Williams' Store
Williams' Store is a brick commercial building constructed in 1925 in Garden Township, Kansas, originally built to serve travelers on Route 66 with supplies and food. The single-story structure features a glass porch entrance, wooden shelves inside, and a pressed-tin ceiling that remains from its original construction.
The building was constructed in 1925 by Leo Williams, a year before Route 66 was officially established as a highway, allowing it to benefit early from the emerging travel traffic. After Leo's death, his wife Lora continued operating the store until around 1970, when the Eisler family purchased and took over management, maintaining it to the present day.
The store served as a gathering place where travelers and local residents met during their journeys along the highway. Its simple wooden interior and straightforward design reflect how roadside shops like this functioned as community hubs where people naturally stopped to connect and rest.
The store is located along Highway 66 in Riverton, Kansas and is easy to find when traveling the historic route. Since this is a small, older building with limited interior space, it works best to visit during daylight hours when the shop is open and you can move through comfortably.
The store inspired the songs for Pixar's film 'Cars,' with the music and stories about life on Route 66 directly connected to this real building. This unexpected link to popular culture has made the place known beyond its regional importance and draws visitors interested in understanding both the animation and the actual history behind it.
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