Wilder's Steakhouse
- Steakhouse
- In Joplin, Missouri
- 0.4 mi from Route 66
Wilder's Steakhouse is a long-running restaurant on South Main Street in Joplin, MO, a few blocks south of where Route 66 turned west from Main onto Seventh Street. Verne Wilder opened it in the early 1930s, and its art deco bar and wooden booths from the 1940s are still in use. The animated neon sign on its roof went up around 1950 to catch the eye of Route 66 travelers.
What is Wilder's Steakhouse?
The steakhouse stands on South Main Street in downtown Joplin. Its art deco bar and back bar, like the wooden booths, date from the 1940s. Outside are two neon signs from around 1950: a blade sign over the front entrance, kept lit, and the large animated sign on the roof.
History of Wilder's Steakhouse
Verne Wilder first ran a drugstore on the site before turning it into a restaurant; by 1936 it was Wilder's Buffet. It also ran gambling in its early decades, and its old front sign carried a recommendation from restaurant guide writer Duncan Hines. Mike and Marsha Pawlus have owned it since 1996.
The rooftop sign stayed dark for more than 20 years. Sign Designs of Joplin restored it in 2018, helped by a $24,000 National Park Service Route 66 grant that the owners matched, and it was relit on April 14, 2018.
Visiting Wilder's Steakhouse: tips
Route 66 ran along Main Street and turned west toward Kansas at Seventh and Main, so Wilder's sits a short way south of the old road. The neon shows best after dark. Check the restaurant's own website for days and reservations.
Practical info
- Address
- 1216 S Main St, Joplin, MO 64801
- Website
- wilderssteakhouse.com
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
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