“We are keeping my grandmother’s dream alive,” said Amicia Collins, looking around the newest location. As the granddaughter of Wahnetia Gibson affectionately known as Nana, the daughter of Juanita and the niece of the other owners, Collins commits her days to pleasing the pallets of their customers, a family tradition.
“I remember gathering on Saturdays at my grandmother’s house on Singer Place,” she reflected. “We always cooked as a family, everyone had their specialty dish.”
Collins explained that the concept of starting a restaurant came up, as a result of the sisters having brainstorming sessions as a way to decide what type of business to open since it was a family desire. “Flora was already operating a catering business and because everyone in the family knew how to cook it was decided in 2005 to operate a takeout business.” After a year of working to get the business established in December of 2006 Gibson’s Take Out and Catering Restaurant at 10731 Frankstown Rd. was opened. At first it operated five days a week now it is open every day.
Even though Gibson’s is known for their southern style food, Collins said they serve variety types of dishes. Our daily specials on Frankstown Road include spaghetti, lasagna, smothered pork chops, meat loaf, roasted turkey breast with stuffing, liver and onions, pepper steak, roast beef, variety styles of fish and variety styles of chicken.
Nana’s Place menu consists of similar foods focusing on salads, fried wings, wind dinners, fish sandwiches and dinners, various homemade dinners and the side dishes.
Collins said that both locations feature their famous BBQ dishes, and whole and half slabs of ribs. Their noted mac and cheese, greens and yams side dishes are also available at both locations.
Offering a different type of atmosphere than the Fransktown location, Nana’s Place is located in a bigger space. The orange and red walls are decorated with family photographs, ornaments and the menu. A living room style of chairs offer comfortable seating as an alternative to sitting on the stools alongside a bar style table.
“We are thinking of offering light entertainment some evenings,” said Collins. “Nana’s Place is different but we offer the same quality of food and customer service and are only open Monday through Saturday.”
Catering is also a big part of Gibson’s business. “We normally handle from 10 to 200 people within a 20 minute radius of the city.” She said they have no preference as to delivering for the customer to set up or for their staff to set up and serve. She said they are experienced in handling various types of events like weddings, reunions, baby showers, funerals and repasses and board meetings. For the last two years the Liberty Avenue staff has participated in the Little Italy Day festivities held up and down Liberty Avenue. “Last year we cooked and had a booth where we passed out flyers announcing our arrival, but this year people actually came in to place their orders.
The third generation of Gibson’s will be a part of the business and managers of both facilities, Collins said she hopes to assist the family in fulfilling their goal of having three locations, a vision of her grandmother’s. Wahnetia Gibson passed away two years ago. “My grandmother loved to feed people and giving back and our establishments serve that purpose,” said Collins. She also indicated that her goal for Nana’s Place is to provide a warm and welcoming feeling for the customers.
An entrepreneur in the true sense, Collins has dreams of utilizing the skills and experiences she has gained from operating the family business to owning and operating a women’s shelter. “I love what I do and enjoy meeting different types of people. I want to continue my grandmother’s give back spirit in other ways and a women’s shelter is a good way to do that,” she said.
When ordering from either restaurant, Collins suggests placing orders 20 minutes in advance and pointed out that they are a cash and carry only business.
About Post Author
