The dining area of Kimber’s Steakhouse, a Gibsonville institution more than 40 years old, is filled with burgundy booths and candlelit tables. At the bar — the top of which is made from an old church pew — customers can sip a glass of wine or a cocktail. Black-and-white photos from around town adorn the walls, and sunlight streams through a stained-glass window emblazoned with the steakhouse’s name. The restaurant has played a pivotal role in many a diner’s life.
Edith Younger, one of the original owners, recalls those moments. “People would call and ask, ‘Can you hide a diamond ring in the bread basket?’” she says. “We even had one request to put it in a baked potato! We always tried to accommodate special requests.”
Located on the corner of West Main and Church streets, Kimber’s Steakhouse has been a Gibsonville institution since 1982. photograph by Alex Boerner
Kimber’s was founded in 1982 by Edith and her husband, Jeff. The place was named after the Youngers’ daughter, Kim, and it opened for business on her 11th birthday. Kim later had her wedding reception there in 1993. “We had all of our staff at the wedding, dressed up in tuxedos, and they helped serve,” Edith says. “And we had about 200 people trying to get into the reception. A lot of them were customers.”
Jeff and his father, Herman, had bought the building, then a grocery store, back in 1973. Gibsonville straddles Guilford and Alamance counties, and the building sits on the Guilford side. When Guilford County began permitting restaurants to serve mixed drinks in the early ’80s, Jeff and Edith saw a business opportunity. At the time, restaurants in Alamance were not permitted to serve alcohol, so Kimber’s became a popular destination.
The restaurant owes its stellar steak reputation to Chef Eddie Brown, who prepares the prime rib. photograph by Alex Boerner
Brown and Barbara Newell are longtime Kimber’s employees. Photography courtesy of Kimber’s Steakhouse
In 2021, Edith and Jeff retired and sold Kimber’s to Joshua Readling and his wife, Tina. Since then, the restaurant’s reputation as a place for special occasions has continued. “I just love hearing from people who came here before their prom 15 or 20 years ago,” Readling says.
The restaurant’s star attractions remain its prime rib and steaks, along with its staff, some of whom — like Chef Eddie Brown — have worked there for decades. Brown started as a dishwasher 40 years ago. Now, he turns out 14-ounce strips of beef — the “King Cut,” as it’s known at Kimber’s — with a slight char and a paper-thin brown crust. Other staples on the menu include hand-cut French fries, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and the chicken-and-dumplings special.
To honor Kimber’s history, Readling is setting up a room that will display photos and artifacts from the restaurant’s past. Perhaps, sitting underneath a picture of the Youngers, another generation of brides-to-be will find a diamond ring sitting on their plate.
Kimber’s Steakhouse
230 West Main Street
Gibsonville, NC 27249
(336) 449-6411
kimberssteakhouse.com
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