William Mitchell went into the restaurant business in 1923 by opening a diner that he named after his son, Lou.  The entire Mitchell family was involved in the operation, and in 1949, the thriving eatery moved directly across the street to a location from which it continues to serve hungry patrons today.  The restaurant looks very much the same now as it did at its inception, both inside and out, and a neon sign trumpeting  the "world's best coffee" remains in place from the beginning.  Travel and trivia buffs may know that its close proximity to the starting point of Route 66 caused it to be known as "the first stop on the Mother Road."  In 1958, Lou Mitchell, who had by then assumed control from his father, initiated the restaurant's signature tradition of serving donut holes and Milk Duds to waiting customers.  Lou continued to run the business until he was in his seventies, but as of 1992 his niece, Katherine Thanas, has overseen the operations.

The restaurant claims that Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, Bush (43), and Obama have all eaten here.