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It’s PARTY TIME! We only have a few days left until School is out for summer! This year’s end of the year party will be out in the Dawes Park. There will fun, games, snacks & bounce houses. route 66 mobile Diner will be on hand serving up some of Chicago's favorite foods! Thank you Dawes Elementary PTA for inviting us! hope to see you next year!

Thank you to the neighborhood of Beverly Hills Chicago for inviting us back to the third annual Bevapalooza music fest! Good music, delicious food, and fun for all was had. See you next year!

Thank you MArk for inviting Route 66 Mobile Diner to the Alley's 50th Year celebration and block party! It was a smash hit and a blast! I hope we last as long as the Alley has.... In a city where businesses come and go, making it fifty years is an accomplishment. Making it fifty years while staying weird, alternative, independent, and unapologetically yourself is something even rarer. That’s exactly what The Alley Chicago celebrated during its 50th Anniversary Block Party at 2620 W. Fletcher Avenue. And judging by the crowd, Chicago showed up to celebrate right back. Two Blocks Just to Get Inside The first thing we noticed wasn’t the music. It wasn’t the vendors. It wasn’t even the food trucks. It was the line. At points, the line stretched nearly two blocks as fans waited for their chance to enter the legendary store. For a business celebrating fifty years, that’s about as strong a statement as you can make. The community is still here. A Chicago Institution For generations of Chicagoans, The Alley has been more than a store. It’s been a destination. A place where punk, goth, alternative, metal, industrial, and counterculture communities could find their people and express themselves long before social media made niche communities easier to discover. Walking through the event felt less like attending a retail anniversary and more like attending a family reunion. Old friends reconnected. New customers discovered the shop. Everyone shared stories. Music, Vendors, and Community The block party itself was impressive. Two parking lots were filled with tents, vendors, community organizations, and local businesses. Live bands performed throughout the day, creating the perfect soundtrack for the celebration. Food trucks kept visitors fueled while attendees wandered between booths and performances. We even spotted some familiar faces from the Exxxotica and FetLife communities, highlighting just how many different groups The Alley has touched over the years. Recognition from the City Perhaps the most encouraging part of the day wasn’t the award. It wasn’t the music. It wasn’t even the packed crowd. It was the proof that the community still exists. In an era where many independent businesses struggle against online shopping and changing neighborhoods, The Alley continues to draw loyal supporters who understand its importance to Chicago culture. The line outside wasn’t nostalgia. It was evidence. The community remains active, engaged, and committed to preserving one of Chicago’s most unique institutions. Final Verdict The Alley’s 50th Anniversary Block Party wasn’t just a celebration of a business. It was a celebration of a community. Between the live music, vendors, food trucks, award presentation, and thousands of supporters, the event demonstrated exactly why The Alley has survived for half a century. Fifty years is impressive. Seeing the community still show up in force after fifty years is even more impressive.

The 11th Annual Archer Avenue Car Show took place on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Archer Avenue (from Oak Park Avenue to Narragansett Avenue) in Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood. Sponsored by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch and the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the event featured over 500 classic and muscle cars, food trucks, local vendors, and a free kids' zone.

A big thank you to C3 Productions for the invite to the President Obama Presidential Library Ceremony.

Digs must really dig our food! This is the second year in a row that Digs With dignity has hired Route 66 Mobile Diner to serve its staff and family recipients. We are working towards a long=term relationship/partner ship with this fine organization! Thank you! Through partnerships with multiple Chicago-based social service agencies, we work with a variety of individuals and families that include domestic violence survivors, veterans, those who have experienced a sudden job loss, or those dealing with extreme health situations. These individuals and families may be coming from life on the street, a shelter, or living doubled up with family or friends, with no, or only a few, possessions to take with them to their new home. They may not have any furniture or just the bare necessities once they do have a space to call their own. The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness estimates that 58,625 people experienced homelessness in 2024, highlighting the continued scale of the crisis across the city. This estimate includes 19,317 individuals staying in shelters or on the street and 39,308 people temporarily doubled up with others, underscoring how many Chicagoans experience hidden homelessness outside of traditional counts. By comparison, the City of Chicago’s 2025 one-night count identified 7,452 residents experiencing homelessness, reflecting the limitations of point-in-time data versus year-long estimates.

In celebration of Historic Route 66's centennial, Route 66 Mobile Diner made an appearance at the Countryside Car show were we served up hot sandwiches and cold drinks to all the hot-rod owners and spectators! We out sold Buona Beef 10 times over..... Why you ask? Because, our beef is bigger! better and home-made gravy to boot! Thank you Countryside!

A big, hearty thank you to Jaime Billow, the mastermind behind Food Truck Club, for snagging us a gig at the legendary Soldier Field! We had the honor of feeding the incredible stage crew for Bruno Mars after his concert. These pros can assemble and dismantle stages, lighting, electrical setups, and props faster than you can say "24K Magic"—almost as quickly as we can whip up enough grub to satisfy an army of hungry crew members!

Route 66 Mobile Diner rolled in with pride to team up with the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch and our yard sale vendors for a day of community shopping madness at the Kennedy High School Parking Lot (6325 W. 56th St., Chicago). We served breakfast sandwiches, lunch, and enough fresh coffee and pastries to fuel a small army! In time for spring cleaning, drop off gently used toys, baby gear, books, kitchen appliances, sports, and more at the neighborhood watch's trash-2-treasure table. All sales from the table go back into organizing community events, such as the Archer Car Show, Tree Lighting, and Kindl Mart, and more!

Route 66 Mobile Diner was honored to participate in the annual fundraising event organized by the Shriners for Children's hospitals. The Medinah Country Shrine Club conducted its annual activities and stated meeting around the first Monday in May at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. In 2026, the associated weekend and preliminary events occurred around May 3rd, culminating in their annual golf invitational on Monday, May 4th, which effectively raises funds for Shriners Children's.

We extend our gratitude to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, its staff, and Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox Park) for welcoming us back to the run/walk event dedicated to raising funds for Parkinson's research. Despite the chilly weather, we ensured that hot coffee was available throughout the morning for all staff, employees, and participants, accompanied by a hot breakfast. We look forward to seeing you next year!

Route 66 Mobile Diner sends a big high-five to the Morton Arboretum for having us at their Discovery Day and Touch a Truck Event on April 11th, 2026. With towering trees, massive trucks, and even bigger appetites, Route 66 Mobile Diner was there to feed the hordes of families who rolled in for the fun!