Route 66
What is your company & where you based?
Route 66 was an American Diner at 24 Duke Street, Douglas and takeaway in Victoria Street, Douglas. The business began as a takeaway in 1991 in one of the Villiers Hotel shops in Victoria St. but moved across the street in 1993 to what had been the entrance to Nobles Baths, subsequently the Galaxy Apartments and skating rink. We discovered the Nobles Baths entrance when putting down a new floor, the mosaic tiles and Douglas Corporation emblem were intact underneath.
The move across the street was to position the business next door to Busheys and get first crack at the hungry patrons. The takeaway ran in conjunction with the Diner until it was sold off separately in 1994.
What did you provide?
We were the first burger outlet to char grill the burgers and offered a range of named burgers with different topping on a fresh baked bun with salad. The two favourites were the Afterburner which had cheese and hot chilli sauce and the Stinkbreath which had strong garlic mayonnaise.
The success of the takeaway prompted the opening of the Diner in what had been Rushworths Music Shop in Duke Street, Douglas. It had originally been Davidsons Watch & Clock emporium in Victorian times. The iron ring which held the ”Illuminated Clock “ is still visible in the wall. The premises continues to be owned by Professor Hugh Davidson a descendant of the original Davidsons.
Where did you get your inspiration from?
My wife & I had lived in the US in the 1980s and were big fans of the traditional American Diner. We went to Hershey Pennsylvania in the autumn of 1991 to the world's largest autojumble and came back with all the 50s memorabilia to hang on the walls. The interior had booth seating and a lunch counter with the stainless steel kitchen in full view Sticking with the burgers but adding the first curly fries and lattice fries in the UK (imported from McCains in Canada), we extended the menu to club sandwiches, burritos, fajitas and an extensive breakfast selection, with ice cream sundaes and pancake stacks.
It was a busy, noisy environment with flames & smoke coming of the huge char grill. The Diner was a hit with the locals and visitors, opening seven days a week from 8 till 8 it quickly became the busiest food outlet on the Island.
We eventually sold the business in 1999 to concentrate on our new venture, Tanrogan. A much smaller and less hectic fish bistro on Douglas harbour.