Joe Bono, owner of the landmark Bono's Restaurant and Deli along Route 66 in Fontana, California, for years before it was converted to Bono's Italian Restaurant last year, died Dec. 1. He was 88. Bono died peacefully at his home, according to an obituary Thursday in the Fontana Herald News. Bono, born and raised in … Continue reading Joe Bono, longtime owner of Bono’s Deli in Fontana, dies at age 88
Category: Restaurants
Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis shuts down again
The historic Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis has closed permanently for a second time in a little more than three years. Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Joe Sonderman reported the closing in a Facebook post on Friday evening, with the owners citing crime, violence and COVID-19 regulations. KSDK-TV in St. Louis confirmed the closure with the … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis shuts down again
Oklahoma Tourism claims 163-to-1 return on RoadTripOK video series
The Oklahoma Department of Tourism said its recently completed 52-episode RoadTripOK video series generated nearly $11.8 million in projected lodging revenue and a 163-to-1 return on investment. The Retrospec Films crew visited attractions, accommodations and events in 67 cities and towns around the state, with a several-month break because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They featured … Continue reading Oklahoma Tourism claims 163-to-1 return on RoadTripOK video series
More details emerge about Two Guns Resort project during zoning hearing
A lot of interesting details were revealed about the elaborate Two Guns Resort proposal at Two Guns, Arizona, at a Coconino County Board of Supervisors zoning meeting last week. We previously reported in August about John D. Gunderman's 247-acre project through his 2 Guns Luxury Glamping Resort website. Gunderman, who hails from Indiana, declined to … Continue reading More details emerge about Two Guns Resort project during zoning hearing
Owl Court in Oklahoma City reopens as a Brew Brother coffee shop
The long-closed office building for the Owl Court, a former motel along Route 66 in Oklahoma City, recently reopened as a Brew Brother coffee shop. KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City talked to Brew Brother owner Elijah Vick at 742 W. Britton Ave. (aka Route 66): Elijah started his company Brew Brother in Seattle, and when he … Continue reading Owl Court in Oklahoma City reopens as a Brew Brother coffee shop
Long-closed gas station in Miami to be converted into Route 66-themed restaurant
A long-vacant gas station at a prominent corner of Miami, Oklahoma, will be converted into a Route 66-themed bistro, tea house and ice cream shop. The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma recently purchased the former Texaco station that dates to the 1920s, reported the Miami News-Record. The property sits at South Main Street and Steve Owens … Continue reading Long-closed gas station in Miami to be converted into Route 66-themed restaurant
Restoration completed on Red Cedar Inn’s neon sign near Pacific, Missouri
The Route 66 Association of Missouri's restoration of the neon sign at the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant in Pacific, Missouri, culminated with a ceremonial relighting Sunday night at the site. Below is a video from the event. Ginger Gallagher, who once ran the property, throws the switch shortly after the 9-minute mark: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1063540707428029 The … Continue reading Restoration completed on Red Cedar Inn’s neon sign near Pacific, Missouri
RoadTripOK crew posts finale of its 52-week video series
The RoadTripOK crew this week posted its final video from a yearlong weekly series of attractions in Oklahoma, including several along Route 66. Two of the destinations are in the Route 66 town of Oklahoma City: the Oklahoma State Capitol Tourism Information Center, which has many Oklahoma travel souvenirs and free travel brochures and maps, … Continue reading RoadTripOK crew posts finale of its 52-week video series
Lou Mitchell’s, other restaurants in Illinois close indefinitely because of COVID-19
Lou Mitchell's, a traditional starting or ending point in Chicago for Route 66 travelers, and other Windy City restaurants have closed indefinitely because of restrictions imposed by the governor among an upswing of coronavirus cases there. In a Facebook post, Lou Mitchell's stated it was only its second closure in 98 years. "We hope to … Continue reading Lou Mitchell’s, other restaurants in Illinois close indefinitely because of COVID-19
Latest RoadTripOK video again concentrates on Oklahoma City
The latest RoadTripOK video this week features sites near Route 66 in Oklahoma City, the second time this series has featured it. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/TAUdwDSfJOE Here are the places the video spotlights: 21c Museum HotelAsian DistrictTower Theatre Oklahoma Tourism and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced last fall they would launch a year-long series … Continue reading Latest RoadTripOK video again concentrates on Oklahoma City