Bob Gibson's - Omaha

Former major league baseball player and Hall of Famer, Bob Gibson, grew up in Omaha.  After he retired, he settled back in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue doing a number of things.  But one of the investments that he had was his restaurant, Bob Gibson's.

Bob Gibson's was located just west of the downtown Omaha area off of Interstate 480 and right near Creighton University.  It had a big window on the east side that showed the Omaha skyline.  It was adorned in dark wood paneling throughout - it almost looked like it was old barn wood paneling. 

Bob Gibson's was more of a sports bar/sandwich place, not a fine dining eatery by any stretch of the imagination.  It featured good burgers, good sandwiches, soups and salads.  And cold beer and baseball on TV in the summertime. 

I remember one of the signature burgers that Bob Gibson's had was a pepper burger that featured pepper jack cheese over a 1/3 lb. burger topped with a roasted sweet red pepper.  I forget what they called it, but it was damn good. 

I do remember they also had a great tuna melt, too.  It had a spicy bent to it and it was always good.

For a baseball nut like me, Bob Gibson's was like heaven.  He had a number of his awards on display including a Cy Young Award, and numerous Rawlings Gold Glove awards.  There were pictures and other memorabilia on the walls, behind the bar, a few autographed balls.  It was pretty neat.

One day, I went to Bob Gibson's to have lunch and it was shut up.  No sign on the door, nothing.  Out of business.

A year or so later, I actually met Bob Gibson at his home.  (Look for that story in an upcoming "Brushes with Greatness" post.)  He lamented that he missed the restaurant and alluded to the fact that he may have been getting ripped off by the guy who managed it for him and that's why it had to close down.

It's a pity because it was a neat place with good food.  And a lot of neat baseball memorabilia from one of the all-time greatest pitchers in major league history.

Comments

[Denny Richter]

great article. is it possible to follow you on twitter?

[Tim runtich]

Great nachos there too

Internal audit gang from uprr went there friday nites after work in the early eighties

Brings back memories

[Sue Clark]

I recall regularly eating at Bob Gibson's with the social work staff from St. Joe's Hospital-across from Creighton Univ, around 1985-1988. They had the best crispy chicken sandwiches with pickles-way before the whole Popeyes chicken phenomena. Being from St.Louis & having experienced the Cardinals in the 60"s & 70's, it was a great find.