Pow Wow Restaurant closes

Todd Duplantis several weeks ago shuttered his Pow Wow Restaurant and Lizard Lounge in Tucumcari and opened another restaurant in Logan.

The Pow Wow, a dining institution in Tucumcari for decades, abruptly closed shortly after Mother’s Day weekend.

A check on the restaurant on Saturday night showed all the lights out inside, save for a few decorative lights blinking near the bar. The Pow Wow’s delivery van remained parked on the side of the building.

Duplantis bought the restaurant at 801 W. Route 66 Blvd. in January 2022 from DFL Properties, which had operated it for about 20 years.

Scott Crotzer, executive director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, said Sunday he’s been trying to call Duplantis to learn of the future status of the restaurant but hasn’t reached him.

Texts and calls to Duplantis’ cellphone from the Quay County Sun were not answered.

Duplantis in mid-May launched a page for his Stone’s Pizza Grill, located at 120 S. U.S. 54 in Logan.

Stone’s Pizza Grill states on the page it serves custom and signature pizzas, burger, specialty sandwiches, Frito pies, wings and ice cream. That’s similar to offerings from his former Cornerstone First Edition restaurant, now owned and occupied by the Goodies Go Last bakery.

Duplantis at one point also owned Kix on 66, which was taken over by new owners several months ago, and the Vaquero Asador restaurant, both in Tucumcari.

Bettie Ditto inherited the nine-room Lins Motor Lodge in 1955, which she expanded into the 90-room Pow Wow hotel and restaurant complex and turned it into a focal point and popular Route 66 stop.

Ditto, who also served on the city commission for a time, was so respected as a leader and promoter, she was called “Mrs. Tucumcari.”

Ditto died in 2008 of acute leukemia at a hospital in Amarillo. She was 91.

The Pow Wow Inn motel is run by a different ownership group.