Realtor Kathy Rogers said that Gibby's Restaurant and its buildings went up for sale late last month. (Austin Horn | The State Journal)
Two large, white signs adorn the windows of a downtown fixture on East Broadway.
They read “business for sale,” and “building for sale.”
Gibby’s Restaurant, and the two connected buildings it occupies, went up for sale late last month, according to Realtor Kathy Rogers. She said the buildings and business together are listed for $995,000 and the business alone is listed for $299,000.
“It’s selling,” owner and founder Michael Gibson said. “I’m not going out of business. We’re just selling.”
Gibson said he couldn’t comment further.
Gibby’s Restaurant is an eatery known for “old-school American” fare, with some Italian offerings as well. Known for its Hot Brown, Gibby’s has had locations across Frankfort — including on Louisville Road and next door where Buddy’s Pizza is located.
In 2014, Gibby’s expanded into the building to its east, adding extra seating. Gibson bought that building for $155,000. Gibson bought the main building in 2002 for $230,700.
According to the Franklin County PVA, the buildings' values have changed very little since Gibson purchased them.
Rogers said that while the two prices listed are for both buildings and the business or just the business, Gibson is “flexible” and open to potential deals. She said that Gibson would be open to working something out with a buyer, or could opt to not sell at all.
“He’s been in the restaurant business for 26 years,” Rogers said. “… I think he’s very good at what he does. He really built that from nothing, and of course he’s been there for quite some time.”
Gibby’s recently received a $10,000 small business grant from the city as part of an initiative aimed at aiding local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rogers said that she’s already fielded several inquiries about the properties and the business thus far.
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COVID-19’s casualties includes more than people. I loved eating at Gobby’s, and although I have not eaten in a restaurant in longer than I can remember, I look forward to returning once we have this virus under control.
It seems that could be a long time, because we have these knuckleheads who refuse to abide by the CDC recommendations and also the antivaxers. By keeping this virus blooming, these people are allowing it to mutate into even more dangerous variants, that reduce the effectiveness of our existing vaccines. They say that they are merely exercising their rights, but their right to propagate COVID is infringing on the rights of other sane people’s rights to live. They have blood on their hands. They are rednecks behaving badly!
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