Gary "Cat" Johnson, a former pro basketball player who returned to his hometown of Joplin, Missouri, to briefly open a Southern-cooking restaurant on Route 66, died Tuesday. He was 59. A friend of Cat Johnson's Taste of the South page on Facebook posted this message late Tuesday: According to the Joplin Globe, Johnson led Memorial … Continue reading Joplin Hall of Fame athlete, restaurateur Gary “Cat” Johnson dies
Category: Restaurants
Birthplace of Route 66 Food Truck Park & Diner coming by summer
An automotive dealer is creating a Birthplace of Route 66 Food Truck Park & Diner along, as you may have anticipated, Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. Kirk Wheeler, owner of the Wheeler Automotive lot, will convert the property at 1530 E. St. Louis St. (aka Route 66), into the food-truck park and restaurant two doors … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Food Truck Park & Diner coming by summer
Uranus Missouri begins launch of nationwide campaign with video
Last week, the folks at Uranus Missouri launched a video in a campaign about its fudge factory and gift shop that eventually will make its way to major online platforms and network television. Here's the two-minute video, starring Louie Keen, the self-proclaimed mayor of Uranus, and more of his sophomoric and scatological humor: https://youtu.be/CxyqHkOA00s Keen … Continue reading Uranus Missouri begins launch of nationwide campaign with video
Tulsa to begin taking neon-sign applications Monday
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission on Monday will begin taking applications to restore old neon signs or create new ones along the city's stretch of the Mother Road. According to Public Radio Tulsa: The grants will provide dollar-for-dollar matches up to $10,000 for half the cost of new or refurbished neon signs along both alignments … Continue reading Tulsa to begin taking neon-sign applications Monday
Castaneda Hotel’s south wing likely will open April 1
The south wing of the historic Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, likely will open to overnight travelers for the first time in decades on April 1. The hotel's Facebook page posted this brief announcement on Monday: Friday we passed our elevator and fire inspections 😇. We should be able to open the south wing … Continue reading Castaneda Hotel’s south wing likely will open April 1
Relighting of Ariston Cafe’s neon signs, windows set for May 4
A relighting ceremony for the neon signs and window accents for the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, will be scheduled for the evening of May 4. The restoration of the signs and accents is a joint project between the Route 66 Association of Missouri and the Illinois Route 66 Association. The Missouri association has been … Continue reading Relighting of Ariston Cafe’s neon signs, windows set for May 4
BBC’s “Hairy Bikers” show doing a series about Route 66
Producers from the BBC show "The Hairy Bikers" are scouting for locations along Route 66 for a six-part series about the Mother Road. The Launching Pad restaurant's Facebook page stated last week: TV producers from the BBC stopped by to see us today at the Launching Pad. They are scoping locations for a long-standing popular … Continue reading BBC’s “Hairy Bikers” show doing a series about Route 66
Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que restaurant put up for sale
The Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que restaurant along old Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri, has been put up for sale because the longtime owner wants to retire. Realtor Kelly Johnston posted this message on Facebook: After 17 years Owner is ready to retire! After building a successful, profitable business and restaurant, it is time sell all at … Continue reading Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que restaurant put up for sale
Arnold’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers in Tulsa to relocate temporarily to Route 66
Arnold's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, a favorite on Tulsa's southwest side, soon will move from its location of 33 years to a temporary spot at Crystal City Shopping Center along Route 66. Crystal City sits at West 42nd Street and Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66), close to the Route 66 Gateway that hangs over the road. … Continue reading Arnold’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers in Tulsa to relocate temporarily to Route 66
Long-closed Bono’s Deli in Fontana reopens as Bono’s Italian Restaurant
The long-closed Bono's Deli, a fixture along Route 66 in Fontana, California, for decades, recently reopened as Bono's Italian Restaurant. And, yes, the Bono's Historic Orange still is there. Lynne Miller of the California Historic Route 66 Association wrote this on the route66 yahoogroup: It was always a dream of property owner Joe Bono to … Continue reading Long-closed Bono’s Deli in Fontana reopens as Bono’s Italian Restaurant