Red's Giant Hamburg to hit auction block

The 2019 iteration of Red’s Giant Hamburg is headed to the auction block next month.

Signage placed in front of the 2301 W. Sunshine St. restaurant points to an auction scheduled May 15 by Bolivar-based Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Co. and Nixa-based Bob Kollmeier Auctions. The signage states Red’s will continue to operate until May 14.

The listing at Diamond S Auction's website indicates the sale is for the restaurant and building, its interior fixtures and equipment, and surrounding property.

Tyler Garrison, auctioneer at Diamond S Auction, said the auction is structured so that the buyer would have a “completely turnkey” operation.

“We have done that on purpose to facilitate somebody else buying that and keeping it in operation,” he said. “We would absolutely love to see somebody just continue that on.”

Greg Iott and David Campbell opened the replica Red’s Giant Hamburg restaurant on West Sunshine Street in August 2019, according to past Springfield Business Journal 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.

Paying homage to the original restaurant, as well, is a cross-shaped Red’s Giant Hamburg sign and a 1955 Buick Special that's parked out front. The sign and vehicle are slated to be auctioned separately from the real estate, according to the listing.

Iott and Campbell could not be reached for comment by deadline.

Garrison said the 2019-opened Red’s Giant Hamburg was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They never really recovered from that. They are facing some financial distress,” Garrison said. “That is what has sparked the auction.”

The auction listing indicates 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, is not included in the auction.

"The business name has been used under a special agreement between the property owners and the trademark holder. New owners may either change the business name or arrange a new trademark agreement with CCIT Trademark LLC," the listing reads.

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

Hamburg Properties LLC is the current owner of the West Sunshine Street property, with a total appraised value of $928,400, according to Greene County assessor records.