Grad School, Trotter's top Reddit's list of departed Springfield restaurants to resurrect

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
Updated ·3 min read

Editor's note: The poll is now closed. Watch News-Leader.com for the results.

A simple question — If you could bring back one restaurant from Springfield’s past, what would it be? — inspired nearly 400 comments on the Springfield, Missouri, subreddit. Here are what people there said were their most-missed restaurants.

These restaurants were mentioned in the top comments, which means they have the most upvotes as of Sept. 15:

Danny Schlink was the owner of Grad School, J.O.B. Public House, and Primetime. Schlink brought the door from the old Grad School location and installed it at J.O.B. Public House.
Danny Schlink was the owner of Grad School, J.O.B. Public House, and Primetime. Schlink brought the door from the old Grad School location and installed it at J.O.B. Public House.

1. Grad School, 2008-2021

Grad School was the first of late restauranteur Danny Schlink's ventures. The small spot was known for its made-from-scratch menu including burgers, sandwiches and salads. The restaurant closed in 2021 when the landlord sold the building.

Known for: The Full Ride, a double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese.

2. Trotter's, 1976-1996

For two decades, Bill and Armilda "Mickie" Trotter ran Trotter's Bar-B-Q. While barbecue was in the name, the restaurant was also known for its massive food bar and pie bakery. It eventually expanded statewide, with eight locations in Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City and Branson. The Trotters closed all eight locations when they retired in 1996.

Known for: Buffet and French silk pie.

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3. Mr. Gatti's, 1980-1997

The Texas-based pizza chain came to Springfield in December 1980, according to archived News-Leader reporting. In addition to serving up pizza, local restaurants also sponsored area youth sports teams.

Known for: Pizza.

4. The Shady Inn, 1940s-2001

Started as a "park-n-drive" on the corner of Sunshine and Campbell, most probably know The Shady Inn as a cocktail lounge with steaks and seafood. The restaurant property was sold in 2001 to Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife, according to a 2015 News-Leader article.

Known for: Prime rib.

Anton's Coffee Shop opened in 1974, and closed after the death of owner Anton Tasich in 2020.
Anton's Coffee Shop opened in 1974, and closed after the death of owner Anton Tasich in 2020.

5. Anton's Coffee Shop, 1974-2020

Anton's Coffee Shop, a longtime Springfield landmark, opened on April Fool's Day 1974, according to News-Leader reporting. The restaurant closed when its owner Anton Tasich died after a second bout of lung cancer in 2020. Casper's restaurant has since opened in the former location.

Known for: Classic diner fare and 32 omelets.

City of Springfield building records indicate Twin Peaks could be coming to the old Zio's Italian Kitchen building at 1249 E. Kingsley Street.
City of Springfield building records indicate Twin Peaks could be coming to the old Zio's Italian Kitchen building at 1249 E. Kingsley Street.

6. Zio's Italian Kitchen, 1997-2020

Another Texas-based Italian chain, Zio's opened in Springfield in 1997. However, a kitchen fire in 2020 closed the restaurant down.

Known for: Pasta and breadsticks.

After 55 years in business, Aunt Martha's Pancake House closed this week, said the vice-president of a marketing agency representing the restaurant.
After 55 years in business, Aunt Martha's Pancake House closed this week, said the vice-president of a marketing agency representing the restaurant.

7. Aunt Martha's Pancake House, 1959-2015

"Ozark Jubilee" performer Martha Haworth opened Aunt Martha's Pancake House in 1959, according to previous News-Leader reporting. The spot became a favorite among locals and "Ozark Jubilee" performers, as well as country music legend Willie Nelson. Bought by Ruth Freeman in 1964, the Freeman family ran the restaurant until 2015.

Known for: "Super-secret" pancakes, waffles and baked omelets.

More: Hungry for some history? Here are 4 of Springfield's oldest restaurants

8. Soo's Korean Restaurant, 2004-2021

News-Leader reporter Didi Tang called Soo's Korean Restaurant "a true Korean restaurant" after experiences at others yielded mostly Chinese food. After 17 years in business, Soo's closed in 2021 due to the same issues facing many restaurants at that time: labor shortages, supply chain issues and the COVID-19 delta variant, according to News-Leader reporting.

Known for: Traditional Korean dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap.

9. Steak Out, 1993-2015

This Alabama-based franchise specialized in carry-out and delivery — of steak and grilled chicken, according to News-Leader reporting from when the Springfield location opened.

Known for: Steaks, rib tips, baked potatoes.

10. Big Fat Burritos, 1999-2018

Known for its all-fresh ingredients, Big Fat Burritos served up a different kind of fast food in the area, with owner Jason Childress able to put together a burrito in a minute, according to past News-Leader reporting. The restaurant closed in 2018 after achieving its "goal of feeding 600,000 people," according to a Facebook post.

Known for: Lime chile chicken burrito.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Which closed Springfield restaurants would you bring back?