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ABOUT RED’S GIANT HAMBURG In 1947, Sheldon “Red” Chaney opened a small hamburger stand at 2848 W. Chestnut Expressway in Springfield, Missouri—an address located along the iconic Route 66. A self-reliant entrepreneur, Red chose to design and build his own sign. Due to the presence of nearby utility wires, he was unable to fit the entire word “Hamburger” on the vertical section of the cross-shaped sign. Undeterred, he simply dropped the “E-R” and named his roadside diner “Red’s Giant Hamburg.” Over time, the restaurant became a legend of both Route 66 and the Springfield area, often credited as “America’s first drive-thru.” Travelers cruising the Mother Road could pull off the highway and place their orders at a drive-up window along the gravel driveway, where Red or his wife Julia would serve up their delicious hamburgers, French fries, and cold draft root beer—all without patrons needing to leave their car. The original Red’s Giant Hamburg operated at that location until its closure in 1984, leaving behind a legacy of nostalgic Americana. In 2013, a replica of the original sign was installed as part of the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park on West College Street in Springfield, preserving the memory of this beloved institution. The replica sign still stands there today. Then in 2019, Red’s Giant Hamburg was reborn. Careful research, planning, and passion went into reimagining the restaurant, with a new building located at 2301 W. Sunshine St. constructed to capture the look and feel of the original. The menu also remains faithful to its roots, featuring the classic giant hamburgs, coney dogs, French fries, and old-fashioned draft root beer. Even a 1955 Buick Special similar to the one Red used as part of the sign was fully restored and displayed in the parking lot next to the iconic cross-shaped “Giant Hamburg” sign. Red’s has been a familiar and beloved symbol to generations of Springfield residents and Route 66 history buffs alike.