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Wednesday, February 27, 2008 9:44 PM CST
Kimerys take over former Gunner Buc's Tavern and Restaurant — again



MATTOON — Longtime educators-turned-entrepreneurs Joe and Vee Kimery know something about deja vu.

In January, the Mattoon couple came out of retirement and purchased the former Gunner Buc’s Pub & Grub on Lakeland Avenue south of Mattoon. This is the second time they’ve owned this particular establishment.

Renamed Joe’s Sports Bar & Grille, the restaurant and tavern will “strive to be the ultimate sports bar,” said Joe Kimery.

“We plan to stay here for a long period of time, (and) we’ve got a lot of plans for this place.”

Originally from the Mattoon area, Kimery and his wife taught school in the Chicago area throughout the 1970s, returning to Coles County in 1980 to purchase and operate a host of local taverns.

The couple sold their local businesses and moved to Las Vegas during the early 1990s. They came back in 1993.

Among other Mattoon establishments, the Kimerys previously owned and operated Kokomo Joe’s Seafood & Ribs (now Johnny’s Bar & Grill), Broadway Joe’s Sports Pub (now Broadway Grill) and Spanky’s Food and Spirits.

The building formerly known as Gunner Buc’s was Bonker’s Pub & Grub when the Kimerys first owned it from 1993 to 1997.

Coincidentally, the Kimerys have purchased three different buildings from the former Mattoon Elks Club: Not only was the current enterprise once an Elks lodge, but so were the structures that became Kokomo Joe’s and Broadway Joe’s.

Before buying Gunner Buc’s on Jan. 31, the Kimerys’ most recent venture in Mattoon was Spanky’s, which they sold in 2006.

“We thought we were retired,” said Kimery, adding that he and his wife “couldn’t just sit around. (And) she said she was too young to retire.”

Now undergoing remodeling, Joe’s Sports Bar & Grille will celebrate its grand opening March 22.

Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.


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attainedage wrote on Feb 27, 2008 1:31 PM:

" What, no TIF? How in the world will they make it? Congrats, Joe. Welcome back, again. "

Dohbaugh wrote on Feb 27, 2008 4:11 PM:

" Nice to see a business opening up without having a hand out to the taxpayers to get started. Way to go, Joe! "

TigerRose wrote on Feb 28, 2008 12:51 AM:

" Gunner Buc's was a favorite eating & entertainment stop for me & my friends when I was going to LakeLand College in the late 90's & early part of this Millenium. Had fine food, with BIG portions for really reasonable prices. Would be happy to see the Kimerys continue on in this tradition. Also, me & my buddies stopped in Spanky's on Sunday mornings for the weekly free lunch feed in. Nice to see that the Kimerys owned that too.

Good luck with Joe's Sports Bar & Grill. If it will be anything like the ol' Gunner Buc's we were used to, I'm sure it will be a real popular establishment. "

pj1983 wrote on Feb 28, 2008 5:32 PM:

" hopefully it won't be too much like the old gunner buc's. i can't see the new employees wanting to put up with their paychecks bouncing anymore than the old employees did. "

medic57 wrote on Feb 28, 2008 8:42 PM:

" Longtime educators????? --- Yeah, I got a lot of my education at Broadway Joes :) "

attainedage wrote on Feb 28, 2008 9:04 PM:

" Joe, are you gonna have slots? "

TigerRose wrote on Feb 29, 2008 3:59 AM:

" pj983: I wasn't inferring ANYTHING about bouncing checks in my comment. Matter of fact I didn't even know anything about any former employees problems when I made my lighthearted comments.
Gunner Buc's was a real popular place when I used to visit there, & for obvious reasons. THAT is what I was referring to, when saying I hope the new place should be like it.
DUH! "

pj1983 wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:09 AM:

" "DUH?" what are you? five?......i know what you were saying. and what i was saying that there's more to a place than just good food. knowing what goes on behind the scenes is important too. i'm glad someone bought it and hopefully will make changes for the better....as for the slots question jokingly (i think) asked by attainedage...all they have to do is have the people sign a form saynig they got merchandice for their winnings and not money and then their behinds are covered. that's how the old owner managed to get away with it. "

Becky wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:39 AM:

" Welcome back Joe & Vee! I can't wait for some more of your prime rib :) "

FinsUP! wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:31 PM:

" Any chance they could bring back Westcott, Epperson, and Co? No problem drawing a crowd with this group in the house!!!! "

 



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