TRAVEL THE MOTHER ROAD (OF PIZZA!)

ROUTE 66 PIZZA ~ A PIZZA MAKING DYNASTY
For more than three generations the founders of Route 66 Pizza have been pizza-makers through and through. They opened their doors in 1994 in the quiet rural town of Orting, Washington and were the first pizza restaurant in town. More than a quarter century and the arrival of several national pizza chains later “the Route” as it’s come to be known, is still the town favorite. A testament to authentic, great pizza beating-out “the posers” every time.

BSR has developed several unique concepts for this restaurant operator over the years and have always viewed Route 66 as ripe and ready for an update. The problem has always they’re “just too popular – just too busy” to close for a prolonged remodel. The onset of Covid and restaurant dining room restrictions created for us a window to transform this already popular local spot into something amazing. But don’t get us wrong, we know the real appeal to “the Route” lies in its comfortable, casual, lived-in personality – but we’re just about the best folks around for preserving all of that so re-imagining it through the lens of yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s guest – that’s a done, done and done.

And oh yeah, we’re going to leave the kitchen open and running so the Route will still be able to serve its pizza-craving public for sidewalk pickup and delivery. Winner!

The first order of business was to increase the capacity. The old space had a scant twenty seats inside and no more than a dozen outside. With the remodel adding a mere 250 square feet we’ve been able to increase the indoor seating to seventy and by utilizing the roof area of new addition as a deck we’ve added another thirty eight seats outdoors. That’s an increase of 500% capacity. What restaurateur wouldn’t appreciate that!­ The next task was to redesign the interior, preserving the charm and innocence of the original and adding upgraded materials, finishes and amenities for the guests’ comfort and enjoyment. The final challenge was to reinvigorate the brand. We tabled the old tired US 66 highway marker identity and redesigned it from the ground up with fresh-retro typography and custom designed decor – AND NEON! We’ve even custom designed a mural of the retro Harvey’s Travel map and topped it off with a three story water tower at the exterior. All in all it’s a delightful re-imagining of an already thriving concept, making it ready, willing and able for all that the future has to bring.

“I’ve lived in this concept for almost three decades and when BSR presented their re-imagining of what “the Route” could become – I’d never dreamed our little restaurant could be this special. It literally brought tears to my eyes. ”
Randy Anderson / Qwner: Route 66 Pizza Co.