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Weitz Cafe Building (Gone)

106 N. Washington
Phone:

East < GO > West

This building was being torn down when we went by in early June 2022. The former Weitz Brothers Cafe operated here from about the end of WWII in the mid-1940s until 1956 when a newer alignment of Route 66 opened west of town. The building was owned by the Rossi family and leased to brothers, Conrad & Frank Weitz as a location for their cafe.

A photo from what looks to be the early 1950s shows a large set of open letters on the roof spelling Weitz Cafe. Under that on the front of the building, where the awning is in this photo, were the words "Just Good Food" spanning most of the front. Below that was a smaller sign saying "Air Conditioning".

There was a kind of split kitchen, some on the main floor and some in the basement. Some of the prepared food was trucked in daily from the family's larger restaurant in Morris, IL about 20 miles away. I guess that would have been pies, pastries etc.

Before it was torn down in 2022 the building stood behing this construction fence and was located on the Post 1940 Route 66 alignment between the former Rossi Service station (now a tire store) and the Braidwood Motel.

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vintage Advertising Highlights

WEITZ BROS. CAFE
Braidwood, Illinois
Located 65 miles S.W. of Chicago and 65 miles N.E. of Bloomington on Route 66. Bordered by Rossi Service Station and 17 Unit Motel, this Cafe will be located on Braidwood city route in 1956 when present 66 will by-pass Baridwood.

NOTE: It's a little hard to see in this image but the neon WEITZ CAFE lettering is just above the top of the building. The "JUST GOOD FOOD" slogan is prominently displayed on the front of the building.
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Photo(s): 2016