Gibbs Cheese
ABOUT
Gibbs Cheese opened at Findlay Market in 1922 as a butter and egg stand. Today, Jeff Gibbs still sells butter and eggs, as well as lunchmeat, cheese, sausage, natural peanut butter, Amish jams, homemade noodles, and dozens of flavors of fudge. Jeff is generation number five in this family business, which has its roots in a general store in Fairview, Indiana. Jeff still has record books from the 1850s kept by his great-great grandfather, James Edward Gibbs.
Jeff's great-grandfather, also named James Gibbs, expanded the store's business by selling butter and eggs on packet boats, which traveled up and down the Ohio River. The butter and egg trade went particularly well in Cincinnati, so Jeff's grandfather (also named James Gibbs!) moved to Cincinnati to open a store on Sixth Street, and soon after moved to a stand in The Sixth Street Market. The Sixth Street Market stand was open until that Market was torn down in 1960. In 1922, he opened a second location at Findlay Market. Today the Gibbs stand is decorated with some of the tools his family used at that time: a butter churn, a butter tub, a manual cheese slicer, a balance scale, and thick wooden boxes to transport cheese.
Jeff's father started working at Findlay Market in the 1930s and when he retired in 1982 Jeff took over his share of the business. Jeff's Uncle Russ, another life-long merchant, was still a co-owner. Russ was in charge of butter and eggs and Jeff was in charge of meat and cheese. When Jeff bought out his uncle a few years later, he continued to expand the business.
Jeff's all-natural peanut butter has only one ingredient: peanuts. Even without salt or sugar, the flavor is amazing. The Amish jams and jellies to go with the peanut butter come from Fredericksburg, Ohio. The Amish noodles are Mrs. Miller's brand, made by a real Mrs. Miller. Jeff also sells honey and pure maple syrup.
At any given time, you'll find about twenty to twenty-five different kinds of Clare’s Famous Fudge at the stand. The selection changes often, and over the course of the year Jeff offers 125 different flavors in all. The cheesecake varieties he developed himself, using cream cheese instead of butter. The two most popular flavors, chocolate walnut and peanut butter, are available all the time. The peanut butter fudge is made with Jeff's all-natural peanut butter.
Besides the fudge Jeff also makes Home-Roasted Turkey Breast in two delicious flavors, the Soon-To-Be-Famous Roast Beef, homemade bagel chips, flavored whipped butters, and flavored cream cheeses.
PRODUCTS
Butter
Eggs
Lunchmeat
Cheese
Sausage
Natural peanut butter
Amish jams & jellies
Homemade noodles
Fudge
Chips
Flavored whipped butters
Flavored cream cheeses
Hours
Tuesday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Monday: CLOSED
Address
Market House
1801 Race St. Cincinnati, OH 45202
Contact Information
Jeffrey M. Gibbs
513-421-7459
gibbscheese@fuse.net