JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Gilbert’s Steak House has been met with wrecking balls, and as demolition continues, readers are invited to share their favorite memories of the historic restaurant.
Since Monday, Sept. 15, workers and excavators have been demolishing the former restaurant at 2323 Shirley Drive in Blackman Township. The building has been closed since 2006.
Blackman Township Planning/Zoning Administrator Bryan Powers said the property is owned by Narayan Jyot LLC, and that the owner informed him of plans to tear down the former restaurant to build a hotel
The owner did not respond to requests for comment about plans for the property.
On Facebook, people have shared their memories of the restaurant, including celebrations and delicious steak dinners. In response, we decided to ask readers to share their stories and favorite dishes.
Tell us in the form below:
Gilbert’s Steak House, 2323 Shirley Drive, started out as Gardner’s Steak House, an eatery opened in 1946 by Keith and Dorothy Gardner.
Read more: Peek Through Time: Mounds of cold shrimp, satisfying steak dinners made Gilbert’s Steak House a much-loved Jackson eatery
In 1955, the Gardners’ log-cabin restaurant caught the eye of the famous Jackson candy company created by John O. Gilbert. Gilbert’s son Russell, who oversaw the John O. Gilbert Chocolate Co., purchased the business and changed the name to Gilbert’s Steak House.
About a year after the 1960 deaths of John and Russell Gilbert, the company sold the restaurant to a group of investors including Arthur Poole, president of Western Stamping Co., and Jackson restaurateur Bill Cones.
Cones bought his partners out three years later. He created Gilbert’s reputation for fine dining. The decor was rich and dark, the menu was huge and Cones filled the place with Tiffany-style lamps and other antiques.
Every table was offered a basket of garlic toast, sesame bread sticks and a dish of whipped cheese with a hint of horseradish. Gilbert’s grew under Cones’ ownership.
In 1976, three new rooms, including a new cocktail lounge and dining room, brought seating capacity to more than 250. Engagements, anniversaries and retirements were celebrated there.
Business deals were cut there and family dinners and civic-club luncheons served there. Nightly entertainment and dancing also were added.
In 1980, as he was winding down his career, Cones sold Gilbert’s to Roy Brown, a restaurant real estate specialist; Brown’s son Tim; and Vince Veltman, a longtime Detroit-area restaurant owner. Tim Brown became the manager.
In 1995, after the death of Veltman and Roy Brown, Tim Brown, his brother Richard, sister Diana Young and Veltman’s widow Susan became owners.
After 57 years in business, Tim Brown closed Gilbert’s on Oct. 11, 2003, because of declining sales. It was purchased by DMA Food Group of Kalamazoo, which spent more than $1 million to remodel the building.
The Tiffany-style lamps remained, but more windows and brighter lighting replaced the dark atmosphere when Gilbert’s reopened just before Christmas 2004.
Blaming the economy and that too many people came to the restaurant only for birthdays and anniversaries, DMA Food Group closed Gilbert’s in 2006.
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