Mel-O-Cream Donuts, 3010 S. Sixth St., held a ribbon
cutting Aug. 20 celebrating its new Route 66 shield-shaped doughnut sign and an extended menu
and hours.
Sangamon Donuts, the owner and
operator of five Mel-O-Cream stores in Springfield, applied for a grant in December 2024 to
create a large Route 66 shield-shaped doughnut sign in celebration of the upcoming 100th anniversary of Route 66. The sign, which was completed and installed by Ace Sign Co., also celebrates the Mel-O-Cream legacy on Route 66.
“We are honored to be part of the Springfield community and a small part of the
Mel-O-Cream and Route 66 living legacy,” said Amanda Crossland, owner of Sangamon Donuts.
“The addition of this unique installment will be
another way for our visitors to engage with the nostalgia and history of Route
66 at a long-standing and well-known business in our community,” said Amy Beadle, marketing manager for Visit Springfield. “We are thankful for Amanda and her team for
all they do to promote the Mother Road throughout their locations.”
In May, the Sixth Street Mel-O-Cream store expanded its menu to include Rolling Lawns ice cream and a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Hours were also extended to 6 p.m. Wednesday thru Sunday.
Mel-O-Cream was founded in 1932 by Kelly Grant Sr., who purchased a small retail
location at 219 E. Jefferson for $250. That
business grew into Mel-O-Cream International, a family-owned business that sells
wholesale doughnuts across the United States. Five retail stores operate in
Springfield, along with one in Lincoln.
This article appears in SBJ August 2025.