CHICAGO (WLS) — As the historic Route 66 prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2026, ABC 7 Chicago is kicking off the celebrations with an exciting feature series titled “Pier to Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66.”
In early June, the journey began as Ryan Chiaverini and his team, known as “Sidekicks on 66,” embarked on a road trip from Navy Pier, the ceremonial starting point. They cruised along in a newly minted Hyundai Palisade, which had a mere 22 miles on its odometer.
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The crew made their way past the 1937 historic starting spot at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street, detouring to iconic Chicago locations. Among their stops was The Berghoff, a city classic, followed by a much-needed break at Lou Mitchell’s, celebrated for its neon sign that boasts serving the “world’s finest coffee” for countless generations.
Reflecting on this rich history, Nick Thanas, current owner of Lou Mitchell’s, noted, “Lou Mitchell truly pioneered much of what made this place special. Skillet eggs and Greek toast, staples in our culture, were introduced to our customers thanks to his vision.”
Continuing their journey, the team grabbed lunch at Lulu’s Hot Dogs, savored dessert at Ferrara Bakery, and journeyed out of Chicago into Will County. They captured memories with photos at Joliet’s Route 66 Park and posed with statues of the iconic Blues Brothers in Elwood, before reaching Wilmington, a town brimming with affection for the legendary roadway.
“Wilmington is really one of the first small towns along Route 66, where you really start stretching your legs and getting outside of the city of Chicago,” said Greg Peerbolte, CEO of the Joliet Historical Museum. “So, you have a lot of small-town charm and just a beautiful bunch of small and eclectic shops, art galleries and restaurants.”
The star of Wilmington is its 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant. It’s a “muffler man” statue first erected at the Launching Pad Restaurant to attract customers in the 1960s. Now standing at South Island Park, it greets new fans of Route 66 with its own gift shop and a beer available at Nelly’s On Route 66 and Old School Brewing.
“We have our beer, which is ‘Gemini’s Reentry,’ which is a golden ale,” said Jay Hill, bar manager at Old School Brewing. “It utilizes Gemini hops and so we released that beer right when the Gemini came back.”
For Chiaverini and the crew, it was one pier down and one to go in Santa Monica. But there was still plenty more to see over the next 2,300 miles.
“Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” is sponsored by Hyundai.
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