KC Keefer, continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, talks to Dawn Welch, longtime owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Welch talks about the Route 66 restaurant's up-and-down history, including her role in the Disney-Pixar "Cars" movie and the restaurant nearly being destroyed by fire in 2008. https://youtu.be/rXZ5p1qfm8Q More can … Continue reading A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch
Category: Restaurants
Cafe on the Route reopening soon
Cafe on the Route of Baxter Springs, Kansas, which abruptly closed nearly two years ago, apparently is reopening by mid-November after extensive renovations. Rich Dinkela got the scoop a couple of days ago with this video. The new owner's remodeling includes showing off the original tin ceiling and brick walls. https://youtu.be/UvTXBpdSIh4 The new owner also … Continue reading Cafe on the Route reopening soon
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket wins state tourism award
The historic Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket restaurant in Willowbrook, Illinois, received a Delicious Destination honor from Illinois Tourism, according to a news release. The Illinois Office of Tourism and DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau reported that Dell Rhea’s is among a small group of Illinois establishments to receive this designation from the state tourism bureau. … Continue reading Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket wins state tourism award
A visit to Amarillo’s Sixth Street District
This video produced by TourTexas.com features Tucker Yeldell -- described as "a lost prospector, reluctant farmer and early Texas Panhandle settler" -- touring some of his favorite spots on Route 66 in Amarillo. https://youtu.be/gs9L25EsvFA Most of the tour is devoted to the city's historic Sixth Street District, which is a terrific menagerie of antique shops, … Continue reading A visit to Amarillo’s Sixth Street District
Former owner of Club Cafe dies
Ron Chavez, 78, a former owner of the long-closed Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, who later became noted as a writer and poet, died Oct. 15 in Albuquerque, reported the Taos News. His daughter, Sonia Valdez, told the newspaper he died of complications from diabetes and a stroke. The family declined to give … Continue reading Former owner of Club Cafe dies
Fire destroys old A&W building in Carthage
A former A&W Restaurant near Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri, was destroyed by fire late Friday during the city's annual Maple Leaf Festival. After the A&W closed at that location, it became Hartman's Mercantile, a secondhand store. KODE-TV has a report about the fire: The building was at 502 S. Garrison Ave., which is about … Continue reading Fire destroys old A&W building in Carthage
Ariston Cafe put up for sale
The landmark Ariston Cafe, located on old Route 66 in Litchfield, Illinois, and owned by the same family for 90 years, has been put up for sale for $1.2 million. The restaurant was listed on an online real-estate site here by Jim Simpson and Shannon Simpson Hall of Century 21 in Litchfield. Ariston co-owner Nick … Continue reading Ariston Cafe put up for sale
A visit to Ollie’s Station
DiscoverOklahoma, which is part of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, recently uploaded this video about Ollie's Station restaurant on the southwest side of Tulsa. https://youtu.be/Yx5wE4sOgi0 As you might guess, the restaurant and its toy trains are a big hit with children. If you go there, don't miss the big train set in the back … Continue reading A visit to Ollie’s Station
A visit to the Ariston Cafe
Continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, KC Keefer sat down with Paul Adam, a third-generation manager for the historic Ariston Cafe on Route 66 in Litchfield, Illinois. This video comes out during the restaurant's 90th anniversary. It started a couple of years before Route 66 existed in Carlinville, Illinois, which wound up … Continue reading A visit to the Ariston Cafe
A visit to Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit
Oklahoma Living magazine, a publication of electric cooperatives of Oklahoma, recently made this Table Talk video about Dan's Bar-B-Que Pit, which has served hungry folks on Route 66 in Davenport, Oklahoma, for more than 40 years. https://youtu.be/y7LU_ExHlXo Incidentally, the video's host goes by the name of Grant Leatherwood, which is so awesome you'd swear it … Continue reading A visit to Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit