The Berghoff Restaurant, a mainstay in Chicago for more than 100 years, recently was sold, but the ownership will stay in the same family. The Chicago Tribune reports: The sale is being driven by the retirement of Carlyn Berghoff, 55, CEO of the company that operates the restaurant as well as Berghoff Catering. Her brother Peter … Continue reading Berghoff Restaurant sold
Category: Restaurants
Kelly’s Brew Pub gets new owners; lawsuit filed against it
Kelly's Brew Pub, located in an old gas station and car dealership on Route 66 in Albuquerque, soon will be acquired by Santa Fe Dining. During the same week, media outlets reported several current and former workers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Kelly's Brew Pub, alleging the restaurant and microbrewery violated the city's minimum-wage ordinance. Santa Fe Dining … Continue reading Kelly’s Brew Pub gets new owners; lawsuit filed against it
Interview with a former Harvey Girl from La Posada
This new, well-produced interview features JoAn Fuller, who worked as a Harvey Girl at La Posada at Winslow, Arizona, during the mid-1940s. Fuller also lived near Route 66 in Prewitt, New Mexico, when her husband worked for the railroad. JoAn Fuller Interview from Katrina Parks on Vimeo. It turns out the Fuller interview was produced by … Continue reading Interview with a former Harvey Girl from La Posada
El Vado Motel project may begin construction by summer
A long-awaited redevelopment of the landmark El Vado Motel in Albuquerque may begin by summer, and part of the property will reopen as a boutique motel by summer 2017. The Albuquerque Journal reports a $16 million, scaled-back plan for the long-closed Route 66 motel and a nearby piece of land recently was greenlighted by the … Continue reading El Vado Motel project may begin construction by summer
Launching Pad Drive-In fails to sell at auction
The Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois -- best-known for its 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue next to Route 66 -- failed to sell during an auction Saturday because the reserve wasn't met. The Will County News reported Tina and Joel Brownlee of Wilmington, who submitted the high bid of $177,500, will negotiate with auctioneer … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In fails to sell at auction
City of Lincoln approves funds for The Mill restoration
The city council of Lincoln, Illinois, this week approved $12,000 in motel-tax funds to help finish restoring The Mill, a now-closed restaurant on Route 66 that eventually will become a museum. According to the Lincoln Courier, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County plans to use the money for plumbing and sewer-line work. The money will go to … Continue reading City of Lincoln approves funds for The Mill restoration
Wife of Pig Hip Restaurant owner dies
Frances Edwards, the wife of longtime Pig Hip Restaurant owner Ernie Edwards, died March 1 at age 94 at St. Clara's Manor in Lincoln, Illinois. She helped her second husband, Ernie, at his landmark Pig Hip in Broadwell, Illinois, for about 30 years until the restaurant closed in 1991 after 54 years in business along Route … Continue reading Wife of Pig Hip Restaurant owner dies
Midpoint Cafe helps replace child’s lost teddy bear
The owner of the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, helped a British couple replace their child's rare Route 66 teddy bear after it became lost during on a plane earlier this month. The mother, Riane Martin of St. Helens, England, posted a message March 5 on Facebook: Bit of a long shot but does anyone work … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe helps replace child’s lost teddy bear
Land purchase allows a bigger Big Texan Steak Ranch
The purchase of 14 acres on the east side of Amarillo, Texas, will allow the building of a bigger Big Texan Steak Ranch that may open by November 2017. The purchase brings the total acreage owned the Big Texan west of the current restaurant site to about 150. The Amarillo Globe-News reported: Owners plan to use the space … Continue reading Land purchase allows a bigger Big Texan Steak Ranch
A chat with the owner of Lulu’s Beef
KC Keefer interviewed Don Greico Jr., the proprietor of Lulu's Beef, which has occupied the corner of Leavitt Street, Taylor Street and Odgen Avenue (aka Route 66) in Chicago for nearly 50 years. Keefer describes the restaurant as exuding "Chicago charm," and Greico reflects that as well. And if you're craving a Chicago-style hot dog, Lulu's … Continue reading A chat with the owner of Lulu’s Beef