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In downtown Springfield there are restaurants on every corner, but for one small restaurant, downtown has been home for longer than any other. KSMU’s Adam Hammons has more on how Casper’s is celebrating its 100th year anniversary.
At around 10:30 every weekday morning, hungry Casper’s fans pack into a small metal building resembling an airplane hangar. It’s actually called a Quonset hut and inside chili and burgers are cooked fresh on the spot. As the day wears on, the line to get into the 29 seats goes out the building, and down the sidewalk. Random photographs, dolls, and posters dominate the décor.
A hundred years has now passed since Casper Lederer started a fruit stand he named after himself. Now the fruit stand has moved and the owners and menu have changed, but it still has the spirit of a place where unique food can be combined with eclectic company.
“Casper’s is a sort of a unique place to eat. The other foods are more french fries because you seem them everywhere, but this is a unique place and it’s one of a kind.”
That’s Etta Mae Buckner who is a cook for Casper’s and who has been working there for over three decades now.
Casper’s has always been known for its home-style burgers and its own secret recipe of chili, but according to Belinda Harriman, the owner of Casper’s since 1985, it’s the people that she loves the most.
“I love the people, and if there was any job that I could ever have ever, then this would be my choice of jobs because I enjoy coming to work everyday, and I love seeing the people.”
This year marks the restaurant’s 100th year of being in business and Harriman wants to celebrate by having an anniversary party on Saturday, November 7th,with low priced food and good times.
“We’re planning on a big deal because no other restaurant has turned a hundred yet so we’re going to just tell everybody hey, hey, we’re a hundred.”
The restaurant has seen many hard times over the years, but Casper’s has always been a staple in downtown Springfield. Tom Salois, who has been working there since he was 17, talks about his thoughts on passing the century mark.
“I knew it would happen. You know, we’ve already survived one depression, a couple of recessions, and so every time the economy goes down we just keep going just as strong as we ever have.”
Salois went on to say that he wouldn’t be surprised to see it go through another century.
Owner Belindan Harriman also said that she’s making a booklet of all the stories customers have about Casper’s and that any story is welcome.
Casper’s is located in downtown Springfield on 601 W. Walnut.
For KSMU News, I’m Adam Hammons.