Route 66 Steak 'n Shake

Steak ‘n Shake was founded in February 1934 in Normal, Illinois. The founder, Gus Belt, opened that first restaurant with the mission of serving the best tasting and freshest steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes around. Today more than 400 Steak ‘n Shake restaurants carry on that tradition. The Route 66 Steak ‘n Shake in Springfield, Missouri (also known as the St. Louis Street Steak ‘n Shake) was built in 1962 and is one of the most classic examples of this fast food chain. It holds a special place as a historic site and was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 for its 50th anniversary.

Most of this hamburger joint’s character has remained unchanged since its opening day in 1962. The one-story concrete building features architecture unique to the time, with a flat roof, porcelain tile facade, and plate glass windows.

A red and white striped banner wraps around the building and features the word “TAKHOMASAK.” The made-up mashup stands for “Take Home a Sack,” one of the four ways you can enjoy your Steak ‘n Shake meal: in your car, at a table, by the counter, or you can “TakHomaSak” and take your meal to go. Above that overhang, between two strips of glowing neon, more words and slogans encircle the building: “Famous for Steakburgers,” “Genuine Chili,” “Tru-Flavor Shakes,” “Grinding Only Gov’t Inspected Beef for Steakburgers,” “In Sight it Must Be Right,” and “We Protect Your Health.”

On top of the building find a glowing neon and bulb marquee with the stylized “Steak n Shake” above the line “It’s a Meal.”

Across the parking lot, a large, double-sided neon sign lights up the street with the restaurant’s name and a proclamation of “It’s a Meal.” This sign features both neon-outlined letters and a back-lit logo, surrounded by a triangle of shining bulbs. The base holds a Hampton Hotels Save-a-Landmark sign, providing a brief history of the site.

If you’re traveling through Springfield or Route 66 in Missouri, don’t miss this piece of history. Stop in for a famous steakburger, thin-cut fries, and a specialty milkshake—or “TakHomaSak” to enjoy at your nearby motel, like Rockwood Motor Court or the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven.