But I was undaunted, because I knew that there was a Big Boy, fries and a chocolate shake waiting for me afterward. It made everything right, and nobody could deliver those goods like Bob’s.
As a teenager, Bob’s took on a whole new aura for me. There was Montrose Bob’s, where a steady stream of teenagers congregated on the weekends just to hang out, and then there was drive-in Bob’s on Colorado Boulevard, which was the original restaurant opened by Bob Wian in 1937.
So many Friday and Saturday nights I found myself in a carload of boys looking to link up with carloads of girls, almost always failing in that attempt, but it was where the action was. I sometimes wonder if we teens were partly responsible for the demise of Bob’s, having spent so many nights clogging their drive-up service. We’d cruise over, and then finally after settling into a parking slot, five or six of us would order a cherry coke and fries and stay for an hour or two.
After a football game or a dance at the Civic, “See you at Bob’s” was invariably the finishing touch to a night of kids being kids and wanting to make the most of a weekend. And speaking of the Civic, if I may digress for a moment, I’m referring to the Civic Center across from Glendale Community College, which used to have monthly dances. Kids from all the area schools came together to listen to local bands and dance the night away, and then meet at Bob’s afterward.
They are some of my fondest memories growing up, as I know they are for some of you reading this. I can’t help but think that our schools, our kids and our community would benefit greatly by bringing back monthly dances at the Civic.
