Leyh Building

John J. Leyh, a local grocer, constructed the two-story brick Leyh Building in 1921 to house his store on the first floor and apartments above, where grocery clerks often lived. John and his wife, Maude, operated the grocery store for about ten years, after which the space became Theo Wilkes barber shop, with Bass DeVina Tailors and Furriers next door. In 1953, Ruby Rodriguez moved her restaurant, El Rancho Grande, and its large neon sign from downtown Tulsa to the Leyh Building. As one of the first Tex-Mex restaurants westbound motorists from Chicago would encounter on Route 66, it became a place where travelers had the opportunity to try this cuisine for the first time. El Rancho Grande still serves locals and travelers today, and its "Nighthawk" dish was named one of the "Five Greatest Mexican Meals in the United States" by Gustavo Arellano's book, "Taco USA," a history of the cuisine.

Tulsa, Oklahoma · United States