Good People & Fresh Beef Since 1957
Our Story
It All Comes Down to This
At HiBoy Burgers, it all comes down to this: good people and fresh beef. For over 50 years, locals, Little Leaguers, families, and sports fans have flocked to the HiBoy Burgers and fries joints that are the mom-and-pop antidote to the fast-food chains that clog our roadways.
A Kansas City Legend
Jerry Mackey started HiBoy back in 1957, on Blue Ridge Cutoff, near the stadiums. At one time there were five of them. Now there are three. Mackey retired in 1997 but kept his word to his longtime managers and sold the sites to Jim Messick and Larry Comer. Messick owns the original site on Blue Ridge that oozes nostalgia. Comer owns the two others — one on U.S. 24 and the other on Gudgell, just off Missouri 291. All are in Independence.
No Losers When Kids Play Sports
Mackey sponsored local sports teams, who wore spiffy HiBoy uniforms. His teams attracted the best athletes — St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols played on a HiBoy team when he was at Fort Osage High School. They still sponsor three or four teams because, as Messick says, "there are no losers when kids play sports."
The Secret to Success
Put good people in, train them right, and they'll take care of your store.
— Jim Messick, Owner
The drive-ins use fresh, not frozen, beef pressed for them at an Independence meat-processing plant. The patties are thin and lacy, like a doily. They hang loosely, invitingly over the edge of the bun.
As Seen in the Kansas City Star
