Crowell Bank Building

The Crowell Bank Building in Baxter Springs, Kansas, is a true piece of Route 66 history. Built in 1870, it stands as the oldest brick building in town and has seen more than its fair share of action over the decades.

In 1870 the Bank of Baxter (also known as the Crowell Bank) opened its doors as the first financial institution in town. The two-story structure spanned 9,000 square feet, with 4,500 on each floor. In 1876, it became the target of a notorious heist when outlaw Jesse James and an accomplice (possibly Cole Younger) robbed the bank, making off with $2,900.

The bank shuttered in 1887, but the building lived on. Over the years, it housed a grocery store, restaurants, event venues, and various local businesses. While the facade was rebuilt in 1926, much of the original structure remains intact.

In more recent memory, the building gained new life as The Café on the Route, a popular local diner that operated from the 1990s until 2013. After a brief reopening under new ownership in late 2014, the café closed for good in 2015. It earned national attention in 2007 when it was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and the original owners also ran the Little Brick Inn, a bed and breakfast, upstairs, which has also since closed.

For years, a colorful mural adorned the side of the building, recreating the café’s logo and celebrating its place in local lore. Though the mural has faded with time, a Hampton Hotels Save-A-Landmark sign still stands proudly, offering visitors a brief history of the building and its notable past.

While the original bank and beloved café are long gone, the historic Crowell Bank Building remains a must-see stop along Route 66. And if you’re feeling hungry, you’re in luck, it’s currently home to Lion Rojo, a Mexican restaurant serving up tasty bites in a truly storied setting.