Route 66 officially begins at Adams and Michigan Avenue.
The iconic 'start here' sign is where the most famous road begins.
Drive through Willowbrook, Romeoville, Joliet, to Wilmington and then on a tiny stretch of the road, off the beaten path, you'll reach Gardner, population 1,300, and a small red building with big stories to tell.
"This is my shop," smiled Tom Perkins, owner and operator of The Shop on Route 66, where thousands of visitors from around the world have stopped in and signed his guest book.
Part Route 66 memorabilia, part Coca-Cola collection, part woodshop, it’s not just a store—it’s an experience.
"This is only a fourth of my Coca-Cola collection, " laughed Perkins, who was born and raised in Gardner.
"I have thousands of Coca-Cola memorabilia, and now lots of Route 66 stuff."
"I grew up here. We've lived almost all our lives here. This block was founded here as a lumber yard in the late 1800's. My grandfather was there in 1937 and bought the land in 1944. When he retired in 1971, this was outside storage. We built this building then. "
Perkins always enjoyed wood working since he was a child. He also loved stained glass in the 1970's.
"I bought the building from my uncle in 2006 with the intent of working on stained glass projects here. The first thing I started noticing about this building is that people were always stopping on the street in front of the building. I went out and said 'can I help you.'" They wanted to know where the 2 cell jail was, they wanted to know which way Route 66 went, where the old diner was."
Tom Perkins, Owner, The Shop on Route 66
Lisa Fielding/WBBM Newsradio
Perkin's now keeps information and literature inside his shop. His oldest son made the big Route 66 sign on the outside of the building.
"We decided to put all these signs outside. By the time we got the second sign up, we decided to re paint the building, my son started putting up more signs, and more and more people kept stopping in and taking pictures," he recalled.
It took about 8 years to accumulate what he has in his shop.
"My wife refers to this place as a mini museum, tourist information center, sometimes workshop," Perkins said.
Perkins is a one man welcoming committee.
"Welcome, where are you from?" he'll ask.
He'll get responses like: "We are from Italy, my name is Elena, we're from Turano, nice to meet you. We are taking 25 days to do this trip."
He's always making time for photos.
"I take everyone's picture and put it on my Facebook page."
The many Route 66 signs outside The Shop on Route 66, Gardner, IL
Lisa Fielding/WBBM Newsradio
He's become a bit of a Route 66 celebrity.
"My wife says I have groupies," he laughed, embarrassingly. "I had a couple from Spain and they told me it was the one place they wanted to come to along Route 66. I told them, if this is the place you wanted to come, you're going to love this road trip," he smiled.
The giant Route 66 painted on the street outside is a huge photo opportunity.
People have come here from around the world.
"We've had people from China, Taiwan, Serbia, you name it," he said. A guest book inside the shop shows the global interest.
"We have people from Brazil, Indiana, Slovakia, a lot of people from there stop by for some reason. We have Spain, Poland, Belgium, a lot of people from England, Scotland, Wales, just about anywhere you can think of," as he goes through his guest book.
The massive Coca Cola collection inside The Shop on Route 66
Lisa Fielding/WBBM Newsradio
What's the interest behind the road trip? Perkins says Western pop culture and now social media has shown the world the magic of Route 66. The shop is also part of the Illinois Route 66 guidebook and passport.
"People from Europe specifically have watched the old TV show Route 66, some know the Grapes of Wrath, various things. It's a dream they want to take across the U.S. They see it as the real America. Everyone is so friendly. They love that about the U.S. I get motorcyclists who go across the country, this is their dream."
The centennial anniversary has increased his traffic and his popularity.
Just this summer, he's had more than 4500 guests have visited the shop, a must stop along Illinois' route 66.
Perkins offers a smile and souvenir to send you on your way.
"Before you go, you get a pin. This pin says you visited Route 66 in 2026. Don't forget to check out my Facebook page. You're picture will be there. "I see this place as an opportunity that I get to visit with a lot of great people, share my knowledge and give them a better vacation. I tell them places to see and go that they may not have known about. My grandfather would've never believed that this place would become what's its become." he shook his head.
"I'm a plethora of useless knowledge," he laughed.
For more information about Perkins, his shop and Route 66, you can click here.
Tom Perkins takes pictures of all his visitors and posts them on his Facebook page daily. He's had 4500 visitors this year as of August, 2026.
Lisa Fielding/WBBM Newsradio
