The Complete Story
Albina and Vincenzo Cerolla were European immigrants who bought roadside property in Litchfield shortly after Route 66 received its national highway designation. In 1929, they built a one-room frame gas station with a single pump, operating under a lease as part of the Johnson Oil Refining Company of Chicago.
By 1936, the Cerollas had expanded their tiny gas station into a full roadside complex: a new brick gas station, a cafe (known as Cerolla's Cafe), four motel rooms with individual automobile garages, and a small house for their family. The cafe featured a splurge on Art Deco interior design - black lacquer counters trimmed in chrome, padded chrome barstools, and handsome Deco cabinets behind the counter.
The Cerollas' daughter Edith and her husband Lester 'Curly' Kranich continued the business after her parents' death. Edith became known for her roast beef, pork, and outstanding fried chicken. As one Litchfield resident recalled, 'The Belvidere was the Cheers of its time.' The complex closed soon after Interstate 55 was completed, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Surprising Facts You Didn't Know
→ The cafe featured an Art Deco interior with black lacquer counters trimmed in chrome - unusual for rural Illinois
→ Locals called it 'the Cheers of its time' - a beloved community gathering place
→ The motel rooms came with individual automobile garages - a luxury feature in the 1930s
→ Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007
→ Originally operated under the Johnson Oil Refining Company of Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit Belvidere Cafe, Motel, and Gas Station
✓ You Can Visit Today
Address: 825 Old Rte 66 S, Litchfield, IL 62056
What's There Now: The buildings are well-preserved and used primarily for storage, with some still serving as rentals. The complex is closed to the public but is considered one of the best-preserved family-run roadside enterprises on Route 66.
GPS Coordinates: 39.1691135, -89.6672021
Photo Tip: Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when the Illinois light brings out the building's character.
Continue Your Route 66 Journey
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