historic rangeline: where to eat

by retrogal

Rangeline Road: Joplin, MO.  It has everything anyone could possibly want - great food, places to shop, things to do, and lodging galore!  But y'know, it used to be....different. Rangeline has always been host to great places to eat, but have you ever wondered where we used to go to grab a bite when the  hunger pangs struck? Yes, you say?  Well wonder no longer, because I am here to fill you in on Rangeline’s amazing foodie past!

The 1960’s and 70’s gave rise to the Rangeline we know today- the Joplin mainstay and place to go to find about anything.  Who knew such a rich history also started on this same strip of road? Everything from fire breathing dragons, to a controversial restaurant to come under fire for racism, to one of the longest standing eating establishments in Joplin.  Yep, the 60’s and 70’s were charged times, but wow...great eating

Henry’s

The best place to start is at the South end of Rangeline- what was then considered the “newer” part.  Rangeline road was still just a two-lane road, and really not terribly busy.  At the far end was a restaurant known as Henry’s.  A humble name for an anything-but-humble eating place!  

Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the spectacle to be found,  but I personally still remember first entering the city and seeing the flames- REAL ones- shooting several feet in front of the glowing dragon.  As a kid, I can’t remember if I was horrified or fascinated, but I always begged to eat there! To my recollection we only visited Henry’s a couple of times because it was one of those “upper end” restaurants to which you didn’t necessarily want to take your kids.

Henry’s Fine Foods--3535 S. Rangeline

Now: Empty.  Former location of a gas station, and next to Drury Inn

Howard Johnson’s

Next is the famous orange roof of Howard Johnson’s, which also featured a full hotel.  On Rangeline though, this is where you went for a great ice cream sundae! 

I am having serious price envy here!  This restaurant was one of the early mainstays of the vacationer.  You knew you could come here to get a good meal and bring the family along. This HJ closed sometime in the early 80’s, but had a good long run starting in the 60’s.

Location: 3500 S. Rangeline

Now: nothing on that exact location, nearby is Days Inn