Gary Bell and Jeff Gibson met in fifth grade and soon became fast friends. In high school, they both landed jobs as bus boys at LeRuth’s Restaurant in Gretna. They worked hard, and quickly climbed the ladder with the front of the house team and became back-waiters. At that time, LeRuth’s was one of only two five-star restaurants in the city, along with Commander’s Palace. LeRuth’s ran a very tight ship, and the two were trained and held to the highest standards of five-star dining service. At the same time, the exposure to the culinary expertise of Warren LeRuth opened a door into the culinary world that they both fell in love with. It wasn’t long before they both became life-long foodies.

After High School, the two spent the summer of 1985 opening and working Andrew Jager’s Seafood Restaurant on the West Bank. With the skillsets they had honed at LeRuth’s, the two were hired immediately, and quickly became the favorites of the local community. From there, Gary went into the banking industry while attending Our Lady of Holy Cross College, and ultimately graduated with his MBA from Troy State University. Jeff joined the Louisiana National Guard and was a weekend-warrior while waiting tables at Mr. B’s Bistro and attending Southeastern Louisiana University where he earned his BS in Industrial Technology.

After college, the two reunited at BellSouth, working in outside sales with the wireless messaging division. They enjoyed great success at BellSouth. They learned the ropes together, helping to prop each other up along the way, and celebrating their victories. After a few years at BellSouth, Jeff moved into medical device sales where he would spend the next twenty-five years working for various companies selling critical care equipment to hospitals throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Gary moved on and started his own engineering consulting firm, US Forensic. He built his business from scratch, using his own money to jump start a very risky, but lucrative business. Over the next twenty years, Gary’s business thrived and grew to become a national player in the marketplace, and the most successful engineering consulting firm of its kind in the United States.

Jeff met Desi Vega through a mutual friend following Hurricane Katrina. They developed a friendship and enjoyed each other’s company at various events and get-togethers. Soon, Jeff would be performing his music at Desi’s Northshore Steakhouse. Their friendship and mutual respect evolved into conversations about the restaurant business, and opportunities for growth within Desi’s brand. In 2022, Gary decided to sell his business, and he and Jeff began looking for business opportunity where they could once again work together in a fun, fast-paced environment. Gary lives in Harahan, and he and his boys enjoyed regular visits to Desi Vega’s Prime Burgers. It became a family favorite, and with the “Desi Connection,” through Jeff, the dream soon became a reality. “We searched for a location for over a year, and almost gave up,” said Gary. But when a restaurant space on Harrison Avenue in Lakeview opened, the three guys realized that their time had come, and this was the grand opportunity they had been searching for.

So, welcome to Desi Vega’s Prime Burgers in Lakeview! It is our goal to serve our customers the best, high- quality burgers, fries, and shakes possible. We take great pride in offering something for everyone in the neighborhood, including the little ones. We hope you’ll visit our newest location, and ask for Gary, Jeff, or Desi when you’re there.