GO Getter: Travis Dibben

Meet the man who is bringing a sports bar and a three-story nightclub to the Southside.

Travis Dibben is not one to do things halfway, as evidenced by the time and attention he paid one recent afternoon trying to decide where to hang each of 16 flat-screen TVs at Upperdeck Sports Bar and Grill, which he recently opened in the old Pairings Restaurant location between Springfield and Nixa on South Campbell. You won’t recognize the space inside, especially downstairs at the former Black Cat Lounge. There Travis, 25, is adding space for a three-story nightclub, Crush, which he hopes to complete by the time school starts in the fall.

Why a nightclub? Why here? Did you go to nightclubs and just basically want to start your own?
Yeah, basically. You know, with all the crazy laws in Springfield—this is outside of Springfield, of course.

So you’re specifically avoiding the ban on minors in bars?
I won’t have to worry about any of that stuff. There will be security and everything and as long as you stay on top of situations, it’s not a problem. Of course you’re always going to have somebody trying to do something, but that’s part of the business.

You’ve said you don’t really watch or follow sports. How does a guy like you open a sports bar?
It’s just not going to have much stuff hanging on the walls, like baseballs and bats. Where someone else would have a picture, there’ll be a TV with sports… and really good food.

So sports are almost like a side deal at Upperdeck?
I wouldn’t say that. It’s just not going to be like Applebee’s with all those little pictures hanging around everywhere. And it’s not going to be just bar food. I have a really good chef [Twin Oaks veteran Steve Zeppenfeldt]. [UPDATE, 06/21/07] We received a call from Travis the day after this article went to press. He informed us that Steve Zappanfeldt is no longer with Upperdeck. The new chef is Robin Walls, formerly from Highland Springs Country Club. -Evan Fisk [End update]

So the nightclub seems like your baby in all this. What can you tell me about it?
It’s all going to be totally upscale, like nobody’s ever seen as far as clubs in this area. I’ve put a lot of money into it. The dance floor’s going to be on a lower level with windows all around, looking out over the woods. The first level will be VIP.

What’s the theme going to be?
It’s more exotic…basically it’ll be like walking in and being VIP all the time. You’ll be well taken care of. Plus, it’s not downtown.

How important is that to you? Do you think it’s the future of nightclubbing in Springfield?
It’s not so much getting away from downtown. Springfield just needs something else, for one. Plus, you’ve got everyone on the south side and once they start drinking, they don’t want to take a taxi all the way downtown when they’ve got [a club] a couple of miles from anywhere on the south side.

“Undesirable element” is sort of a buzzword on the local club scene. Do you worry about getting those people who aren’t welcome at other clubs?
This is going to be a nicer place to go—I’m not going to name off other places. But there is going to be a dress code enforced.

Specifics?
No sagging, no hats, stuff like that. No T-shirts. I haven’t thought about it much yet…but it does help out as far as what goes on in your bar.

This is your first venture into restaurant and bar ownership. What’s your level of confidence, 1-10, that this is going to work?
10. It’s just way unique and way different from anything else. It’s going to be competitive with pricing, but you’re not going to be able to have a meal as good as this, with the atmosphere and everything around it, anywhere else.