Diamond's Restaurant at Gray Summit
Spencer Goof opened the first Diamonds restaurant in 1927 near Villa Ridge on Highway AT. In 1967, operations including the sign were moved to a new building at Gray Summit, but despite the proximity to the interstate and an exit, operations could not survive in the new location. What was left was an impressive large advertising sign, which also draws attention to the Gardenway Motel a little down the road.
Gardenway Motel at Gray Summit
The Gardenway Motel is located across from the "new" Diamonds Restaurant at the west end of the Henry Shaw Gardenway. This was used to designate a particularly scenic section of Route 66, which at that time was still a park avenue. In its day, the Gardenway Motel was ultramodern. If it were still open, we would probably dismiss it as retro style today.