Gus's Good Times Deli: A nostalgic Knoxville burger and deli staple

Gus’s Good Times Deli has been a Knoxville staple since 1981 serving up some of the best food in town. Gus Captain and his wife, Rose opened and operated the deli until 2001 when they retired. Since then ownership has been in the hands of Aaron Hale and Gerald Nelson and has not skipped a beat.

The laid back atmosphere you will find at Gus’s which sits on the campus of the University of Tennessee is a popular spot on gamedays and beyond. Gus’s is decked out wall to wall in hometown swag for the Vols which makes it very difficult to not root for the Vols if you are not a fan already.

Old school logos, newspapers clippings, classic photos and more line the walls of the deli. And of course, what would a Knoxville staple be without the famous poster “don’t blame us we voted for Manning” on the wall as well. Legendary Vols quarterback Peyton Manning finished second in the 1997 Heisman Trophy voting to the dismay of Vol nation who to this day feel he should have won.

I got a chance to catch up Aaron Hale’s wife, Shannon Hale who handles many operational business needs and asked her a few questions about Gus’s.

What are the most popular items on the menu?

“Cheeseburgers and our steamed deli sandwiches,” Hale said are the most popular items on the menu. And given fans reactions and social media posts, this seems to line up.

While Gus’s has your regular cheeseburgers which are fantastic in their own right, they also feature a “pizza burger.” Regardless of the burger, do not expect a disappointment as far as size goes either. You will absolutely get your money’s worth.

Gus’s does not skimp on their topping when it comes to their deli sandwiches either piling your preferred deli meats high on the sandwiches ready for you to devour.          

Even though you will be stuffed, = be sure to pick up some of their “Gus’s Dust” seasoning on your way out. It is great on eggs Sunday morning after the big game!

What are some of the best memories at Gus’s?

There are many to count but Hale shared a few with me that stand out. “Folks bringing in their kids as freshmen, then coming back after graduation and folks getting engaged here after having their first date,” Hale mentioned are a few moments in time that stand out.

Not only does the food seem to be popular, but nostalgia seems to be at play here which makes a spot like this so much more than a restaurant at the heart.

Haled stated that a few kids are even named after the restaurant as well.

On top of all of this, geography does not seem to be an obstacle for some customers. “We once had a customer from the Middle East schedule his lay over in Knoxville so he could come get a sandwich.” If this is not dedication, I do not know what is. Very few restaurants on any college campus, let alone the entire country could lay claim to this.

Gus’s has been mentioned in several magazines including Southern Living, as well as being featured on the Magnolia Network.

What Hale says the team is most proud of though brings it all home. “We get rewarded most when we see customers come back time after time bringing their families. That’s what really means the world to us.”

Who are some of the most famous customers you have had?

Gus’s is not short on celebrities that have walked through the doors. Hale shared that pretty much every Vol athlete has been through the doors, which makes sense. Reggie White, Peyton Manning, Todd Helton and Willie Gault to name a few have been through.

On the non-athlete side, Hale mentioned that Prince, Phish, Garth Brooks and many more have entered through the doors.