Casey’s Dugout is a locally owned sports-themed pizza restaurant and bar located at 2900 Lincoln Avenue on Evansville’s East Side. Founded by Evansville native Casey Keown, the restaurant opened in 2024 and combines Keown’s love of pizza with his lifelong interest in Evansville sports history, particularly baseball and hometown star Don Mattingly.

History

Keown grew up near Lincoln Avenue and attended Reitz Memorial High School, where he played basketball, baseball and football. He later developed the idea of creating a neighborhood pizza restaurant centered around sports, nostalgia and Evansville history.

Keown and business partner Kyle Fields spent months converting a former eye doctor’s office into the restaurant. Casey’s Dugout began opening to customers in early 2024, with its pizza operation officially launching that March.

Evansville Sports Memorabilia

One of Casey’s Dugout’s defining features is its extensive collection of Evansville sports and restaurant memorabilia.

Much of the restaurant pays tribute to Don Mattingly, the Evansville native and former New York Yankees star whom Keown followed while growing up. The collection includes memorabilia connected with Mattingly as well as items from Mattingly’s former Evansville restaurant, Mattingly’s 23. Mattingly himself attended events surrounding the opening of Casey’s Dugout.

The restaurant also preserves pieces of Evansville’s past from places such as Midget Links, Paul’s Tavern, Harpole’s Main Street Exit and East Little League.

In 2024, Keown acquired the original 14-foot Sir Beef sign from the former Green River Road restaurant and installed it on the outside of Casey’s Dugout, preserving one of the more recognizable pieces of Evansville restaurant nostalgia.

The collection continued to grow. Following the 2025 closure of Evansville’s longtime Hooters, Casey’s Dugout acquired its sign as another piece of local restaurant history.

Don Mattingly Connection

Casey’s Dugout has developed a particularly close connection with Mattingly Charities, the organization founded by Don and Lori Mattingly to support children and youth. Keown serves on the organization’s board, and the restaurant has hosted fundraising events featuring Mattingly.

The baseball influence extends to the menu. One of the restaurant’s signature pizzas, The Hitman, is named for Mattingly’s famous nickname.

Evansville Connection

Although Casey’s Dugout is a relatively recent addition to Evansville’s restaurant scene, its collection of memorabilia gives the restaurant a connection to several generations of local history.

Through its displays honoring Evansville athletes, former restaurants, neighborhood institutions and local sports, Casey’s Dugout has become both a neighborhood restaurant and an informal collection of Evansville sports nostalgia.