A blaze early Thursday heavily damaged a portion of the historic El Rancho Motel complex in downtown Barstow, Calif., along old Route 66, reported the Desert Dispatch. The newspaper said the fire destroyed the Cedar Restaurant and Travel Store — formerly known as El Rancho Restaurant — at the complex. A fire chief said the … Continue reading Fire damages historic building in Barstow
Category: Restaurants
Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen
As if the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival wasn't busy enough this coming weekend, Joliet is celebrating the creation of the first-ever Dairy Queen restaurant, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The public is encouraged to come to the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St., and experience: free admission to the Route … Continue reading Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen
Bell Restaurant closes in Lebanon
I'm late on this, but the historic Bell Restaurant on Route 66 in Lebanon, Mo., apparently closed a few months ago. I was alerted to this today by Kelly Ludwig, creator of the Road Trip 66 app. After checking the Lebanon Daily Record's archives, I found a letter to the editor from Jim Bell in … Continue reading Bell Restaurant closes in Lebanon
Good support for bras on the ceiling
This report in the Pulaski County Daily contains some off-kilter banter between officials at a Pulaski County (Mo.) Tourism Board meeting a few days ago. Officials were talking about how area restaurants could draw visitors from far away, instead of just locals. The discussion turned to an old business along an old alignment of Route 66 … Continue reading Good support for bras on the ceiling
Local officials keep closer watch on Luna Cafe
A few weeks ago, a woman was shot in the right ear during karaoke night at the historic Luna Cafe, along old Route 66 in Mitchell, Ill. I didn't take much note of it, thinking it was random violence. However, this report in the Edwardsville Intelligencer indicates the Luna may be attracting a nastier clientele. … Continue reading Local officials keep closer watch on Luna Cafe
A note from the past
Greene HD Productions has posted another episode of "Route 66: The Marathon Tour." This one, which starts in Chicago, is going to be bittersweet for a many longtime roadies. First, it contains an interview with Zora Vidas, longtime owner of the historic Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill. Vidas died a few years ago, and … Continue reading A note from the past
Zeno’s goes on the market
The historic Zeno's Motel & Steakhouse along old Route 66 in Rolla, Mo., is up for sale for $2.2 million. The restaurant and motel, which date to 1956, is listed with Heyle Realtors in Springfield, Mo. The complex includes 50 guest rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, banquet facilities, lounge, and the restaurant. A longtime … Continue reading Zeno’s goes on the market
Lexington restaurant is up for sale
The Filling Station restaurant just off Route 66 in Lexington, Ill., is for sale for $295,000 after it closed two months ago. The restaurant, which first opened in 1982, is listed on a Coldwell Banker real-estate site. Kacie Rodriguez, a Realtor for Coldwell Banker in nearby Bloomington, said the restaurant was first listed on Feb. 27. … Continue reading Lexington restaurant is up for sale
Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa will reopen
The Lake City Diner along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, N.M., will reopen in early May after it abruptly closed a few months ago, according to the current print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in Santa Rosa. The newspaper reports that the restaurant, housed in a 1901 downtown building, will reopen under new … Continue reading Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa will reopen
Auto dealership can expand without affecting Rod’s Grill
A Mercedes Benz dealership in Arcadia, Calif., can proceed with its long-coveted expansion without affecting the historic Rod's Grill restaurant, reported the Pasadena Star-News. Rusnak Arcadia had long wanted the Rod's Grill lot for an expansion, or it threatened to move to another town. The owner of Rod's Grill had successfully fought the dealership's efforts … Continue reading Auto dealership can expand without affecting Rod’s Grill