Casper's celebrates 100 years

May 7, 6:43 AMOzarks Travel ExaminerPatsy Bell Hobson

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A heaping plate of Chili pie and burger at Casper's

Springfield’s oldest restaurant, Casper’s is celebrating it’s 100th year in 2009. Springfield’s most famous chili restaurant is housed in a Quonset hut. Seating is cramped but the diners doesn’t mind sharing tables, just so long as they get their chili. A businesswomen, WWII vet and a college student could be sitting at a table for four with a local politician.

The packed quarters add to the festive atmosphere. A lot of customers are regulars. Owner Belinda Harriman calls these frequent diners “Casperites.” Their secret recipe chili is so popular, some customers purchase gallons to freeze so they’ll have it during the summer. Casper’s opens the day after Labor Day and closes the last Friday in May every year.

The decor at Casper’s is like a twentieth century flea market, packed with chalk figures, posters,  photographs and Charles Lederer’s art work. It’s “Funky stuff,” Harriman says.

Casper’s started as a fruit stand in 1909 by Casper Lederer. It evolved over the years and has changed locations. Family owned until 1985, when Charles Lederer died. Harriman, who worked as a cashier for the Lederer family for several years now owns Casper’s. The cook, Etta Mae Buckner worked for Casper Lederer and has worked at the restaurant for 34 years.

The owner won’t  share the chili recipe passed to her when Charles died. She did say it doesn’t have tomatoes or onions. “It's an old, secret recipe and I swore I'd never tell the recipe,” Harriman said.

Seating capacity is only 29. You just have a short time to get there during the 100th anniversary year. Call Casper’s at 417-866-9750. The restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Literally, a Quounset hut is a hot place to be in the heat of a Missouri summer. That’s sad for Casper’s devotees, but the chili hotspot is closed June, July and August. If you’ve never been to Springfield Missouri, you might not know about Casper’s. So hurry, they close May 29 and the line is guaranteed to be very long that day.

Suggest a road trip to the Queen City for host Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives television program. The Springfield CVB thinks the Food Network needs to know about this old hut. If you agree, let The Food Network know at this email: DDDinfo@mac.com.

For more information about Springfield, contact the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767 or look on the Web.

Josh Young has the scoop on the chili and the quirky Quonset hut history in his book: Missouri Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff By Josh Young. Ask nice and he will even autograph your book. 

Join the party at 601 East Walnut Street, Springfield, MO 65806. Call  417-866-9750. Fans have started a We Love Casper's (Springfield, MO) site on Facebook. Read more about your last chance this month to eat at this Springfield landmark.

For more info: You can reach the Senior Travel Examiner Patsy Bell Hobson at patsy64068@yahoo.com . To get notice of new Senior Travel Examiner columns please subscribe via email. Patsy also blogs about Southeast Missouri and Senior travel http://seniortrips.blogspot.com/ She also has a gardening blog: Oh, Grow Up!