Cult-favorite movie's iconic Route 66 cafe faces uncertain future as highway turns 100
Bagdad Cafe on Route 66 Struggles to Keep Doors Open for Travelers
Newberry Springs, Calif. — The quirky, souvenir‑filled stop that once served the world’s travelers on the historic U.S. Route 66 is fighting to stay on the map. The Bagdad Cafe, whose neon sign has become a pilgrimage point for film fans and road‑trippers alike, no longer serves food after the death of longtime owner Andrea Pruett and a string of financial setbacks that forced the kitchen to close.
Pruett, who had run the 1950s‑era building for more than three decades, was a familiar face to tourists from Europe, North America and beyond. In a GoFundMe post before her passing at age 85 in January, she explained that international tourists and tour buses had comprised roughly 80 % of the business before the COVID‑19 pandemic shuttered the cafe. When it reopened, the restaurant could only offer cold drinks.
The café’s fame grew after the 1987 German film Bagdad Cafe was shot on its premises. The interior, covered with dollar bills, flags, license plates and jerseys from all corners of the globe, has become a museum of roadside culture. Visitors can still buy T‑shirts and replica boomerangs designed by Alan Scott Craig, a former film set designer, but the kitchen has been out of commission since 2023.
Years of leaking roof tiles have allowed rainwater to pour into the building, threatening the memorabilia that has accumulated over the years. A 2024 GoFundMe campaign raised enough money to replace the roof and interior ceiling. The next phase of the fundraiser is aimed at restoring the kitchen and upgrading the septic system, two essential systems for a functioning restaurant.
“Keeping the Bagdad Café open is about more than a business,” said one staff member. “It’s a corner of our community that travelers come to photograph and share. Without the kitchen, the experience is incomplete.”
The Pruett family, now in charge after Andrea’s death, is still debating the café’s long‑term future. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times on September 22, 2026, they said the property remains open daily for visitors, but they are weighing options that could include a permanent closure, a sale, or a new partnership. The family has also received support from a man who remortgaged his home to help keep the beloved pub in operation, according to a local news report.
The cafe remains a fixture on Route 66 during the highway’s centennial celebrations. Travelers who take the 2,448‑mile stretch between Chicago and Santa Monica often stop in Newberry Springs for photos, souvenirs and a brief taste of the past. The Bagdad Café continues to welcome guests, even as the owners and community rally to bring back its kitchen and secure its place on the iconic road.
