Tom of Gardner – The Kind Stranger Who Opened His Heart—and His Shop
When you travel the Route 66, you expect vintage signs, classic motels, and diners frozen in time. But what you don’t expect—what you can’t possibly plan for—are the people. The ones who make the journey unforgettable. Like Tom Perkins, the kind man we met in Gardner, Illinois.
We had heard about The Shop on Route 66, a cozy gift shop tucked along the historic road, not far from the iconic Two-Cell Jail and the old Riviera Restaurant site. We were exploring the area on foot, peeking at old signs and soaking in the peaceful silence of a quiet town.
When we reached the shop, we saw the door was closed. Not just closed for the day, but with a heartfelt note taped to the glass:
“My wife, Karen, fell and broke her hip and is now back home recovering. All is going well, but as a result of this I will be staying home caring for her. […] I am sorry that I missed you and hope that you have a great time on Route 66. —Tom”
We felt a little disheartened at first—but also moved. The shop looked beautiful and full of character, even from the outside. It was clear it wasn’t just a business; it was a piece of someone’s heart ❤️.
Even from that short message on the door, you could feel Tom’s deep connection to Route 66 and its travelers. For him, this isn’t just a job—it’s a passion, a mission, a way to keep the spirit of the road alive, one encounter at a time.
So we wandered around a bit more, appreciating the charming Route 66-themed decorations outside 🤩.
And then, it happened.
A car—gray, if I remember correctly—pulled up beside us. The driver rolled down the window and asked with a smile, “Are you folks here for the Route 66? The jail? The shop?” We nodded. “Yes, but the shop seems closed today.” “That’s mine,” he replied warmly. “I’m Tom. I had to close today—my wife had a small accident, nothing serious I hope—but if you give me a minute, I’ll open it for you.”
And just like that, he did 🤩.
Despite a challenging day, despite having no idea who we were or whether we’d buy anything at all, Tom opened the doors of his store and welcomed us in like old friends. He walked us through the shop, shared stories about Gardner, about family-run businesses, about the history pulsing through the asphalt of the Mother Road. He pointed us toward the jail, explained how the town preserved these landmarks, and made sure we didn’t miss anything.
He took the time to chat. To take photos of us and with us. To laugh with us. And in that brief but beautiful moment, we felt something powerful: the soul of Route 66.
We were still in Illinois—just at the beginning of our adventure—but we already understood something essential: the people along the Route are not just friendly. They’re genuine. They care. They want you to feel something, to remember, to carry a piece of their town and their kindness with you.
That’s what makes this road different. It’s not just the nostalgia. It’s not just the signs and the gas pumps and the diners. It’s the people who live it every day, who keep it alive not with money or fame, but with heart.
So if you ever find yourself near Gardner, don’t miss The Shop on Route 66. And if you meet Tom, tell him we said hi. He probably won’t remember us—but he’ll smile like he does, because it will truly warm his heart to know he’s remembered by the travelers of Route 66.
❤️
