Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at 118 North Pasfield in Springfield, this small red-and-white wood shop serves Maid-Rite sandwiches, a loose ground beef sandwich with seasoning and onions, along with homemade root beer. It has a low-pitched roof, a cupola whose hinged ceiling sections once worked as an air conditioner, and rows of narrow windows that still serve for drive-up customers. The interior holds a three-stool counter and booths for thirteen. The building was extended twelve feet to the east around 1930, and its west windows were later filled in. Its significance rests on its place in the 1920s growth of roadside restaurants for an increasingly mobile public, and on its early use of a catchy name and a distinctive building look. It is described as the oldest Maid-Rite in the chain of about 150 stores still operating on its original site, after 58 years, and a long-time hangout for Springfield High School students.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an early example of the American roadside drive-in/walk-up restaurant of the 1920s and an early form of fast-food trademark architecture. It is described as the oldest Maid-Rite store operating continuously at its original site and probably the oldest continuously operating sandwich shop in Springfield. It has also long been a gathering place for generations of Springfield High School students.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001146, listed August 16, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118 N. Pasfield St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | August 16, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001146 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use as a sandwich shop; described as in good condition and altered only slightly from its 1920s appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.80266, -89.65835 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6735278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.