Docs Just Off 66 and The Power of Small Businesses

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BUZZ MAGAZINE – I opened Docs Just Off 66 because I believed the city of Girard needed someone to save the oldest operating business, keep the little bit of history in place. We also wanted to give families a place where they can gather after ballgames, where kids could order a milkshake and feel like it was a special occasion, and where travelers along Historic Route 66 could experience something real, not manufactured, not corporate, but authentic. Docs began as a dream rooted in nostalgia and community, inspired by the classic soda fountains and diners that once lined the Mother Road. It was never just about food; it was about creating an experience that reminded people to slow down, connect, and enjoy where they are.

Like many small businesses, Docs has not had an easy road. Opening and operating an independent restaurant in a small town comes with constant challenges, rising food costs, staffing shortages, utilities, insurance, repairs, and the reality that one slow week can have a big impact. Unlike big-box or corporate chains, small businesses don’t have national buying power, corporate safety nets, or marketing departments. Every decision matters, every customer counts, and every dollar spent locally truly makes a difference. Docs Just Off 66 has grown into something I’m incredibly proud of. Today, we’re more than a soda fountain, we’re a gathering place, and a solid piece of history. From burgers and sandwiches to sundaes and shakes, Docs has become a spot where memories are made. We welcome locals who come in weekly and travelers from all over the world who are exploring Route 66. Many of them tell us that stopping at places like Docs is the reason they chose the route in the first place.

Supporting small businesses like Docs means supporting real people. When you spend your money at a locally owned business, that money stays in the community. It helps pay local employees, supports area vendors, contributes to local taxes, and strengthens the overall economy of the town. Big-box corporate chains often funnel profits out of state, leaving little behind. Small businesses, on the other hand, reinvest where they live; sponsoring school events, supporting fundraisers, donating to causes, and showing up when the community needs them.

Small businesses also preserve the character of our towns. Docs could exist anywhere, but it wouldn’t mean nearly the same thing. Our connection to Route 66, our small-town setting, and the people who walk through our doors every day are what make us unique. When small businesses disappear, towns lose their identity. They become interchangeable, forgettable, and disconnected from their history. Places like Docs help keep our communities vibrant, welcoming, and rooted in something meaningful.

There are many ways to support small businesses, even beyond spending money. Choose local when you can. Tell your friends about places you love. Leave a positive review. Share social media posts. Bring visiting family members in for a meal. Attend events. These small actions add up more than most people realize, and they can make the difference between a business surviving, or closing its doors.

Docs Just Off 66 exists because of the people who believe in it. Every milkshake ordered, every burger shared, every family that chooses us over a drive-thru chain helps keep this dream alive. Supporting small businesses isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about investing in people, places, and communities worth fighting for. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting Docs and small businesses like it.

About Docs Just Off 66

Decks Drugstore began in 1884 when Lewis C. Deck purchased the business and later became its sole proprietor, operating a store that sold drugs, groceries, and hardware. After Lewis C. Deck’s death in 1918, his sons Lewis “Bill” and Harry “Pete” Deck continued the business, guiding it through major changes in pharmacy practice and adding a popular soda fountain in 1929 that became a social hub for the community. The Deck family’s third generation, brothers Bob and Bill Deck, took over in 1960, maintaining the store’s historic charm while adapting to modern pharmaceutical standards until their retirement in 2001, ending 117 years of family operation.

Following the Deck family era, the drugstore briefly operated under new ownership before closing, leaving Girard without a pharmacy for the first time in its history. In 2007, the building was reborn as Doc’s Soda Fountain, incorporating a pharmacy museum curated by the Deck brothers to preserve the site’s legacy. In 2021, Steve and Casey Claypool purchased and renovated the business, reopening it in June of 2022 as Docs Just Off 66. Today, the restored soda fountain, historical displays, expanded restaurant, and new amenities honor the building’s past while securing its place as a cherished and revitalized landmark along Illinois Route 66.

Along with owning Docs Just Off 66 with her husband, Casey Claypool is the Exective Director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway and will be writing a 12-part series this year (monthly) - Route 66 Centennial - to keep you informed and updated about the event.

This story originally published in the January 2026 issue of The Prairie Land Buzz Magazine, http://www.thebuzzmonthly.com. All rights reserved.

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