Dixon's Chili

American

Independence, Missouri

Around the turn of the century, when much of Kansas City was thriving amidst the Kansas City Stock Exchange and developments of JC Nichols, Vergne Dixon set up shop downtown selling his unique style chili from a street cart. In 1919 Vergne opened his first restaurant on 15th and Olive. His dream was to produce a quality product with fast service. Dixon’s Chili Parlor, as it was originally named, was staffed solely by men, most of whom were down on their luck and looking for a chance to better themselves. Since then, Dixon’s has been family owned and operated, passed down from generation to generation with the same belief of serving high-quality food with quick service. Vergne was such a believer in his particular type of chili that he banned the use of ketchup in his restaurant, even when customers tried to add it.