Gordon’s Stoplight Drive-In sits at the intersection of two important roads in the heart of Crystal City, MO. Enduring 13 floods since it opened in 1948, it has been a solid presence in the community for 61 years. For some it’s a place to stop on the way out of town, but for others the Stoplight is the destination itself. It’s where the people of Festus and Crystal City come together – retired, teens, business owners, football teams, families…a snapshot of the Twin City itself.

For the regulars it’s a place where your coffee goes onto the counter when they see you pull into the parking lot. It’s no surprise why people keep coming back – people like Norman Johnson, who drives about 15 miles each way almost every day to have a cup of coffee and maybe some food.

Even as more national fast food restaurants open in Festus and Crystal City, it’s good to know that a diner like the Stoplight hasn’t died out, but is still going strong after all these years, “Serving the Best Hamburgers in the World Since 1948.”

Early Friday morning, members of the Crystal City High School football team meet at the Stoplight for breakfast. One of their coaches, Chris Grass -- along with his parents Curt and Lori -- owns the Stoplight.