Home > CA > Essex, Danby, Cadiz Summit >

Wayside Cafe & Market

Route 66 & Essex Rd., Essex, CA
Phone:

East < GO > West

The cafe, station and market in Essex dates back to the 1930s. Water wasn't plentiful in the desert and at places like Essex you had to pay for it at gas stations and cafes. Among other things the billboard sized sign on this building advertises 24 hour towing.

Walter and Mary Smith operated the gas station in 1977 when the town finally was equipped to get television, one of the last towns in the USA to join the club. Mary wasn't especially fond of the idea, but she spread the word among the little tows 50 or so residents and the residents thought it was a good idea. Johnny Carson invited the whole town to attend a taping of his Late Nite TV show to celebrate.

A few hundred feet down the road the Automobile Club of Southern California dug a well where travelers could get water for free. That well is just across the road from the Caltrans Essex Maintenance Station.

Next door is the post office. The cafe and Post Office are located at the Route 66 and Essex Road intersection.

Vintage Advertising Highlights

This 1940s postcards shows the cafe as the Wayside Cafe in the photo itself, the hand written text at the bottom of the card identifies the place the "Wayside Camp, Cafe and Service Station, Essex, California".

WAYSIDE - ON U. S. 66
ESSEX, CALIF.
STORE, POST OFFICE, CAFE, GARAGE
AND COTTAGES
ONE OF THE COOLEST PLACES ON THE
DESERT.

NOTE: The second postcard is probably from the late 30s because the company that published it started in 1936. It gives a better idea of just how desolate the area around Essex was in the early days. There is pickup truck at the gas station that appears to be from the 1920s or early 1930s.

GPS: 34.731312, -115.249677

Photo(s): 2013