Chef, Gumbo Bar

GUMBO IS AN INTERESTING THING.
A SOUTHERN THING.
A FAMILY THING.

Maybe your gumbo recipe was passed down from a relative or a friend. Perhaps it is pulled from a weathered, aged cookbook whose pages have been turned by many hands.

Our gumbo? Our gumbo was born from a hurricane.

Years ago, Galveston Restaurant Group partners Johnny Smecca and Joey Smecca and Danny Hart had a concept in mind for a gumbo bar... a unique place where diners could gather and feel as if they were taking part in their meal experience, reminiscent of Southern-style suppers where the atmosphere was casual, the food was savory and the conversation was lively. The only thing missing? The perfect location.

On September 11, 2008, Hurricane Ike barreled down on Galveston Island. With this monster weather system came a tidal surge of over 17 feet, cresting the Seawall and flooding the downtown area with more than 8 feet of saltwater and accompanying debris. It left behind an Island ravaged by storm damage, a toll left on its tourist economy and more: a salty spirit determined to rebuild stronger and better than before.

When the waters receded, a shotgun style property located in the Arts & Entertainment District in Galveston was left unoccupied. Galveston Restaurant Group knew it would soon house the Gumbo Bar. "We found it when it had seven feet of water in it, but we knew it was the right location," Danny Hart said.

With a strong belief in the Island–s ability to rebound, Galveston Restaurant Group finished the first Gumbo Bar restaurant in a mere 40 days. "A lot of people lost their jobs, houses and a lot of money from damages from Hurricane Ike, but this concept is truly a remarkable story that rose from the floods."