Williams' Store

United States historic place


Williams' Store
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


37°4′30″N 94°42′10″W / 37.07500°N 94.70278°W / 37.07500; -94.70278
Area	less than one acre
Built by	Williams, Leo
MPS	Route 66 in Kansas MPS
NRHP reference No.	03000843^[1]
Added to NRHP	August 29, 2003

Williams' Store is a historic store located along Old U.S. Route 66 in Riverton, Kansas. Leo Williams built the store in 1925, the year before Route 66 was designated. The store had a gas station and sold a variety of goods. While it was mainly a grocery and general store, Williams and his wife Lora sold chili and barbecue beef to travelers on Route 66. The store even had a croquet court at one point, which hosted local tournaments. The court was eventually removed to add parking. Leo Williams leased the store to Lloyd Paxon in 1945; Leo died before the lease expired; his wife Lora ran the store until 1970.^[2]

The store is now known as the Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store. It is still in operation and serves as the headquarters of the Route 66 Association of Kansas.^[3] This place was the inspiration for the Route 66 songs for the Pixar movie Cars.

The store was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 29, 2003.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ Rosin, Elizabeth (December 1, 2002). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Williams' Store". National Park Service. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
^ "Old Riverton Store". Retrieved June 11, 2013.