For many Route 66 travelers, Diamond Cafe was better known simply as Norma's Diamond Cafe. Located along Mission Street in Sapulpa, the little diner became one of the most beloved stops on the Mother Road thanks to its good food, hot coffee, and the genuine hospitality of owner Norma Hall.
Norma and her husband Bob opened the cafe in 1950 as part of a filling station operation. Over the years, the restaurant developed a loyal following among both local residents and travelers making their way across Oklahoma on Route 66. Norma herself became something of a Route 66 celebrity. Author Michael Wallis featured her in his landmark book, Route 66: The Mother Road, helping introduce the cafe to an even wider audience. By the time of her passing, she was recognized as the longest continuous cafe owner along the entire length of Route 66. 01-07
I remember stopping in for breakfast one morning after a long day of driving hundreds of miles across the Mother Road. The coffee seemed a little weak at the time, though that may have had more to do with my bleary eyes than anything else. Any lack of caffeine was more than made up for by the fact that Norma herself served the coffee. She was incredibly friendly and exactly the kind of person who helped make places like this famous among Route 66 travelers.
Diamond Cafe (Norma's Diamond Cafe) (Gone)
Sapulpa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Sadly, Norma Hall passed away on November 23, 2000, leaving many travelers to find another place for a cup of coffee and the kind of hospitality that helped make Route 66 famous. While the cafe briefly continued under other operators, the original business soon came to an end. 01-07
UPDATE: Norma's Diamond Cafe is now gone and was replaced in 2004 by a business called Trikntrux. 10-10
UPDATE: The Diamond Cafe is now gone. The original building was demolished in 2004 and the property was redeveloped. Today, the site is occupied by a truck accessories business. The classic roadside sign was removed, and its current whereabouts could not be independently verified. 06-26
Hi-Way Cafe
Vinita, OK Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner 1996
Here's the sign for the Hi-Way Cafe as it looks out over the Mother Road west of Vinita. Even with the neon dark at the time this photo was taken, the distinctive multi-tiered sign still made quite an impression on travelers passing by. Sitting along a stretch of highway shared by both Route 66 and the historic Jefferson Highway, it has been welcoming motorists since 1963. 01-07
The cafe was opened by Tom Schwartz in 1963 and quickly became a popular stop for travelers, truckers, and local residents. Over the years, the roadside landmark developed a loyal following thanks to its home-style cooking and classic diner atmosphere. The sign became one of the most recognizable features of the property, standing watch over the highway for decades even after its neon stopped glowing.
One of the more remarkable aspects of this photograph is that it captures the sign during a long period when the neon was no longer operational. For many years, Route 66 travelers could only imagine what the marquee looked like in its prime. Fortunately, preservation efforts eventually changed that story.
UPDATE: The Hi-Way Cafe remains open and thriving today under family ownership. In 2023, the original 1963 neon sign was fully restored and relit through a preservation project supported in part by Route 66 organizations and preservation grants. The property has also become home to several oversized roadside attractions, including a giant Muffler Man, helping ensure that this stretch of highway remains every bit as interesting for modern travelers as it was decades ago. 06-26
Busy Bee Cafe (Gone)
Hugo, OK Photo courtesy Chris Small
Hugo, Oklahoma is home to the Busy Bee Cafe and this old roadside sign. The simple marquee served as a familiar landmark for locals and travelers alike, pointing the way to one of the town's longtime favorite places to grab a meal.
The Busy Bee Cafe was established in 1973 by Sam and Charlotte Young and became known throughout the area for hearty comfort food and a couple of memorable menu items. Among the favorites were the famous Samburger and the "Samlette," a breakfast burrito that developed a loyal following over the years. Like many independent diners, the restaurant experienced relocations and changes through the decades, but managed to remain a fixture in the Hugo community.
The cafe's history is closely tied to the town itself. Hugo has long been known as "Circus City USA" due to its association with traveling railroad circuses, and local restaurants like the Busy Bee served generations of residents, visitors, railroad workers, and circus performers passing through southeastern Oklahoma. 10-07
UPDATE: The Busy Bee shuts its doors years back and now home to a Security First National Bank. Another roadside gem has been lost to memory. 06-26
Rock Cafe
Stroud, OK Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Rock Cafe has been a Route 66 landmark in Stroud since the late 1930s. Built from local sandstone uncovered during the paving of Route 66 through town, the distinctive building quickly became one of the Mother Road's most recognizable roadside stops. The stone walls gave the cafe its name and helped set it apart from countless other diners that came and went along the highway.
When this photo was taken, the future of the cafe was very much in doubt. A devastating fire swept through the restaurant on May 20, 2008, causing extensive damage and leaving many Route 66 enthusiasts wondering whether one of Oklahoma's most beloved roadside landmarks could ever return. Thankfully, the blaze did not destroy everything. The original stone walls survived, along with the building's foundation and even the famous cast-iron grill known as "Betsy," which had been in service since World War II. 09-08
The Rock Cafe's fame extends beyond Route 66 circles. Longtime owner Dawn Welch served as part of the inspiration for Sally Carrera in Pixar's Cars, helping introduce the cafe and the Mother Road to an entirely new generation of travelers.
UPDATE: The Rock Cafe will be open again for business around the end of May 2009 after restoration efforts are wrapped-up. The Rock Cafe has been a vital part of Route 66 since 1939. 05-09
UPDATE: Fortunately, the Rock Cafe did return. Following a careful restoration, the historic restaurant reopened in 2009 and remains one of the most popular dining stops on Route 66 today. The original sandstone building stands proudly once again, and the cafe's vintage neon sign was restored and relit in 2025, continuing to welcome travelers to Stroud. 06-26
Tally's Cafe
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The neon sign at Tally's Cafe glows just above the front entrance, welcoming hungry travelers along Tulsa's stretch of historic Route 66. While the sign itself isn't especially large, it has become a familiar sight to generations of locals and road trippers passing through town.
Tally's opened in 1987 when owner Tally Alame took over the former Mark and Mary's restaurant. What started as a neighborhood diner grew into one of Tulsa's best-known Route 66 eateries, serving everything from all-day breakfast to enormous cinnamon rolls and chicken-fried steak. The retro atmosphere, complete with classic diner styling and plenty of neon, has helped make it a favorite stop for both locals and Mother Road travelers.
There were rumors in 2015 that the restaurant might be closing, much to the concern of Route 66 fans and longtime customers. Fortunately, those rumors never became reality. Tally's remained right where it belonged, continuing to serve meals from its prominent corner location and preserving another piece of Tulsa's roadside heritage. For more information, see the Tally's Good Food Cafe website. 08-17
UPDATE: Tally's Cafe remains open and continues to be one of the most popular dining stops along Tulsa's Route 66 corridor. In 2019, the restaurant received preservation funding that added extensive decorative neon lighting to the building, further enhancing its already distinctive roadside presence. The original script sign above the entrance remains lit and welcoming customers today. 06-26
For many Route 66 travelers, 
Hi-Way Cafe
Busy Bee Cafe (Gone)
Rock Cafe
