Editor’s note: Gibs announced May 6 that it would be closed on Mondays for the summer. It also said those 21 and younger are welcome until 9 p.m.

May 2, 2024

The newest sports bar in Sioux Falls opened at lunch today, serving up a chicken-fried chicken special and offering game coverage across TVs along every wall.

Gibs Sports Bar & Grill is in the former Cherry Creek Grill building at 3104 E. 26th St. It’s the east-side version of the west-side Gateway Bar & Grill from owner Jack Rentschler Jr.

Chef David Ohayon, Jackson Rentschler, Jack Rentschler Jr. and manager Dan Larson

One of the differences?

“This will be the Vikings bar, and then Gateway will be the Chiefs bar,” said Jackson Rentschler, Jack Jr.’s son and Gateway’s manager. “Dan (Larson) who’s going to run this … he’s a diehard Vikings fan.”

And if the 20 TVs and four projectors aren’t enough, get ready for some mobile big-screen game-watching parties in the parking lot behind the bar next season, Rentschler said.

The main level of Gibs seats 200 customers. The bar has been rebuilt along the north wall in front of the kitchen and seats about a dozen.

High-top tables fill the majority of the room, and most of the booths are behind a screen along the west wall.

Ten video lottery machines can be found behind a partial wall along the east side of the room.

The lower level, which opens at 5 p.m., has its own bar and seating for another 200 at standard tables.

It has two pool tables, three dart boards, air hockey, the arcade game Golden Tee and a retro NFL Blitz game that “a lot of the guys and ladies are excited about.”

There are four TVs, with upgrades to come, Rentschler said.

For now, Gibs doesn’t offer much for outdoor seating. “There’s a patio, but it’s small,” he said, noting that there are three tables for 20 people. “We are going to eventually increase that. That will probably be late this summer or early spring.”

Gibs has a full liquor license, serving “your standard cocktails, margaritas, that kind of stuff.”

For beer, “we upgraded the tap lines from the Gateway here,” Rentschler said. “We have a lot more tap lines, including in the basement. We have our traditional Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite. Then we’re also going to have rotational, a couple of IPAs. We have a seltzer on tap. Of course, Guinness.”

Wine drinkers will find the standards like cabernet, chardonnay, merlot, white zinfandel and sauvignon blanc.

Rentschler is excited that Gibs has hired his friend David Ohayon, owner of the former Papa’s Pub & Eatery in Dell Rapids, as chef.

“We did the Gateway staples that people love – the Monster Burger, chislic and stuff like that” on the menu, and then Ohayon’s signature dishes are there too.

“His Cajun chicken pasta called the Dirty Bird, and then he brought his famous spin dip.”

In addition to typical bar food choices, there are steaks and other pastas.

Daily lunch specials for $10 will give diners a quick option to “get in during lunch and then get back to work in no time. … It beats fast food.” A monthly special for lunch and dinner will be available too.

Gibs is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.