Comic celebrates 15 years… out of business

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on April 29th, 2009

The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a profile of former comic Jimmy Gilliece.

Fifteen years ago Jimmy Gilliece traded a career doing standup comedy in clubs across the country for life as an owner and operator of Chez Nora, a popular tavern, restaurant and nightspot in the heart of Covington’s MainStrasse Village.

But while Gilliece left the road after 16 years, he’s still performing every day and most nights.

He’s the barkeep who knows most everyone who walks in the door; the restaurateur who works the floor – often with a cocktail in hand – patting backs, shaking hands, asking is “everything all right?” and sharing the latest Covington political gossip or local news; the accommodating host with the ability to make customers feel special.

Sounds like he’s in a burgeoning restaurant district in Covington, KY, just across the river from the Queen City.

If our math is correct, Gilliece dropped out around 1993 or so. A lot of comics threw in the towel around that time, as it was at or near the bottom of the bust. Sounds like he’s enjoying his life as a restaurateur. We wonder if the comics who work the Funny Bone (less than a mile away) ever stop in?

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