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Motel Meramec

2985 Old Route 66, St. Clair, MO
Phone:

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John (Joe) Kovacevich built the Motel Meramec and Cafe in the late 1940s. It soon became known a Kovac's Motel & Restaurant. The Kovac's had both work in Illinois, he as a coal miner, and saved their money to build a new life here in Missouri.

GPS: 38.296818,-91.100949

In late 1953 the Kovacs leased the business to Lee and Grace Harlan from St. Louis because Mrs. Kovacs health required relocating to Chicago for care. The Kovacs were back by 1957, but in mid-1959 they returned to Chicago and again leased out the business, this time to Ted "Sunny" and Betty Pruett.

In early 1962 the property was listed for sale, but the Kovacs returned and expanded the dining room. The business closed and all the equipment was sold at auction in early 1972 due to being bypassed by I-44. It was a private residence when we snapped the photo at the top of this page.

Coming from the east the old motel sneaks up on you, this is what to look for.

In the late 1950s there was a large tall neon sign that read:

MOTEL
RESTAURANT
KOVACS

There were also smaller painted signs out by the road that declared "Family Rates, Air Conditioned & TV" and another that said "Air conditioned Restaurant & Motel" and several other signs of various sizes.

Photo(s): 2016, 2018