Historic neon signs that hung above the entrance of the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, for decades were reinstalled Monday after their restoration, days before a relighting ceremony this Saturday. Jim Thole passed along some details about the reinstallation by a St. Louis sign company: The "Ariston Cafe" sign had been repainted sometime during its … Continue reading Restored Ariston Cafe sign reinstalled; relighting ceremony is Saturday
Category: Restaurants
Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington to reopen Wednesday
The Parkview Inn, which was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2016, will reopen Wednesday morning at its old Route 66 location in Bloomington, Illinois. The reopening date, set last week, will occur in spite of a vandal who smashed a plate-glass window at the venerable restaurant over the weekend. The restaurant is insured for … Continue reading Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington to reopen Wednesday
Volunteers replace broken blade at The Mill in Lincoln
A group of volunteers on Friday repaired the blade at The Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, that broke off during high winds a few months ago. High winds in December snapped off one of the faux blades of the windmill structure of the former Route 66 restaurant. According to the National Weather Service, gusts of … Continue reading Volunteers replace broken blade at The Mill in Lincoln
The tenuous Route 66 link to the century-old Casper’s diner in Springfield
Though I've written on this website for a long time (next year will be 15 years), I still occasionally discover things that I apparently have overlooked. Casper's diner in Springfield, Missouri, is one of those I've overlooked. And there may be a good reason for that. According to a recent article in The Standard, Casper's … Continue reading The tenuous Route 66 link to the century-old Casper’s diner in Springfield
Parks in the Pines General Store in Arizona put up for sale
The owner of the Parks in the Pines General Store in Parks, Arizona, citing the need to move to a lower elevation, has put the historic Route 66 business up for sale for $349,000. The store was placed on the BizBuySell.com site via da Vinci Realty. Here's part of the description: Located just west of … Continue reading Parks in the Pines General Store in Arizona put up for sale
Launching Pad Drive-In’s grand reopening weekend set for May 3
The grand reopening of the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, is set for the weekend of May 3, coinciding with the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival. The gala begins May 3 with the Route 66 restaurant's first cruise night by the Rusty Nutz Car Club. The Red Carpet Festival begins that … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In’s grand reopening weekend set for May 3
Lawmaker hails Ariston Cafe’s 95th anniversary on House floor
A congressman recently spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the Ariston Cafe's 95th anniversary. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) spoke Tuesday about the Route 66 restaurant in Litchfield, Illinois. Below are his remarks: Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the most well-known landmarks along Route 66 in … Continue reading Lawmaker hails Ariston Cafe’s 95th anniversary on House floor
Joplin Hall of Fame athlete, restaurateur Gary “Cat” Johnson dies
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
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