Gumby's, a new cozy neighborhood bar in Bay View, pays tribute to the Milwaukee Brewers' heyday.

First-time-bar-owner Russ Chicks had an inside source when it came to decorating the walls at the pub located at 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Chicks' sister is married to the bar's namesake and longtime Brewers' second baseman Jim Gantner, who allowed him to blow up photos from his private collection to frame and hang in the bar. Never-before-seen black and white pictures of fans and infield comrades like Robin Yount and Paul Molitor line the walls and will surely bring a smile to fans of the Brew Crew.

"All of these pictures are from personal stuff that he had ... As we grow I'd like to get some more modern pictures of today's Brewers and kind of infill with that," Chicks said.

While Gantner has no financial ties to Gumby's, Chicks said he expects him to drop in periodically when he's in Milwaukee, including on Friday when the bar opens its doors at 11 a.m.

The tavern has come a long way from the run-down residential duplex Chicks bought roughly seven years ago, with brand new fixtures, giant street-side windows and culinary grade gas lines fueling the premium beers on tap. The bar boasts a digital jukebox and giant flat screen television with one more on the way.

For Chicks, who got into real estate after a career in automotive repair, Gumby's offers hours that will also allow him to tend to his many rental properties, he said.

"With my rental properties I can't really do a 9-to-5 job, so I am hoping it kind of fits well with the other things I am doing," Chicks said.

But while Gumby's will show Brewers games, Chicks said visitors shouldn't expect the kind of multi-screened, overstimulated atmosphere that has come to define the modern sports bar.

"Everybody says 'Is it going to be a sports bar?' No it's not going to be a sports bar, it's going to be sport themed. I am not going to have all the packages and all that. It's not that big. Where am I going to put everybody?" said Chicks.

"We are hoping to have good quality reasonably priced drinks and just be a good, fun neighborhood bar."

Chicks said the bar's simple gimmick-free approach should help draw customers looking for a neighborhood pub feel.

"There are a lot of bars in Bay View now. A lot of loungey type bars which is great, but how many more loungey type bars can you have?" Chicks asked.

While Chicks is still working out the details of bar hours and drink specials, he said he anticipates the bar will be open from 2 p.m. until bar time Monday through Saturday, and open early on Sundays with a bloody mary bar.

Gumby's opens Friday at 11 a.m. with Jim Gantner dropping in at some point to join in the celebration, Chicks said.