10/16/2026
💛🍺🤍
THEN & NOW: Mary’s Cafe / Johnnie’s Bar & Grill, St. James, Missouri (C. 1954 - 2026)
At the southwest corner of historic Route 66 and Jefferson Street in St. James, Missouri, stands a little building that has been welcoming travelers and local residents for nearly a century.
Located at 225 N. Jefferson Street, this familiar corner establishment dates to approximately 1929, just a few years after Route 66 was established.
Its story began with John and Mabel Rose, who operated the Commercial Cafe, later known as Rose Cafe. During the 1940s, the establishment was also known as Snell’s Cafe.
By the early 1950s, it had become Mary’s Cafe, the name proudly displayed on the large roadside sign in our vintage photograph. Mary Atkins operated the cafe, which also served as a Greyhound bus stop, making it a convenient place for travelers to grab a meal while passing through St. James.
Imagine the conversations that took place here, families traveling Route 66 on vacation, truck drivers stopping for coffee, and local residents gathering to exchange the latest news.
The building’s next chapter began in April 1960, when St. James native John Bullock rented the property and transformed it into Johnnie’s Bar. He eventually purchased the building from the Rose family.
Johnnie’s became something of a local institution, famous for its cold b**r, colorful atmosphere, and unusual collection of memorabilia. Bullock filled the establishment with everything from arrowheads and antique weapons to vintage b**r cans and musical instruments.
In 1998, the business passed to his son Russ and daughter-in-law Tina Bullock. Following Russ’s death in 2018, Tina renovated and reopened the establishment, continuing the family’s long association with this historic corner.
Today, it operates as Johnnie’s Bar & Grill, serving burgers, sandwiches, and other favorites to locals and travelers exploring the Mother Road.
Although the building’s windows, entrances, and exterior appearance have changed considerably since the 1950s, the original structure remains standing.
For nearly 100 years, this little corner building has witnessed the evolution of America’s most famous highway, from the early days of cross-country automobile travel to the modern revival of Route 66 tourism.
The name has changed several times, but the tradition of welcoming people through its doors continues.
Colorized by us. Original black and white can be found in the comments .
