Peddler Steakhouse / Poor Richard's, 620 Harden Street: early 90s 15 comments
Peddler Steak House, now Bar None seems to be a small southeastern chain of franchaised steak restaurants which started in Sanford NC on an amateur basis and was instituted as a restaurant in Southern Pines NC. I have never eaten in one myself, but when I was living in Fayetteville, I recall several people mentioning The Peddler very favorably.
I'm not sure when the one in 5 Points opened (the Yellow Pages ad is from the Southern Bell 1970 directory), but I don't think it lasted into the 80s as I don't ever recall it being an option when I was driving and picking restaurants on my own. (Not that I would have picked a steak place on my own anyway, but I think I would at least have been aware of it..)
UPDATE 14 September 2009: A lot of love for the place in the comments! And a correction on the closing date, so I have updated the post title to say "early 90s" rather than "1970s".. My poor sense of passing time strikes again!
UPDATE 16 September 2009: Added Poor Richard's to the post title due to information in the comments.
15 Responses to 'Peddler Steakhouse / Poor Richard's, 620 Harden Street: early 90s'
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Steve
14 Sep 09 at 8:02 am
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Columbia's Peddler was just about the perfect restaurant experience as far as my wife and I are concerned. Miss it terribly. I know it was in Five Points at least until 1988 or so.
I ate at one of the NC Peddlers a long time ago, and it was very good, but too big and crowded to have the same feel as Columbia's.
Mama Gibson and her kids have been involved in all kinds of Columbia dining and entertainment efforts over the years.
Dennis
14 Sep 09 at 9:25 am
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I know it lasted into the late 80's, at least in 5 points. I moved to Columbia in 1986 and my first meal in town was there.
Jeff
14 Sep 09 at 9:44 am
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Steve, Senior, along with others founded and later sold Rockafella's. He's still managing restaurants.
Steve
14 Sep 09 at 9:45 am
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It was open til at least 1992--but that's probably the latest, too.
badger
14 Sep 09 at 9:52 am
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One of the best steakhouses in Columbia's history.
Tom
14 Sep 09 at 10:20 am
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Meanwhile, who remembers when this address was Poor Richard's? (after Peddler and before Bar None).
Terrific sandwhich place that I still miss. The Bloated Pigeon was this giant mound of delicious turkey with bacon -- awesome!
Dennis
14 Sep 09 at 5:37 pm
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I could be wrong about this, but I think "Richard" of "Poor Richards" was Rich Burts, who along with Dan Bliek, ran Monterrey Jacks a street or so over during its latter days. I think Dan runs, or did run, the existing "Bar None." I remember "Poor Richard's," but I never ate there.
badger
14 Sep 09 at 6:04 pm
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badger -- sounds right. Richard Burts has had a piece of many many Columbia restaurants and bars.
Dennis
15 Sep 09 at 7:57 pm
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Not positive about this but I think Poor Richard's didn't close but changed their name to Bar None. I know for a long time the credit card receipts would still say Poor Richards. Bar None has some really good food. It's probably my favorite bar in town.
MR BILL
16 Sep 09 at 7:19 am
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Once, while working in Wyoming 20 years ago, I came back to Columbia and ask Ms. Gibson if I could buy one uncut rib eye to take back. The Wyomians (sp) and others from Kansas City claimed to have the best steaks in America, and I begged to differ. She said to me "Well you know, this is Colorado beef." I took it, I cooked it, and they had to eat their words. I told them it came from South Carolina (as though it was SC livestock), just to add insult to injury.
Steve MacQueen
19 Oct 10 at 12:22 pm
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It was Poor Richards for about a year, 1994-1995, then became Bar None when Richard Burts (who named it after his dad) and Dan Bliek split their business interests. Consistency is key for its current success: when I worked there, the bar never closed before 6am, except on Saturdays.
Sean Mac
6 May 11 at 1:59 pm
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Some wonderful memories in the back room at the Peddler. I remember the Gibsons. Mama ran the front and Papa the grill. Some of the best ribeyes, filets and strips anywhere - bar none (pun intended). Great wine list, bottles of Bollinger RD, Tattinger, French Grand Crus were all less than $40.
Boomboom
4 Aug 12 at 10:58 am
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Ma Gibson was a sweatheart just the nicist person you could ever meet. A couple friends and I had a great meal their one night and left a $20 bill as a tip. Ma Gibson came running after us down the street because she thought we had left a 20 by mistake. I could have cried. . . "No," we said, "It was what we wanted to leave as a tip because of the wonderful food and service".
All the steaks were cooked over Kingsford Charcoal and both her sons knew how to cook killer steaks. They also brought the whole rib-eye out to the table, by whichever brother was cooking that night, and sliced your steaks to ordered. You could order by the inch, the oz the pound or just have them move the knife unti you said "stop".
They had a killer salad bar and the vegetarian chick who lived a couple houses down from me would go there with me and just have a great salad.
I've been to Ruth Chris and Morton's which were both outrageously expensive and in my book had steaks far inferior to what either of the Gibson Boys put out!
Bob Benson
17 Apr 13 at 5:19 pm
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The building at 618-620 Harden Street was built in 1941 by Caba Rivkin and has housed the following businesses through the years:
· 1941-1947 – Rivkins Delicatessen, Caba Rivkin
· 1947-1967 – Groucho’s Five Points Delicatessen, Harold Miller
· 1968-1991 – The Peddler Steak House, Steve Gibson
· 1992-1994 – Poor Richard’s Deli, Richard Burts
· 1994-Present – Bar None, Marty DreesenNotes:
Caba Rivkin sold his delicatessen in 1941 to Harold Miller and George Stein.
In 1967, Groucho’s Deli moved across the street to 611 Harden Street where it still operates today.
In 1991, The Peddler moved to 2400 Devine Street where it operated until closing in 1995.Photos at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/202691216450710/posts/6289173834469054/
The Peddler was owned by the Gibson family and, you are correct, was located where Bar None is now. In fact there is a Peddler sign in Bar None.
It relocated at one point to where Dianne's on Devine is and for at least part of the 1990's was known as "Gibson's Peddler."
Mama Gibson can still cook like crazy!