As you step inside College Street Cafe, you can imagine what it might have been like in the 1950s, with school girls in poodle skirts sitting on the swiveling barstools along the chrome-lined countertop. The checkerboard floors and Route 66 memorabilia take you back to the heydays of the Mother Road. Whether you come for the retro vibes, mile-high meringue pie, or affordable prices, you’re in for a nostalgic treat.
Springfield, Missouri, is nicknamed the “Birthplace of Route 66.” It was here in 1926 that the famed cross-country route was officially named. Today, several landmarks honor this heritage, including the Route 66 Car Museum, located just behind the restaurant, and a nearby roadside park featuring a replica of the quizzical “Red’s Giant Hamburg” sign that attracted travelers to Missouri’s first drive-thru restaurant.
The stretch of College Street that runs in front of the restaurant is painted with the iconic Route 66 road sign logo, making this corner of Springfield a perfect stop along an ultimate Mother Road road trip. Originally known as Pigg’s Cafe, College Street Cafe has had many more names and iterations since it first opened in the 1950s.
The retro vibe starts before you even step into the building. The checkerboard theme of the interior floors extends to the exterior of this shoebox-size restaurant, which is covered in a bold, cherry-red and white checkerboard. Colorful flower planters add even more cheer. A sign out front lists the highlights: Burgers, fries, homemade pies, and ice cream. What more could you need?
Inside, you’ll find a cozy space with a mere handful of booths and tables, along with the classic barstool diner seating. On a recent visit, I noticed a homemade pineapple upside-down cake resting on the counter, along with a sign announcing that today’s pie was coconut cream. When I asked the server about this, she said it was so fresh it might still be warm…