| Everyone over 40 knows about Route 66 and there | | | | wasn't possible. Joseph and Christina Campos were |
| are some kids who know its story, too, if they are | | | | able to save the Fat Man, however, and safely |
| fans of the Pixar movie "Cars." Route 66 was one of | | | | ensconced his happy face on their restaurant, Joseph's |
| the original federal routes; it opened in the 1920's and | | | | Bar & Grill, Santa Rosa, NM. The restaurant had |
| ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, over 2,400 miles. In | | | | originally belonged to Joseph's father, Jose Campos, |
| the years of the Depression and the Dust Bowl, | | | | Sr. The elder Campos had opened his restaurant, La |
| businesses along Route 66 were among the few that | | | | Fiesta, back in 1956 and handed it down to his son in |
| prospered, kept alive and busy even, by the constant | | | | 1985. Route 66 had an official name change by then |
| flow of traffic from the East to the West. | | | | and was now known as Historic Route 66, a National |
| Joseph's Bar & Grill, Santa Rosa, NM wasn't one | | | | Scenic Byway. |
| of those businesses, but it has ties now to one that | | | | Joseph's Bar & Grill, Santa Rosa, NM is just one |
| was. That business was the Club Café, | | | | landmark on this famous historic highway. Route 66 is |
| opened in 1935 by Phillip Craig and Floyd Shaw. The | | | | labeled a scenic byway in New Mexico and there are |
| restaurant was topped by a sign with the visage | | | | groups that are working to preserve its history and |
| known as the Fat Man. His jovial, smiling face greeted | | | | some of its more colorful landmarks. Santa Rosa itself |
| the thousands of travelers passing through Santa | | | | is on a piece of the byway that is getting a little rough, |
| Rosa to get to California. The Club Café | | | | but it is still a great slice of Americana. If you have |
| remained open until 1991, when it served its last meal. It | | | | chosen to take the Mother Road instead of the |
| survived through the hard times, times marked by the | | | | interstate, Santa Rosa is the town where you should |
| opening of the cross-country interstates. Even though | | | | stop to refuel both your vehicle and your body. |
| New Mexico fought hard to protect its businesses | | | | Of course, you can get a great meal at Joseph's Bar |
| along the infamous route, Interstate 40 eventually | | | | & Grill, Santa Rosa, NM where the locals dine. The |
| bypassed them all, including The Club Café. | | | | choices are varied, mostly American fare with some |
| You can still see the Fat Man, though, as he was | | | | Southwestern specialties, too. Chilies, guacamole and |
| rescued by the owners of Joseph's Bar & Grill, | | | | burgers that are big and juicy are popular with tourists |
| Santa Rosa, NM. | | | | and locals alike. The décor is all about the |
| Originally the owners wanted to rescue and | | | | Mother Road, with license plates, advertisements and |
| resuscitate the entire Club Café, but that was | | | | road signs posted all around that tell the story of |
| not to be, the building was in such bad shape it just | | | | Route 66. |