Palms Cafe-- Part 2

Some more on the Palms Cafe in Atlanta, Illinois, from the Bill Thomas article in the Route 66 News.

Boxer Max Baer, Sr., the real father of Jethro of the Beverly Hillbillies, the newly crowned heavy weight boxing champion stopped in August 12, 1934. His group parked in front and five went in, Mr. Baer remaining asleep in the car.

They awakened him and he went inside just as the cook, Tina Shifflet, was taking several pies out of the oven. He had a slice of coconut pie and was so impressed, that he walked into the kitchen and tipped each of the workers a buck saying that was the best pie he'd ever had.

It closed in the late sixties and the place remained empty for twenty years.

Owned by John Hopkins and after his death in 2002, the family donated it to the Atlanta Library and Museum, which began renovation the following year.

It has been restored to its original appearance.

Definitely a place to stop and have a meal and take a trip back to the time Route 66 was the way to go from Chicago to Los Angeles.

I wonder if Al Capone ever stopped there.

Great Bit of Research, Mr. Thomas. --RoadDog