Gordon’s Stoplight Drive-In has been tempting taste buds since the diner was established by Gordon Heddell in 1948 on the corner of Bailey Road and Truman Boulevard in Crystal City.
Last month, St. Louis Magazine recognized Gordon’s Stoplight, naming its popular hamburger one of “6 Burgers Worth the Drive.”
Perhaps, that’s because after 68 years in business nothing has changed, manager Chris Grass said.
“Everything’s the same,” he said. “We do everything just like Gordon taught us how to do it. It’s worked since 1948.”
Gordon’s Stoplight serves up a variety of burgers, including a hamburger, double hamburger, triple hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger and triple cheeseburger. The diner also offers its “original chili,” simmered up just like Gordon made it on the corner all those years.
He was a nice, hard-working man, Chris said.
“He ran the business every day for 50 years,” he said. “Everybody in town knew him.”
Chris Grass’ mother, Lori, grew up next door to Gordon, and Lori and Curt purchased the restaurant from him in 1997. Gordon died in 2007 at the age of 87.
Although the business is sizzling now, there were damper days through the years.
“The restaurant has flooded 12 or 13 times. In ’93 and ’95 the water was up to the roof,” Chris said. “In 2001 we sandbagged around it and kept it from flooding.”
He said since the levee was built, it doesn’t flood anymore, and that’s a good thing.
Through the years, the restaurant has been a familiar backdrop for Crystal City and Festus residents, and its burgers and reputation have made the restaurant a destination, Chris said.
“It’s part of Jefferson County. It’s been around so long, it’s a landmark,” he said. “We have generations of people come in here. They bring their kids, their grandkids.
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