Red's Giant Hamburg auction draws top bid of $575K

The auction held yesterday at Red’s Giant Hamburg drew a top bid north of $500,000.

Bob Kollmeier, owner of Nixa-based Bob Kollmeier Auctions, which worked with Bolivar-based Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Co. on the auction, said the top bid for the restaurant property was $575,000. He said he was unsure who submitted the online bid, but noted it was a local bidder from Rogersville.

The sale for the 2301 W. Sunshine St. property is not yet a done deal, said Kollmeier, noting it must be approved by the bank involved in the process. A representative with Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Co. told Springfield Business Journal in April that the ownership of Red’s Giant Hamburg is "facing some financial distress" related to the restaurant.

Greene County recorder records show that a successor trustee was appointed in October 2024 for the property, with owner Hamburg Properties LLC and Simmons Bank listed.

The auction yesterday additionally resulted in a $15,700 top bid for the 1955 Buick Special that's parked in front of the restaurant and an $875 top bid for the cross-shaped Red’s Giant Hamburg sign at the property, Kollmeier said. He deferred questions on the buyers of the car and sign to a Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Co. representative. The latter auctioneer could not be reached for comment by deadline.

The auction listing noted the roughly 4,550-square-foot building is located on nearly 1.4 acres, with more than 50 parking spaces and estimated real estate taxes of over $19,000. The Red’s Giant Hamburg business name, a registered trademark of CCIT Trademark LLC, was not included in the auction, according to the listing, which indicated that "new owners may either change the business name or arrange a new trademark agreement with CCIT Trademark LLC."

That LLC was organized with the Missouri secretary of state's office in 2015 by Greg Iott, David Campbell and Mark Cockrum.

Iott and Campbell opened the replica Red’s Giant Hamburg restaurant on West Sunshine Street in August 2019, according to past SBJ reporting. The business is based on the historic eatery of the same name that was operated on Route 66 by Red and Julia Chaney for nearly five decades until its 1984 closure.

Signage advertising the auction in front of the restaurant indicated that Red’s would continue to operate until May 14. A call to the restaurant at 11:41 a.m. went unanswered.