How about more than a well at the Riviera Roadhouse site?

An interesting idea hatched during a finance committee meeting of the Grundy County Board about the site of the now-gone Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner, Illinois. The Route 66 landmark burned down during a fire in 2010. The Morris Daily Herald reports an abandoned well on the property -- now owned by the county -- is improperly capped. … Continue reading How about more than a well at the Riviera Roadhouse site?

What’s happening with Shea’s Route 66 Museum and Art’s Motel?

A story in the Springfield State Journal-Register gave status reports about three prominent Illinois Route 66 properties that closed and/or were for sale. One was about the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, which went up for sale in October for $1.2 million by the Adam family, remains on the market and is still operating. Another was … Continue reading What’s happening with Shea’s Route 66 Museum and Art’s Motel?

Old “EAT” sign removed in Claremore

An "EAT" sign that stood along Route 66 for about 40 years in Claremore, Oklahoma, was taken down Sunday because lack of maintenance made it a safety issue, according to the sign company that removed it. Adventure Signs in Claremore posted this time-lapse video of the sign's removal. Retiring a Route 66 Relic // Claremore … Continue reading Old “EAT” sign removed in Claremore

Remnants of Club Cafe being dismantled

The process of dismantling the long-closed Club Cafe restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, began this week, according to the current print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator. The publisher of the newspaper, M.E. Sprengelmeyer, said in a text message Thursday the restaurant's tall sign still stands, but that the building was coming down. The … Continue reading Remnants of Club Cafe being dismantled

Boot Hill auction delayed

The auction of Boot Hill Saloon & Grill in Vega, Texas, scheduled for Saturday, was delayed because of bad weather, reported the Amarillo Globe-News. The auction by Caprock Auction Group now will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7. Bids will start at $25,000, with unspecified reserve. The restaurant and bar on Route 66 was … Continue reading Boot Hill auction delayed

Grandson of Zeno’s will open restaurant in Rolla

The Zeno's Motel and Steakhouse along Route 66 in Rolla, Missouri, is gone, having met its demise by the wrecking ball about three years ago. However, grandson of the longtime owner of that establishment is opening an Italian restaurant next month in Rolla, reported the Rolla Daily News. It's not on Route 66, but it's … Continue reading Grandson of Zeno’s will open restaurant in Rolla

More details emerge about upcoming Boot Hill auction

A few more details about next weekend's auction of the Boot Hill Saloon & Grill in Vega, Texas, emerged in recent days. --- Caprock Auctions, which is overseeing the sale, has set a time for 10 a.m. Central on Saturday of when bidding will begin. The beginning bid is $25,000. The auction will be on … Continue reading More details emerge about upcoming Boot Hill auction

Swiss investor, hipsters may bring back Kingman’s downtown

There's been a lot of talk in recent years about bringing back the long-moribund downtown of Kingman, Arizona, part of which sits on old Route 66. But Swiss investor Werner Fleischmann and a bunch of artists, hipsters and entrepreneurs may actually get it done, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. The downtown renaissance is happening slowly, but … Continue reading Swiss investor, hipsters may bring back Kingman’s downtown

POPS opening a location in north Oklahoma City

POPS, which quickly became a Route 66 landmark after its opening in Arcadia, Oklahoma, in 2007, will open another restaurant in the north Oklahoma City suburb of Nichols Hills, reported the Edmond Sun newspaper. The new POPS will be in Nichols Hills Plaza on Avondale Drive near Western Avenue and Northwest 63rd Street. It would … Continue reading POPS opening a location in north Oklahoma City

Joliet church will be redeveloped into a restaurant, apartments

A developer is seeking to redevelop the historic but long-closed St. Mary Carmelite Church in Joliet, Illinois, into a large restaurant and apartments, according to the Joliet Bugle. “A loan has been secured, and they are going to close in April,” Mayor Tom Giarrante said on Friday. “I am very happy. It is a beautiful … Continue reading Joliet church will be redeveloped into a restaurant, apartments