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Grub for GenerationsReported by: David Oliver
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 @09:55pm CST
A few months ago Oliver's Ozarks took you inside Casper's in downtown Springfield. It's a tiny diner that's been serving up comfort food for almost 100 years. After that story someone called and suggested we also feature a place called Fred and Reds. So we traveled to Joplin to check out the place that's been serving grub to generations.
Ask most anybody about Fred and Reds diner in Joplin and they'll tell you it's a darn good greasy spoon.
"I just love the food, it's awesome" says customer Kaylea Ashburn.
"This is my second time to eat here and I guarantee I'll be back here again, it's good food" says customer Jerry Geddes.
The small eatery first started frying food to serve hungry souls way back in 1923.
"They started it on 10th and main in 1923. And then they built this restaurant during the war" says owner Larry Wilcoxson.
Larry's father, Red Wilcoxson was co-owner with the founder of the place, Fred Herring. Since the beginning they've been dishing up typical diner food here; burgers and fries and such. But it's one unusual concoction that's put Fred and Reds on the map when it comes to heartburn hideaways.
"Spaghetti red, of course. It's addictive" says waitress Kristen Merriman.
Years ago Fred Herring tried something different. He piled his famous chili on a heaping pile of pasta. This strange paring has become the signature dish at Fred and Reds.
"It's a little greasy but it's pretty dang good chili" says customer Lane Clevenger.
"I've had that stuff they serve like this in Cincinnati. There's no comparison" says customer Roy Trimble.
"People ship it to their kids in Iraq. And all kinds of stuff" says Merriman.
People come from far and wide to eat the famous chili here at Fred and Reds. And some folks have even tried to buy the recipe through the years. Turns out you can, and you can buy the restaurant too. But it's going to cost you.
"Sure I'll sell the recipe, but it's going to be for a premium" says Wilcoxson.
Larry's been running the restaurant since 1973 when his dad retired. Now that he wants to retire, Fred and Reds is up for sale. It seems pretty clear that any buyer won't have to worry about keeping customers in the seats.
"I'm 62 and I've been eating here since I was old enough to sit on one of these stools. And this is the first place I come to when I get this way. Before I go home, I come here and eat spaghetti red" says Trimble.
So whether its that spaghetti red, the ambiance of the U-shaped counter, or the simple old time feel, Fred and reds has found it's claim to fame where comfort food is concerned.
"Well look at it, it's great. It's small town America" says Clevenger.
Fred and reds is only open Tuesday through Saturday. And they close every August for vacation. The servers, many of whom have worked at the place for years, say people will line up around the corner to get in when they reopen in September. -
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