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Skinny's Cafe

1117 N Old Route 66, Litchfield, IL
Phone:

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Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Large opened Skinny's Cafe in 1935 in a nearby building that is now long gone. A few years later they built the first section of this building and moved their restaurant into it in 1939. The new cafe featured a large lunch counter with 15 stools. The new building came with gas pumps out front and became a regular stop for truck drivers. Lots of room to park big trucks probably helped with that.

The business expanded in 1947 by constructing an addition on the north side of the building. The new section would be used to house the tavern part of the business. When the addition was finished the whole front of the building was faced with white tile. Looking at the photo above, the new space is pretty much represented by the three smaller windows towards the right side.

In 1949 a Nash automobile dealership with a service garage and a large glass enclosed showroom went up behind the restaurant. The gas pumps were moved out back then too. The Nash Sales and Service business apparently on stayed there until 1953. After that this space became an auction and general sales business location called the Bargain Barn.

It looks like all the related businesses closed for good in 1958. The site was a RV sales business when we went by in 2023.

Photo(s): 2023