East side pizza shop proudly displays old Sir Beef sign with other Evansville memorabilia

EVANSVILLE – Remember the old Sir Beef restaurant on Green River Road? Where the roast beef sandwiches were made from beef seasoned and roasted in-house, then shaved to order?

Casey Keown, owner of Casey’s Dugout Pizza and Bar, grew up loving Sir Beef.

“My mom cooked 90% of the time for us, but when we did eat out … Sir Beef was always a hell of a treat!” he wrote in a social media post.

He reminisces about watching the cook slice the beef for sandwiches “as she would effortlessly go back and forth like an argument, that hunk of beef seemingly glued to that Hobart slicer, carving globs of goodness right on to that steaming onion bun…”

It’s nice that Keown, then, recently was able to purchase the original 14-foot tall Sir Beef sign, which is now mounted on the side of his pizza shop.

Keown’s a big hometown supporter, and his place is full of Evansville memorabilia. An original sign from Mattingly’s 23 is in the front dining area, and signs from Paul’s Tavern, Harpole’s Main Street Exit, Midget Links, and East Little League are scattered around the interior.

“A fellow came in a couple months ago and said they’d seen the Sir Beef sign in town at a little store off Washington Avenue and thought I’d like it because he saw all the local signs in here, and thought the Sir Beef sign would go great. It really hit home with me going there once a week with my family growing up.”

Keown and his wife, Elizabeth made the trek to AbyssCo and, sure enough, there was the sign.

“They said it had been on the wall in there for a few years collecting dust because it was too big. We exchanged some cash and gift cards and got it that day.”

Now the Sir Beef sign is once again visible on a busy Evansville street, outside Casey’s Dugout on Lincoln Avenue. Give it a salute as you go inside to enjoy one of Casey’s loaded pizzas, special lasagna, appetizers or pizza oven sandwiches with a cold brew or soda for the kids.

Casey’s Dugout

• Location: 2900 Lincoln Ave.
• Hours: Monday – Thursday 5-10 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.-Midnight; Saturday 3 p.m.-Midnight; Sunday closed.
• Website: www.caseysdugout.com