The small brick building at 1101 S. Ninth St. has a new name, a new motif and a new menu.
A retro diner, The Fountain on 66, will soon open in the building that many Springfield natives still remember as Sonrise Donuts. It opened in 1947 and lasted more than four decades, until owner Don Greenslade died in 1998.
Since then, it’s housed various other restaurants, including another doughnut shop and several Mexican places. In 2008, Stephanie Weber reopened it as The Route 66 Sonrise Donut Coffee Bar and Diner, trying to recreate the original ambiance. But none of the other restaurants lasted long, and the building was often vacant for long periods of time.
Now, Tom Hart is hoping that the public’s growing nostalgia for Route 66 will provide staying power for his latest venture. He already owns and operates The Stadium Smokehouse Bar and Grill on Peoria Road, which is also part of Route 66.
“Springfield is getting known as one of the cities you’ve got to stop in on the Route 66 journey,” Hart told Illinois Times for a recent article about how the area is preparing for the upcoming centennial of the Mother Road in 2026. “We’re fortunate to be right on part of the original road, in a building that goes way back.”
Unfortunately, with so many occupants coming and going over the years and numerous renovations, not much of the original ambiance remained. Hart said he purchased a 1941 soda fountain in Chicago and recreated the 1950's-interior, with its checkered floors and barstools along the countertop.
Even the iconic Sonrise Donuts sign, which lasted 20 years after the business itself, is no longer there. It was auctioned in December 2018, with the city of Springfield placing the winning bid of $22,000. Ace Sign Co. restored the double-sided sign, and half of it is now located in Ace’s sign museum, while the other half is at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill.
But doughnuts are back on the menu, along with other classic breakfast items, plus burgers, corn dogs, sloppy joes and horseshoes. Milkshakes and flavored sodas are available to wash it all down.
Hart had originally hoped to open July 1, but a June 30 social media post read, in part, "...we need a few more days, we are in the middle of the last few things and staff training to make our opening as smooth as possible."
The business will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. for dine in and carryout.
