Red's Giant Hamburg was a restaurant on U.S. Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, which is believed to have been the world's first drive-through restaurant. It was reopened in 2019 in a different location.

Overview

thumb|The 2013 reproduction of Red's legendary sign

Sheldon "Red" Chaney (May 20, 1916 – June 2, 1997) arrived in Springfield after World War II with a bride and a business degree. He purchased a small Sinclair gas station with several wooden motor court cabins tucked among trees on the back of the property. Eventually, a café was added in 1947. Growing weary of pumping gas and operating the motor court, the couple decided a better money-maker would be a restaurant. Since they owned a small herd of beef cattle (and would continue to raise their own beef until the close of the business), they decided to concentrate on hamburgers. The restaurant became a staple of Route 66 and the Springfield area until its closure in 1984. Red died in 1997 a few days after the restaurant was demolished, and Julia died in the early 2000s

Sign recreation

In 2013, a fundraising campaign was established to recreate the Red's Giant Hamburg sign. The sign was installed in 2015.

Reopening

In early 2019, the Springfield Business Journal announced that Red's Giant Hamburg would be making a comeback, 35 years after the original restaurant's closure. The new restaurant, located on Route 413, was a recreation of the original Route 66 location. The project was led by David Campbell, the owner of local BBQ chain Buckingham's, and insurance agent Greg Iott. The restaurant opened in August 2019 and was in operation for almost six years, closing its doors in May 2025 with the building being sold to a local investor.

In 1982, Springfield rock and roll band The Morells filmed their tribute song "Red's" at the location of the restaurant.

See also

  • List of hamburger restaurants

References

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Sources

Multiple interviews with Red Cheney by Audrey Burtrum-Stanley -->

  • "Red's Giant Hamburg sizzled with food, fun, heart", Overstreet, Sarah, in (Springfield, MO) News-Leader, May 27, 2006
  • The Morells video filmed at Reds circa 1982
  • Red's, the First Drive-thru
  • Recreating the Red's Sign on Springfield's Route 66
  • Join the campaign to save the Red's sign
  • Red’s Giant Hamburg making a comeback