recently opened along old Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois. https://youtu.be/dj_s9C8LBDY?si=60WHPFUd8CC9Ca2A The American … Continue reading ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ takes a closer look at history of Muffler Men, new museum
Big numbers exist around the Big Texan Steak Ranch
The Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal recently published a statistics-laden article about the iconic Big Texan Steak Ranch in nearby Amarillo. The gist -- a lot of big numbers are involved in running the former Route 66 restaurant. That's what happens when you feed 500,000 customers per year. The whole article is worth reading, but here are … Continue reading Big numbers exist around the Big Texan Steak Ranch