Fred & Red’s Chili in Joplin, Missouri, will mark its 100th year in business with a vintage car show, giveaways and other events on Sept. 23.
The number of restaurants on Route 66 that have hit the 100-year mark likely can be counted on one hand. Ike’s Chili in Tulsa comes to mind, as do the Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Maldaner’s Restaurant in Springfield, Illinois.
Fred & Red’s at 1719 S. Main St. sits a little less than a mile south of Route 66. But it’s such a historic institution, a substantial number of Route 66 travelers seek it out anyway. The original Fred & Red’s was at 10th and Main, three blocks south of 66.
KSNF-TV had this history of the restaurant:
In 1943, owner Fred Herring moved the restaurant just seven blocks south — which at the time was right across the street from the grocery store that made their chili. In 1956, William “Red” Wilcoxson — the butcher at that grocery store — bought half of the restaurant, becoming Herring’s partner and creating the name that’s still on the sign today: Fred & Red.
After Fred Herring’s death in 1975, and “Red” Wilcoxson retiring soon after — his son, Larry Wilcoxson took over the responsibilities of Fred & Red’s and kept it running for several decades. However, in March of 2012, Fred & Red’s closed its doors when Wilcoxson retired.
The iconic restaurant off Route 66 sat vacant for four years, until 2016 when the business (and the special chili recipe) was purchased from Wilcoxson’s heirs by the current owner, David Schaefer. Today, little has changed about Fred & Red’s, including the original chili recipe — which is just what Schaefer intended.
Schaefer wants to expand Fred & Red’s reach. Another location will open in northwest Arkansas, and he wants to open more of those eateries in other cities.
He also wants to sell Fred & Red’s chili in grocery stores, so that people can take that unique taste home with them.
To follow the latest on Fred & Red’s, go to its Facebook page.
(Image of Fred & Red’s Chili in Joplin, Missouri, by Paul Sableman via Flickr)
Fred and Red’s has always been a great place to stop and eat.