Coffee shop coming to long-vacant Red’s Giant Hamburg property

A Trailer Perk Coffee shop is under construction at the lot that contained Red's Giant Hamburg restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, nearly 40 years ago. Route 66 News reader and Springfield resident Mark Mahy sent over a recent photo of the construction of the coffee shop underway. Despite the location being the home of Red's for … Continue reading Coffee shop coming to long-vacant Red’s Giant Hamburg property

New version of Red’s Giant Hamburg opens Monday

A new version of Red's Giant Hamburg opens Monday in Springfield, Missouri, decades after the original on Route 66 closed. The new Red's Giant Hamburg in south Springfield, Missouri. KY3-TV in Springfield posted a story over the weekend: The owner says he's been planning this restaurant for 25 years. Finding the right location and items … Continue reading New version of Red’s Giant Hamburg opens Monday

Music documentary about Springfield premieres this week

"The Center of Nowhere," a full-length documentary produced by roadie Dave Hoekstra about the rich musical history of Springfield, Missouri, will premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fox Theatre in downtown Springfield. Hoekstra, a former writer at the Chicago Sun-Times who's traveled and written about Route 66 extensively, told Ozarks Alive that Springfield's central location, relative … Continue reading Music documentary about Springfield premieres this week

Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri

Dave Hoekstra, a big Route 66 fan for much of his 30-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times, is producing a film series about unheralded rich music scenes in the United States, including Springfield, Missouri. Titled "Song of an Unsung America," the film series delves into Springfield's importance as the site of television's "Ozark Jubilee" and … Continue reading Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri

Lou Whitney, R.I.P.

Lou Whitney, 72, a music producer based in Springfield, Missouri, whose mentoring and influence on other musicians far exceeded his fame as a bassist with The Morells and The Skeletons, died of cancer Tuesday, reported the Springfield News-Leader. Before delving into an amazing career, here's Whitney with his band, The Morells, immortalizing long-gone Route 66 … Continue reading Lou Whitney, R.I.P.