Joe & Aggie's Cafe Pink Route 66 Mural

Joe & Aggie’s Cafe was a Route 66 classic—one of those legendary stops where the spirit of The Mother Road came alive. While you can’t sit down for a breakfast enchilada or dessert burrito anymore, you can still snap a photo with the vibrant, unmistakable pink Route 66 mural in Holbrook, Arizona, and soak in the legacy of this beloved spot.

Originally opening in 1943, Joe & Aggie’soffered hearty American and Mexican dishes in a building that became just as iconic as the meals it served. Locals and road trippers alike filled the cafe for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s even said that Joe & Aggie’s inspired scenes in Pixar’s Cars movie—no surprise given the history and character packed into this one-stop haven on Route 66.

Unfortunately, Joe & Aggie’s closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic and couldn’t bounce back, with two key members of the family passing away in 2020. Longtime owner Stanley Gallegos, who married into the Montano family (founders Joe and Aggie themselves), passed away in September, and Mary Linda Gabaldon, the founders’ daughter, in July. Their loss and the tough times put plans to reopen on permanent pause, leaving fans of Route 66 with a piece of history to remember.

But Joe & Aggie’s still has a place on Route 66 thanks to its mural. You’ll find a map that takes travelers from Los Angeles to Chicago, with a “You Are Here” star marking Holbrook. The mural pays homage to the cafe with an ad reading, “Jo & Aggie’s Cafe, Mexican & American Food, Route 66 Gift Shop.” There’s even a nod to Stanley’s longtime barber shop out back.

Beside the map is another tribute—a large pink “Historic Route 66” sign, surrounded by smaller shields for each Route 66 state: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona’s own “The Mother Road.”