36 on 66 – Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe begins a year of celebration

[October 23, 2018]   

Earlier this year, during the winter months, Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe, located at 117 N. Kickapoo Street in Historic Downtown Lincoln, Illinois, underwent a major renovation to the interior of the building. The result was stunning – new flooring and lighting accented by classic wood fixtures. In addition, the floor space was increased by 500 square feet to accommodate the unique shopping experience that features a cutting-edge selection of merchandise designed to make memories of a lifetime.

With the renovation complete, the family-owned business will begin a year-long celebration of 36 years in business in October of this year. The Rainforth family established the business in 1983, and their son, Lance, has spear-headed the renovations using local companies to complete the project.

This famous retail establishment features fresh varieties of popcorn, a huge selection of candies and one-of-a-kind gift items – something for everyone! The store serves as an anchor to the downtown Lincoln business community, and is one of the first shops that Route 66 travelers encounter in Lincoln as they travel the world’s most famous road.

“When the directional signs for Route 66 leading to the downtown went up a couple years ago, we saw a new wave of business at the shop,” said co-owner Helen Rainforth. “The store guestbook has been signed by travelers from all over the country and the world. Our new layout allows even more of a ‘Wow Factor’ than before, and we are well known as a Route 66 destination in which folks come in as customers and leave as friends.”

“Lincoln is the first Illinois Route 66 community to have three different alignments signed as Route 66 – a process that took over six years to accomplish,” said Geoff Ladd, assistant director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.  “We had to convince the State of Illinois to allow for more than two alignments to be signed in a community.”

These alignments were the routes that the road traversed through town, and they changed over time.

The alignment that was unsigned for decades was the first alignment from 1926-1929, and this alignment was the one that went through the downtown square.

“Thus, the most important alignment of Route 66 in Lincoln is now finally signed as such, for the first time since the late 1920s. We feel that this will have an enormous economic impact for downtown Lincoln. Having Abe’s Carmelcorn Shoppe as one of the first stores these new travelers see, as they follow Route 66 from North to South, couldn’t be any better,” said Ladd.

Abe's, on behalf of the Rainforth family, cordially invites the world of travelers on Route 66 to experience small town USA. We look forward to meeting all of you and sharing your experience. See you soon.

Store hours are Monday thru Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call Abe’s at 217-732-4564.

[Geoff Ladd
Assistant Director
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway]