Bob Waldmire and The Hackberry General Store

Many people come to know Bob Waldmire as the artist son of famous “Cozy Dog” family in Illinois, but we came to appreciate him through his connection to the Hackberry General Store, then making the Filmore (Disney Cars) connection, then reading about his Cozy Dog roots. The Waldmire art is distinctive and intricate and interesting and has deep roots in Route 66.

See more at https://www.bobwaldmire.com

Built in 1934, the Hackberry General Store is situated between Kingman and Peach Springs on Historic Route 66, and has been a part of our community for generations before we knew Bob Waldmire owned/reopened the store in 1992 after it had been abandoned for 14 years, gave it the folksy appearance we all love, sold it to John Pritchard in 1998, who then sold it to Amy Franklin in 2016, all keeping the original “dilapidated charm” and living art associated with the store. The store looks very much today like it did then, the Corvette has found a new home but they have also added to the collection around the property.

Bob Waldmire (April 19, 1945–December 16, 2009) was an American artist who is well known for his artwork of U.S. Route 66. Being the son of Ed Waldmire Jr., he is often associated with the Cozy Dog Drive In restaurant in Springfield, Illinois (on U.S. Route 66), where the elder Waldmire (along with his friend Don Strand) created the corn dog.

One of Waldmire’s modified vehicles, an orange 1972 Volkswagen Microbus, was the inspiration for the character “Fillmore” from the animated motion picture Cars.

Waldmire was a well-known snowbird, spending his winter months in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains in a self-sufficient home of his own design. During the summer, he traveled the country, but based himself in his native Central Illinois, living in a converted Chevrolet school bus near Springfield.

In 2004, Bob Waldmire was given the John Steinbeck Award because of his contributions to the preservation of Route 66.

On December 16, 2009, Waldmire died from cancer.

– Buz Waldmire (See more at https://www.bobwaldmire.com)