The historic Eat-Rite Diner, which closed a few months ago, recently landed a new operator who said he will convert the tiny Route 66 restaurant into "a brunch focused diner concept." The news first broke on Facebook, when St. Louis-area chef Tim Eagan announced his signing of the lease: https://www.facebook.com/tim.eagan/posts/10225267710309715 In a comment thread with … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis has a new operator, may reopen it by May
Category: People
“60 Minutes” airs its interview with famed sportswriter Dave Kindred at Palms Grill Cafe
CBS-TV's long-running "60 Minutes" news program aired its 13-minute feature about famed sportswriter Dave Kindred, where he was interviewed in the soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe in his hometown of Atlanta, Illinois. The Route 66 restaurant's exterior makes only a brief appearance, though much of the interview was conducted inside. Though it contains little Route 66 … Continue reading “60 Minutes” airs its interview with famed sportswriter Dave Kindred at Palms Grill Cafe
Paul Taylor, co-publisher of Route 66 Magazine, dies
Paul Taylor, the co-publisher of Route 66 Magazine with his wife Sandi for almost 30 years, died Thursday morning. No cause of death was reported, but Taylor's passing was confirmed by several state Route 66 associations and a close friend who emailed Route 66 News. The Taylors' quarterly publication was a pioneer in the renaissance … Continue reading Paul Taylor, co-publisher of Route 66 Magazine, dies
Tulsa Decopolis creator launches a fundraiser for store’s new neon sign
The creator of Decopolis in Tulsa launched a GoFundMe.com campaign to help him install a new neon sign at his store on Route 66. William Franklin launched the campaign a few days ago, with the goal of raising $3,500. Franklin wrote: Our area of Route 66 already has some great attractions and neon signs, like … Continue reading Tulsa Decopolis creator launches a fundraiser for store’s new neon sign
“Mega Mayor” Muffler Man installed at Uranus Missouri complex
A new, 22-foot-tall Muffler Man fiberglass statue was installed Tuesday at the Uranus Missouri complex in St. Robert, Missouri. The statue is called Mega Mayor, a likeness of Uranus Missouri owner and self-proclaimed mayor Louie Keen when he's duded up in his American-flag-inspired costume. Mega Mayor, which holds a large golf ball in one hand … Continue reading “Mega Mayor” Muffler Man installed at Uranus Missouri complex
Longtime Missouri Route 66 advocate Glenda Pike dies
Glenda Pike, a longtime champion of Route 66 in Missouri along with her husband Tommy, died Friday, reported the Route 66 Association of Missouri in a Facebook post. She was 77. Tommy Pike was the president of the Missouri association for many years, and Glenda often was by his side at many Route 66 events … Continue reading Longtime Missouri Route 66 advocate Glenda Pike dies
Soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe hosts upcoming “60 Minutes” interview
The Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, which is scheduled to reopen next month, hosted an interview for an upcoming 12-minute segment on CBS-TV's long-running and popular "60 Minutes" news show. The Bloomington Pantagraph broke the story about acclaimed Illinois sportswriter and Atlanta native Dave Kindred talking about his new book, "Leave Out the … Continue reading Soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe hosts upcoming “60 Minutes” interview
More details found about MIA who is memorialized at Cool Springs Camp
For years, a section of a wall inside Cool Springs Camp near Kingman, Arizona, paid tribute to Tech Sgt. Thomas Walker, who went missing during a bombing run over Germany in 1944 and later was declared dead. Walker's parents, Tom and Mary, owned Cool Springs Camp from 1936 to 1940. A visitor to Cool Springs … Continue reading More details found about MIA who is memorialized at Cool Springs Camp
‘Valentine Sally’ identified nearly 40 years after her body was found near Ash Fork
About a year ago, Route 66 enthusiast Blue Miller wrote on her Never Quite Lost blog about the mystery of "Valentine Sally," an unidentified young woman whose body was found near Ash Fork, Arizona, in an apparent homicide in February 1982. This week, Valentine Sally finally has her true name. She is Carolyn Eaton, a … Continue reading ‘Valentine Sally’ identified nearly 40 years after her body was found near Ash Fork
Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
The Route 66 Bloomington-Normal, Illinois page on Facebook recently posted an interesting, if obscure, historical item for Black History Month -- the Chat 'n Chew restaurant and grocery in Normal. Here's the post, with Terri Ryburn of Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague Super Service station) in Normal supplying the photo: https://www.facebook.com/Route66BN/posts/153881979883693 A 2017 article, titled "Jim … Continue reading Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era