Springfield, IL – On Friday morning, February 20th, a large fire caused severe damage to the iconic Route 66 restaurant and bar, The Curve Inn, located at 3219 South 6th Street in Springfield/Southern View. Thankfully, no one was injured.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the employees, and has raised over $62,000 of the $70,000 goal as of February 26th.
The Curve, as it is also known, was originally built in 1932. Owners Ami and Ray Merchant bought the iconic establishment in 2002 and have been running it continuously since then. In addition to keeping the location a popular stop for travelers, it has also become a place where many local bands have played and entertained the community.
Owner Ami Merchant indicated to the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway that the plan is to rebuild and to preserve as much of the original part of the building as possible. However, a new kitchen, restrooms and secondary entrance will need to be part of the restoration process. Merchant indicated that some of these expenses will be beyond what the insurance will cover, and that after the employees have been taken care of, more fund-raising avenues will be needed to re-open.
Further details on how the public and Route 66 enthusiasts can help are coming soon…
