Weezy’s Bar & Grill, on the Mother Road!
I don’t know how I have missed this restaurant over the years. My husband Keith and I checked out this fun restaurant right on the Mother Road. We loved everything about it.
Owner Karen Wiesemeyer “Weezy” has had the diner since 2009. Karen honors the past with signs and photos making this a historic walk through Route 66.
The History
Opening in 1938, the original owners were George and Louis Cassens. “They were the world’s largest car hauler business,” Karen said. The Cassens first calling the restaurant Hamel Lunchroom.
Karen said, “They ran an ad, to get a new name. They choose Tourist Haven in 1938.”
“The Cassens sold the business to the Village Inn, then it was Ernie’s,” Karen said. Bob Earnhardt had it for over 20 years then he sold it to Jim and Pat Allen then it became Scotty’s Route 66 Bar and Grill. “We bought the restaurant in July of 2009. Together Karen, and her late partner Coleman Weissman put their names together and came up with the name Weezy’s. A carpenter, the logo they came up with makes sense. With a hammer, and a baseball hat to represent Karen’s son Tyler’s background with baseball. “He was drafted into the Frontier League,” she shared.
Karen and Coleman did extensive renovations to the restaurant. Coleman passed in December of 2023.
Karen’s story
Growing up on a farm, in Alhambra Karen has always worked in the food industry. “I worked at Diamond Mineral Springs in Grant Fork from the time I was 12 in the 7th grade until my senior year.”
Over the year’s she also worked at Randy’s Restaurant, did catering, and oversaw the restaurant at Stonebridge Golf Course before buying Weezy’s. She also said she had a great job with the Highland schools, but missed being in the kitchen.
Deciding she wanted to go out on her own, when she learned that Scotty’s was for sale, she and Coleman put their mark on the updated diner embracing the Route 66 history and bringing in customers with her great food. “I go through 160 – 200 pounds of fresh hamburger a week. We serve lots of patty melts, meatloaf, mostaccioli etc. Wednesday is fried chicken day, and we have fresh Cod on Fridays. Thursdays we serve an 8-ounce sirloin.”
“For breakfast, we serve a full menu,” Karen said opening at seven for breakfast and serving it until noon. Open seven days a week, Karen has shortened hours on Sunday and Monday’s.
Karen’s late brother Joe Toenyes used to raise hogs. Supporting local farmer’s, she has bought hogs from the 4H and used local markets for menu selections as often as she can. “This is the love I have to share with the world,” Karen said, “It is the only thing I know. I learned to cook from my mom, she stayed at home and cooked.”
With 14 employees, Karen said they never had to close or lay off workers during COVID. She credits this to faith.
Karen’s tractor connections
Growing up in Alhambra on a farm, Karen drove tractors at an early age often preferring to be outside and working with her brothers doing farm chores.
Karen knew the late Larry Kaufmann. “He gave me a Cub Cadet sign before he passed,” she shared. There are tractor brand signs throughout the diner along with signs of former names and pictures depicting the Route 66 history over time. “I’m an IH girl mostly,” Karen admits, but honors all of the collectors’ selections sharing the brand memorabilia she has been gifted.
In the past she said there is a big tractor drive in Staunton a fundraiser. Staunton will also be part of the upcoming Route 66 Tractor drive that takes place on June 20th, and Karen hopes that some of the riders and visitors will make their way a bit south and stop by. She has donated prizes for the drive in support. The tractor drive is sponsored by the Mid-state Tractor Collectors. “Tractor collectors will enjoy the signs,” Karen added.
Route 66 birthday
With Route 66 turning 100 years old, Karen said they are celebrating with a new logo and selling T-shirts that say, “Get your kicks at Weezy’s Route 66 Bar & Grill”.
Most of the time Karen said she is in the kitchen cooking but likes to greet her customers. “”I do welcome travelers and give them a good meal and hope they will share their experience as they go on down the road.”
Weezy’s has become a popular spot for Motorcycle runs with mostly Europeans coming to the US to travel Route 66. When we were there, she had two groups coming the next day. “They let me know they are coming through. There are usually ten to fifteen in a group with one to two tour guides. I am blessed. This starts on April 1st – September 30th.”
She shared a wonderful guest book with us where visitors write down comments and where they are from. This is her 4th book! “People come from China, Austrailia, France and more and leave comments.”
One of the more notorious guests over the years was a gangster. “It is said that Al Capone stopped here.”
Hamel and Route 66
Hamel is on the 1926-1954 portion of Route 66. On the Route 66 website they share, “Here the highway’s alignments into St. Louis split in the mid 1950’s. Hamel has many interesting classic Route sights….”
One of those is the Church of the Neon Cross, St. Paul Lutheran Church, a beautiful sight along the road. Karen said, “It has a beautiful blue cross.”
Across the street from Weezy’s is a lovely mural, and a wayside stop sharing a bit of Route 66 history. “Lot’s of people stop and tell stories,” Karen said which along with the wonderful memorabilia and great food is reason enough to head this way!
