Pig Hip sign restored

The historic sign at the site of the Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, Ill., was restored by members of the Illinois Route 66 Association last weekend, reported The Logan County Herald. The newspaper reported: The original sign had been blown down by a storm and association members had restored, rebuilt and replaced damaged elements to … Continue reading Pig Hip sign restored

Mitla Cafe marking 75th anniversary

https://youtu.be/6xFn2iktFiw The historic Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, Calif., is marking its 75th anniversary with a blues and jazz concert Saturday and another celebration in September, reported The Press-Enterprise newspaper. The key to its longevity has been the family atmosphere and a menu that is largely the same as when Lucia Rodriquez started the restaurant, … Continue reading Mitla Cafe marking 75th anniversary

Route 66 restaurant co-owner bitten by poisonous snake

Buffy Price, co-owner of The Boundary on 66 barbecue restaurant between Luther and Arcadia, Okla., recently was bitten by a poisonous snake while taking out trash at the eatery and hospitalized, reported KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. Excerpts from the report: She looked down saw blood on her foot and a snake scurry away through the … Continue reading Route 66 restaurant co-owner bitten by poisonous snake

Big Chief restaurant reopens

The Big Chief Roadhouse, a fixture on an older alignment of Route 66 in Wildwood, Mo., since 1929, reopened Monday after a change in ownership and remodeling, reported the Eureka-Wildwood Patch. The prized buffalo head still graces Big Chief Roadhouse restaurant's main dining area in Wildwood, but customers will find many new touches and a remodeled ambiance at … Continue reading Big Chief restaurant reopens

How “Cars” changed the life of the Midpoint Cafe’s owner

The 2006 Disney-Pixar film "Cars" profoundly changed the life of the Midpoint Cafe's former owner, the Orange County Register said in a report about the Cars Land theme park opening this week. The first few paragraphs: Fran Houser will never forget the day when the Cadillacs with the steer horns attached to their hoods pulled up … Continue reading How “Cars” changed the life of the Midpoint Cafe’s owner

Litchfield museum going up fast

On June 7, City of Litchfield Tourism in Litchfield, Ill., emailed a news release about the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Museum being built in town. This news had already been reported here and other news outlets. However, I didn't know how far along the museum construction had proceeded until I received this photo Monday: … Continue reading Litchfield museum going up fast

Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa closes

The Lake City Diner in downtown Santa Rosa, N.M., abruptly closed in late May less than a year after it reopened, reported the current print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator. And the building will be converted into a residence for the owners instead of being put up for sale to another possible restaurateur, according … Continue reading Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa closes

Route 66 News, catch-up edition

I've been out of town for about 10 days traveling Route 66 and more. Here are the stories from the Mother Road that broke while I was away ... --- The biggest news was the announcement that the historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif., would undergo extensive renovations with its new owners, reported the Monrovia … Continue reading Route 66 News, catch-up edition

Founder of Mazzio’s pizza chain dies

Ken Selby, who started what turned into the Mazzio's pizza chain in 1961 on Route 66 in Tulsa, died of lung cancer Saturday at age 73, according to several Tulsa media sources, including the Tulsa World. Selby opened his first pizza restaurant at 11th Street (aka Route 66) near Harvard Avenue in Tulsa. It soon … Continue reading Founder of Mazzio’s pizza chain dies

Monroe’s Diner reopens as a Cajun restaurant

The old Monroe's Diner building, a landmark on Route 66 in Pacific, Mo., that was shuttered for years, recently reopened as the Down South Cafe. Monroe's is known for its stone facade, attached to a Quonset hut structure (photo here). It was built in the 1940s, and closed a few years ago. Its location is … Continue reading Monroe’s Diner reopens as a Cajun restaurant