Route 66 Java Stop
Posted by: 
TravisGood
N 41° 05.667 W 088° 26.417
16T E 379041 N 4550241
A superb drive-through coffee shop built of two freight containers, one atop another, in Dwight, IL.
Waymark Code: WM1C72
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 04/01/2007
Views: 136
Most Important Point: "Route 66 Java Stop" serves exceptionally good coffee!
When I passed through Dwight, IL I stopped at this curious site. After buying coffee and talking with the attendant I learned that the lady who created this novel coffee shop has quite the successful store in Portland, OR. She's originally from Dwight and her family is still there. I was told that when she visited home last year, she decided she wanted to plant a foot back in her home town and started this new business. It's run by the family locally using her expertise ... and supplies. When you buy a cup, the sleeve to the cup talks about the Portland store.
The two containers that form the store are stacked. However, the upper is empty space while the bottom is used front-to-back for the store. The paint is vivid and attractive, invoking imagery of Route 66. About the only thing they really need to add is a bright neon sign which proclaims they're open for business. It's completely not obvious that it's a store as you go by. You have to pause, take it in, and then approach it once you realize it's a store. However, when you do finally get your order the coffee is superb.
The picture above doesn't easily convey a sense of scale. If you can't figure out how big this is then perhaps this will help. Where you place your order for coffee is at the tiny window in the lower right! Yes, this place is a little coffee shop in a HUGE roadside billboard!
P.S. It's almost directly across the street from Ambler's Texaco Station in Dwight, IL.