Act 1: J.E. Gibbs Cheese and Sausage & 15 Years of Chairing the Opening Day Parade by Jeff Gibbs
Note: Click play, then look for the “Enter Full Screen” icon to the left of the vimeo text in the bottom right corner of the video to enjoy this presentation in full screen mode.
Act 2: Neil Luken Meats & Parade Chairman Since 1998 by Neil Luken
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Act 3: Gramma Debbie's Kitchen & Co-chairman of the Opening Day Parade by Debbie Knueven Gannaway
Note: Click play, then look for the “Enter Full Screen” icon to the left of the vimeo text in the bottom right corner of the video to enjoy this presentation in full screen mode
The Over-the-Rhine Museum, in partnership with Findlay Market, is delighted to announce that The Merchants Behind the Opening Day Parade, the next installment in the quarterly lecture series, “Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine,” will take place virtually in March/April, 2021. Three short video presentations will be released at 6:00 pm on the following three Thursdays: March 25th, April 1st and 8th. Please join us virtually at this webpage or on Facebook (facebook.com/OTRmuseum and facebook.com/FindlayMarket) as we celebrate diverse stories of Over-the-Rhine.
As our country reaches one year of life in a pandemic, our city’s beloved Opening Day Parade, sponsored by the merchants of Findlay Market, will be deeply missed this spring season. While there have been other Cincinnati Opening Day parades, the one first organized by the Findlay Market merchants in 1920 has come to represent the pride of our Queen City. Just as Over-the-Rhine’s Findlay Market continues as one of the longest operating outdoor markets in the nation, its Opening Day Parade has shown equal persistence. Joining us to tell the stories of their long-standing Findlay Market businesses and their experiences as Opening Day Parade organizers are Jeff Gibbs, Neil Luken, and Debbie Knueven Gannaway.
March 25, 2021
Jeff Gibbs
Jeff Gibbs is owner of J.E. Gibbs Cheese and Sausage, which has been in operation at Findlay Market since 1922. Jeff was chairman of the Opening Day Parade for over fifteen years before passing the baton in 1998. He is generation number five in the family business, which has its roots in a nineteenth-century general store in Fairview, Indiana. Jeff gained a share of business ownership in 1981 and became sole owner a few years later. The business has expanded beyond the butter and eggs it originally provided to include lunchmeat, cheese, sausage, olives, natural peanut butter, Amish jams, homemade noodles, and dozens of flavors of fudge.
April 1, 2021
Neil Luken
Neil Luken is owner of Neil Luken Meats and has served as Opening Day Parade Chairman since 1998. Neil spent his school years, beginning at the age of 12, working at Findlay Market at his brother Mike’s business, Luken's Fish and Poultry. After some time working as an accountant Neil came back to the market to take over Charles Bare and Sons Meats and has been running his own full-service meat stand for 26 years. Neil chooses to make his living at the market because he says the atmosphere can't be found anywhere else in Cincinnati.
April 8, 2021
Debbie Knueven Gannaway
Better known as “Gramma Debbie,” Debbie Knueven Gannaway is owner of Gramma Debbie’s Kitchen, Co-chairman of the Opening Day Parade, and former board member of Friends of Findlay Market. Debbie developed her love of cooking and feeding people by hosting family gatherings, catering family weddings, and serving as a volunteer cook at Old St. George. Her ‘kitchen’ offers old fashioned comfort food. Since she started shopping at Findlay Market in 1979, she has loved everything about it. She also keeps busy as an actual ‘gramma’ with 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and a large extended family.
The Museum suggests a $5 donation for these provocative stories. We encourage you to donate online at http://otrmuseum.org/donate.
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three fifteen-minute talks on the history of Over-the-Rhine.
About the event host organizations:
The Over-the-Rhine Museum inspires understanding and respect for the people who have created and lived in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood by working with community members to uncover, present, and preserve their stories.
Historic Findlay Market connects farmers, producers, sellers and customers in a dynamic, diverse public marketplace.