Lexington officials closed off a small portion of downtown Main Street Friday to honor former Council Member Jake Gibbs. Many of those who knew Gibbs, who died unexpectedly just over a year ago, gathered to dedicate a plaque honoring the public servant.
It depicts a tree with deep roots and is in the sidewalk in front of the Alfalfa Restaurant, a business Gibbs once co-owned. His wife, Anita Courtney told how Gibbs would conduct an interview with restaurant applicants.
“Here were Jake’s two hiring questions. He’d look the applicant in the eye and he’d say, “Do you show up late?” and then he’d say “Do you steal stuff?” He’d use his lie detector abilities to see how’d they’d respond to those questions,” said Courtney.
Courtney said a visit to Gibbs’ hometown of Troy New York in 2019 brought him great pleasure to see its transformation.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay said Gibbs was a fierce advocate for the downtown life. Mayor Linda Gorton said Gibbs had lived near downtown since he came to Lexington in 1978.
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Alfalfa, a Lexington favorite for decades, is now owned by Wali and Tiffany Bellfield Al-Amin. Tiffany spoke of the first time she met Gibbs. “He came to Castlewood and we do a pollinator garden in Castlewood Park and we work with the kids out in Castlewood. And, he just pops up and he was just the coolest dude ever. You know. I went on his Facebook and I was like he has literally championed and pioneered all the work that I find myself in today,” explained Bellfield Al-Amin.
Downtown Management District Board Chair Jim Frazier remarked he never saw Gibbs in a car, adding he was always walking or biking.
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