Winstead's opened on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza in 1940 and since then has become a legendary Kansas City landmark. In the 40's and 50's it was the popular place for teenagers. Winstead's fame has been helped along considerably by the hyperbole of Calvin Trillin, the humorist and well-travelled gourmand, who grew up in Kansas City. In December 1970, Trillin stated forthrightly in an Life Magazine article, "Winstead's serves the best hamburger in the world"