Romine's, a famed fried-chicken restaurant on the Riverview Drive alignment of Route 66 of St. Louis since 1931, is closing because of crime and declining sales, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Security was hired to patrol the parking lot and cameras were installed on the outside of the building, but that was not enough to … Continue reading Historic St. Louis restaurant closes, flees to suburb
Category: Restaurants
Elvis no longer eats here
For most of its 22 years, the big neon sign of the landmark Metro Diner at 3001 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) in Tulsa greeted diners with this on its marquee: "ELVIS EATS HERE." Elvis will have to find someplace else to dine. On Sunday, the Metro closed its doors for good. It soon … Continue reading Elvis no longer eats here
A special Thanksgiving
We didn't eat Thanksgiving at home this year. My wife and I both were busy with other things, so we decided to dispense with the labor of cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal and eat out. I had recalled the last time we had eaten at the Golden Saddle BBQ & Steakhouse at 6618 E. Admiral … Continue reading A special Thanksgiving
Former Big Chief Dakota Grill to reopen
The historic Big Chief Dakota Grill is located at 17352 Old Manchester Road in Wildwood, Mo., which is on a 1926-1932 alignment of Route 66 in the St. Louis region. The restaurant/tavern closed about three years ago, but will reopen as a B. Donovan's Steakhouse Grill next month, according to West Newsmagazine. The article also … Continue reading Former Big Chief Dakota Grill to reopen
The Mill — then, now and in the future
Geoff Ladd of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County was kind enough to send some photos of The Mill, a long-neglected restaurant and tavern on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., that eventually will be shored up. Here's what The Mill looked like in 1946: Here's what is looks like now: Here's an artist's … Continue reading The Mill — then, now and in the future
More details on Metro Diner’s imminent closing
I talked today to Jim Rowenhorst, owner of the Metro Diner at 3001 E. 11th St. in Tulsa, which is closing and will be eventually demolished to make way for a new University of Tulsa entrance. The diner is closing after the regular 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift on Nov. 26. The restaurant … Continue reading More details on Metro Diner’s imminent closing
The Mill preservation group asks for help
Today, I received a news release from the fledgling Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Lincoln County in Illinois about its efforts to acquire and renovate the long-neglected The Mill restaurant/tavern on Route 66 in Lincoln. Most of the details about The Mill saga in recent weeks have already been reported here. However, the news release … Continue reading The Mill preservation group asks for help
Metro Diner’s last day is Nov. 26
Laurel Kane tells me that the sign on the Metro Diner at 3001 E. 11th St. in Tulsa now says its final day of business will be Sunday, Nov. 26. The Metro is going to be demolished to make way for an expansion of the University of Tulsa's entrance. The restaurant, which was built in … Continue reading Metro Diner’s last day is Nov. 26
Group gets loan to preserve The Mill
Wow, that was quick. The Route 66 Heritage Foundation, based in Lincoln, Ill., already has secured a loan to begin its efforts to shore up the long-closed The Mill restaurant and lounge on Route 66 in Lincoln, according to the Lincoln Courier. The group also is about to get take over ownership of the property. … Continue reading Group gets loan to preserve The Mill
A magic night on 66
Tulsa blogger Michael Bates spent a rather eventful evening on Route 66 -- the same day as the road's 80th anniversary and his birthday. He encountered a few people who should be familiar to Route 66 fans, including a certain VW driver. Go read the whole thing. It's really good.