Here’s a scoop from the December newsletter of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association: A couple have purchased the historic “half-building” on Route 66 in Commerce, Okla., will restore it to its original filling-station look, and turn it into a gift and snack shop.

The building is on the southeast corner of Commerce and Main streets (map here). This is on the older Route 66 alignment that goes through downtown Commerce. It’s at a T-intersection where westbound Route 66 travelers have to turn south.

Bobby and Linda Allen of Peoria Mini Storage and Tire Service in nearby Peoria, Okla., bought the building. They plan to restore it to its old filling-station appearance, complete with gas pumps. It will be called Allens 66 Fillin’ Station. It will open in the spring “at the latest.”

I talked to Bobby Allen by phone today. He said he’s leaning to restoring it as a Phillips 66 station. But if he ever figures out what brand the station originally sold, he might go to that.

He said that locals who’ve lived in Commerce for 50, 60 years say the station has been there for as long as they remember, but don’t recall what brand of gasoline it sold. If anyone knows anything, pass it along here and I’ll make sure Bobby gets it.

Bobby also told me that the attached building contains four master bedrooms. If the business does well enough, they might eventually turn it into a bed-and-breakfast operation.

UPDATE 12/7/07: Michael Taylor at the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program tells me that it’s been documented as a Conoco cottage-style gas station, built in 1929 or 1930 by F.D. Mitchell.

If you’re out cruising Route 66, make sure you keep your speed down.

That’s Junior Brown — and his combination electric guitar and steel guitar — providing the note of caution.

After all the attention Joliet, Ill., has received lately about its tourism efforts and beautification of Route 66, nearby Countryside must have felt a little left out.

According to Countryside Suburban Life, the city is considering some of its own beautification efforts for Joliet Road, aka Route 66. This, ironically, is being mulled after a design group proposed beautification efforts for not Joliet Road, but another artery — LaGrange Road.

Mayor Robert Conrad said the Route 66 Americana/Vintage Signs theme of vintage gas pumps, highlighted signage and other auto tributes as well as a Las Vegas feel, would be perfect in Countryside — but on the actual Route 66 on Joliet Road.

“I like the Route 66 concept. I think you’re on the wrong road … we might utilize that when we jump on with the Route 66,” Conrad said.

If Countryside does eventually spruce up Route 66, it will be because this happy accident sparked the idea.

Holy cow. I didn’t even know the Los Angeles area even had one of these.

The folks at Curbed LA wondered what this stone marker (photo can be seen on link) was in Pasadena. A city worker provided the answer:

“You posted a while back about a 3′ tall concrete marker on PCC property in Pasadena, I work for the City and asked our inspectors about it and this is the response I got:

This is a documented historical route 66 marker. It is one of two, I believe, that are left. The 11 means 11 miles to the next marker near L.A. City Hall.

You may have already settled this issue, but just in case, there it is. Our Public Works Dept is working on possibly furnishing a plaque and gravel area around it, but it is on private property.”

Such stone highway markers are increasingly rare. There are just a handful on Route 66, including at least one in Oklahoma.

The Travel section of the Dallas Morning News went to POPS convenience store and restaurant on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla.

Most of it you’ve already read about here. But this excerpt indicates that business is still going strong after POPS opened in August:

Despite its out-of-the-way location, Pops was an instant hit. About 20 people were waiting in line at 5 a.m. the day it opened, and more than 11,000 bottles of soda were sold the first week, according to Jessica Ockershauser, marketing manager.

The store now sells an average of 9,000 bottles a week. The restaurant serves about 700 people weekly, she says, and on weekend nights the wait time can be as much as two hours.