Longtime roadie Dave Hoekstra of the Chicago Sun-Times takes a closer look at the restored and historic Palms Grill Cafe on old Route 66 in Atlanta, Ill. Apparently the restaurant, in addition to its old-time atmosphere, is making a name for itself because of its pies. And an Albanian immigrant named Lumi Bektoshi, who is … Continue reading A pie-in-the-sky place
Category: Restaurants
New artist takes inspiration from Mother Road
Joseph Squires is 72 years old, so it seems a bit incongruous to say he's new at anything. However, after his wife Carolyn died four years ago, Squires decided to paint scenes on Route 66 in Missouri, based on his memories of the historic road, according to the Cuba Mural blog. “My Rt. 66 series … Continue reading New artist takes inspiration from Mother Road
Reopening a Route 66 legend
The Braidwood Journal has a story about the recent reopening of the Riviera Roadhouse, a longtime Route 66 favorite in Gardner, Ill. The important details ... Stover said customers can expect to see few changes at the Route 66 favorite. Stover is already building the menu, and hopes to bring most of Peggy Kraft's famous … Continue reading Reopening a Route 66 legend
Football frenzy in Stroud
Jenni Carlson, a sports columnist for The Oklahoman, tells how the Route 66 town of Stroud, Okla., has been in a frenzy since its high-school football team has played its way to the Class A state championship game. Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, plays a big role in the article. It's … Continue reading Football frenzy in Stroud
Riviera Roadhouse is reopening
I received this e-mail from Kathy Miller, co-editor of The 66 News, a publication of the Route 66 Association of Illinois, about the Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner, Ill. John Weiss asked that I spread the word. The Riviera Roadhouse will reopen for business this weekend. Everyone's favorite waitress, Becky, who has been serving you for … Continue reading Riviera Roadhouse is reopening
New York Post does the road
David Landsel is blogging from Route 66 for the New York Post. He's made it from Chicago to St. Louis, and seems to be having a good time so far ... Sunday night, driving across the prairie south from Chicago in the pitch dark, it must be said that I was having second thoughts. Then … Continue reading New York Post does the road
Notes from the road
The Tulsa World reported that longtime Route 66 business McElroy Tire, at 1545 E. 11th St., will close at year's end. It had been there since the early 1930s, but company President Kent McElroy said the firm had been squeezed financially by national tire chains and discount stores. McElroy Tire is notable for its big … Continue reading Notes from the road
A look back at Henry’s restaurant
David Allen of the Inland Valley (Calif.) Daily Bulletin takes a nostalgic look at the unique Henry's restaurant on Route 66 in Pomona, Calif., which was demolished more than two decades ago. More remarkably, the exterior - a large oval dome with broad windows and wooden trellises at the roof's edges - is variously remembered … Continue reading A look back at Henry’s restaurant
A war for weiners
KSPR-TV in Springfield, Mo., reported an interesting conflict between two streetside hot-dog vendors operating in the city's downtown and an ordinance that threatens to shut one of them down. Pete Sterpe decided to start a business, Route 66 Hot Dogs, about a year ago. He chose a spot on the sidewalk where to sell them. … Continue reading A war for weiners
Out of the fire
The Tulsa World published a story about Rock Cafe owner Dawn Welch's new cookbook, "Dollars to Donuts," and a side story about how she and the restaurant rose like a phoenix from the ashes after a fire devastated the historic Route 66 restaurant in Stroud, Okla., in May 2008.