Econo-Mart shopping center was located to the lower left of this picture.

Dandy Inn tavern.......Location is RT 50 And Old Collinsville Rd in Fairview Hts Illinois. Originally opened as Becherer’s Tavern in 1850, the Dandy Inn’s present, two-story brick structure has over the years served as a general store and dancehall, well as a restaurant-tavern. Abraham Lincoln is widely believed to have been an early patron.

However, the inn began life years earlier as a one-room log cabin — with a well and horse trough in front — offering food, water, and supplies to travelers on the old Vincennes Trail to America’s newly opened western territory. It quickly became a popular gathering place and supply depot for area farmers.

As mining expanded the local economy and rail lines brought new travelers through the region, additions to the tavern were constructed, encompassing the original wooden structure, to accommodate an expanding clientele.

Miners and settlers began building homesteads around the tavern that had become the focal point of a growing community — establishing the residential cores of what are today O’Fallon and Fairview Heights.

As the automobile became popular in the early 1900s, and the trail became U.S. 50, the inn offered one of the area’s first gasoline pumps.

My husband’s barber shop was in the Econo-Mart building. Right across the street from Dandy Inn, Known as Becherer’s Tavern from 1966-71. Lots of folks walked across the street for a haircut. In 1971 Larry’s Hairy Business moved just up the street to 812 Lincoln Hwy.,where he still barbers today! Fun memories

Is the owner of Larry's Hairy shop...Larry Halcomb??

Dandy Inn was torn down in October 2019

Dandy inn was replaced with Moto Mart GAs station 2022