120 N. Wilmor Rd

The history of the commercial property at 120 N. Wilmor Road goes all the way back to 1965, when Gerald DeBolt constructed a bicycle shop for then-Mayor John Blumenshine at 117 Peoria Street.  During construction, DeBolt remarked that the quaint structure would make a great donut shop.

Fast forward to 1970.  The building at 117 Peoria had become available, so DeBolt decided to test his theory and opened up the family-run Wagon Wheel Donut Shop at the location on May 27, 1970.

Gerald & Doris DeBolt had no experience in the donut trade, but they were quick learners and the business was successful to the point where parking and traffic was becoming a real issue in the high-use area.

Just a year or two after opening the Wagon Wheel, the family eyed expansion.  Gerald began planning the construction of a larger restaurant, and eventually purchased the farmland at 120 Wilmor Road for this new venture.  Built by Gerald and Doris and the entire family, the building was constructed mostly of brick and ceramic tile.  The new, larger Wagon Wheel Restaurant opened for business in January, 1974.

With a greatly expanded menu and bakery, the Wagon Wheel carried on until around 1978 when it was closed.

In the spring of 1979, Charlie Fuller opened Charlie's Vittles & Spirits for a short-lived two-year venture.  Fuller would take another stab at the bar/restaurant market in 1988 when he opened C.C. Fuller's at 1841 Washington Road.

Girardi's Restaurant opened at 120 Wilmor in 1980.  Operated by long time Central Illinoisan Jerry Girardi.  The menu added some Italian dishes to Charlie's offerings and managed a respectable four-year tenure before closing their doors in 1984.

After the closing of Girardi's came a slew of short-lived attempts at the location:

Becky’s Rainbow Inn: 1985-1986
Champ’s: 1986-1988
Subs N Such: 1989-1990
The Armory: 1990
Rosie’s: 1991-1993

In 1993, the Turnbull family stepped in and opened up Katy T's, a classic local watering hole which became very popular.

Katy T's remained opened for 30 years, closing in 2023.