The Nite Spot Cafe along an old section of Route 66 in Fairmont City, Illinois, made the Landmarks Illinois' annual Most Endangered Historic Places list. Landmarks Illinois explained the reason for the list: The purpose of the list is to focus attention on sites threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, or inappropriate development … Continue reading Nite Spot Cafe in Fairmont City makes Illinois endangered places list
Category: Restaurants
Olde Keg building in Joliet to become Mexican restaurant
The long-closed and historic Olde Keg building in downtown Joliet, Illinois, will reopen as a Mexican restaurant in a few weeks. The Herald-News reports Amy Montiel of nearby Lockport, Illinois, plans to rechristen the building at 20 W. Jackson St. as Catrina’s Mex in May. Montiel told the newspaper she wanted to open a restaurant that … Continue reading Olde Keg building in Joliet to become Mexican restaurant
Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
The rooftop neon sign for Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, glowed again for the first time in at least 25 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. Brad Nickson, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, posted this short video of the relighting of the animated neon sign on Instagram: A post shared by Brad … Continue reading Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
The historic rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in downtown Joplin, Missouri, was reinstalled Thursday after being taken down for several weeks for restoration. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be at dusk Saturday, April 14. Sunset that day is 7:52 p.m., but it may become dark faster if skies are overcast. Here's a … Continue reading Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
Relighting of The Tropics neon sign set for June 24
(UPDATE 4/10/2017: Because of a schedule conflict, the date of the relighting ceremony has been changed.) The restoration of the neon sign for The Tropics in Lincoln, Illinois, is far enough along that organizers have set a relighting date for Sunday, June 24, in a McDonald's parking lot where the Route 66 restaurant once stood. … Continue reading Relighting of The Tropics neon sign set for June 24
Rebuilding of Parkview Inn in Bloomington begins next week
The owner of Parkview Food and Pub in Bloomington, Illinois, will start rebuilding the historic Route 66 restaurant after a fire destroyed it in 2016 and go back to its original name, Parkview Inn. The Bloomington Pantagraph talked to Rick McCormick, owner of the restaurant that once stood near Miller Park since 1928: "Hopefully, it … Continue reading Rebuilding of Parkview Inn in Bloomington begins next week
Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis reopens Thursday
The Eat-Rite Diner near downtown St. Louis will reopen Thursday morning during the Cardinals baseball team's home opener, as hoped by the Route 66 restaurant's new owners several months ago. KMOX radio in St. Louis talked Monday to new owners Joel and Shawna Holtman: "Our counter top is in, we've got everything done, we've got … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis reopens Thursday
Mitla Cafe featured in Netflix’s “Ugly Delicious” episode
The historic Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, California, plays a vital role in the "Tacos" episode of the Netflix-produced "Ugly Delicious" documentary food series. The show stars chef David Chang and co-host Peter Meehan "on a mouth-watering, cross-cultural hunt for the world's most satisfying grub." The "Tacos" episode embarks on usual destinations such as Mexico … Continue reading Mitla Cafe featured in Netflix’s “Ugly Delicious” episode
Ramada Kingman, Canyon 66 restaurant abruptly close
The Ramada Kingman hotel and its Canyon 66 Restaurant and Lounge in Kingman, Arizona, abruptly closed this week amid allegations of unpaid contractor bills and stiffed employees. It was the second high-profile lodging establishment to close in Kingman in less than six months. The historic Hill Top Motel closed late last year after being foreclosed. … Continue reading Ramada Kingman, Canyon 66 restaurant abruptly close
Co-founder of The Tropics in Lincoln dies
Helen Frances Schwenoha, co-founder of now-defunct but fondly remembered The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, died Feb. 28 at age 95 in Los Osos, California. The San Luis Obispo Tribune published an obituary on Schwenoha on March 18. Schwenoha was born in Augusta, Illinois, to John Bradford and Mary Grace Compton. She married Vincent John Schwenoha in … Continue reading Co-founder of The Tropics in Lincoln dies