Before the Golden Arches and before Akron’s iconic Swensons, there was Bob’s.
As in Bob’s Hamburg, the little joint in an out-of-the-way spot on Akron’s East Avenue, with the plucky slogan: “Famous since 1931.”
That makes Bob’s 85 years old. Time for a celebration, said owner Aimee Buckeye.
“It’s a big deal,” she said. “We’re the oldest restaurant in Akron. I’m proud of that.”
Buckeye and employees will celebrate the no-frills breakfast-and-burger bar’s anniversary this weekend with a carnival for children on Saturday and a classic-car cruise-in Sunday. The Bob’s Famous single burger with everything — which in Bob’s-speak means mustard, pickle, onion, lettuce and Bob’s Special Sauce — will cost just 85 cents from 1 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Normally, a single Bob’s Famous is $3.60. The 85-cent burgers will be served from a grill set up outside the restaurant, in a working-class area of West Akron. Inside, the full menu will be available, cooked on the decades-old grill that can be seen from every seat in the house.
“We’re going to have a good time here,” Buckeye said in her reassuring tone of voice.
Lunch fare includes hand-cut onion rings ($2.25), hand-cut french fries ($1.90) and fish sandwiches ($4).
For the record, Dontino’s Italian restaurant in Akron’s North Hill dates to 1930 — a year earlier than Bob’s. But Dontino’s began as another Italian restaurant and didn’t get the Dontino’s name until the 1970s.
Outside Bob’s one day this week, Joseph Curry Jr., 67, a retired plumber, said he’s been eating Bob’s food since around 1963, when he was in seventh grade.
“Each time a different owner gets it, the quality and service upgrades,” Curry said, carrying his to-go breakfast of bacon, eggs and home fries that Buckeye had just cooked on the grill.
“Aimee and the other employees are the best,” the West Akron man said. “I get free dinners on my birthday … It’s the old-school mom-and-pop that’s just always been there.”
Buckeye, 47, who has four children, joined Bob’s as an employee eight years ago. That was after the Cuyahoga Falls woman was laid off from her sales and marketing job in the Falls. She had worked 16 years for TGI Friday’s, both in California and several Akron-area locations.
When the then-owner of Bob’s began looking for a buyer in 2011, Buckeye decided to jump in. She had endured weeks of chemotherapy for Stage 3 breast cancer that year, and today says Bob’s has been both livelihood and emotional support.
“It’s one of the best things I ever did. It helped get me through the cancer,” she said. “I’ve met some of the most incredible people here — employees and customers. They are like family.”
The place attracts those who live nearby, as well as fans from outside the area. Many customers have gotten to know her family. Her husband, Dan, who is a steel salesman, joins her at the restaurant on Sundays. “It’s the Dan and Amy show,” Buckeye said.
Her son Austin Riegler, 19, on his summer break from Ohio University, is the latest to join her behind the counter.
Buckeye hasn’t been tempted to mess with the down-home trappings of the place, keeping the bona fide vintage feel. She replaced the scuffed linoleum floor with black-and-white checkerboard vinyl. But the booths, stools, grill, stainless-steel backsplashes and other fixtures are the same as when she arrived.
She added Sunday and early evening hours. Employees run the evening shift, but Buckeye makes a habit of stopping in to check on things. She has added some items, such as a BBQ Bonanza Burger (with provolone cheese, bacon, barbecue sauce, mayo and lettuce) but has kept the basic breakfast-and-burger theme.
“We come for the food and the people,” Nolan Boyd said. He and his wife, Reata, retirees who live a few miles away in West Akron, decided to give the place a try for breakfast a decade ago and quickly became regulars.
Bob’s is named for Bob Holbrook, who started the restaurant in 1931.
The carnival, outside the restaurant, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with games and $1 cotton candy and slushies. The cruise-in will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, with giveways and raffles both days. Phone is 330-253-2627.
Regular restaurant hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Bob’s is at 1351 East Ave.
Ukrainian Festival
Head to the 13th annual Ukrainian Festival in Akron from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday and you’ll be the beneficiary of all the pierogi pinching that went on last weekend.
Members and friends of Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church at 1866 Brown St. in Akron gathered in the church’s social hall to make pierogi, folding dough over potato-and-cheese filling, then pinching to seal it.
I stopped in to witness the pierogi production, and it seemed like the festival already had begun.
On the stage of the church social hall was church member Walter Wolansky playing his accordion, providing a polka accompaniment. His band will play at the festival.
Dave Griffiths of Hinckley Township motioned toward Wolansky and said: “When we need to get going faster, I tell him to play faster.”
In addition to the potato-and-cheese pierogi, the festival will feature what Griffiths calls “cheeseburger pierogi.” Griffiths made the filling, blending hamburger, cheese and spices.
Baked goods available Saturday include nut, apricot and poppyseed rolls, as well as the rich Ukrainian Easter bread called paska, said Patty Lehner of Guilford Township.
The halushki (noodles with cabbage) will be made fresh Saturday. Eddie Halamay, 61, of New Franklin, looked around at the buzz of activity and said, “What you are experiencing today is fellowship.”
Also on the bill are cabbage rolls and a beer garden — with Ukrainian and other beer — gifts for sale, polka music, guided church tours and more. Go to www.hgucc.org for details. The church is one block north of Waterloo Road. Look for the tent.
The church, like the festival, is open to all, regardless of ethnicity, stressed the Rev. Vsevolod Shevchuk, affectionately known as Father Sal. While the church began as an ethnic parish, many of its parishioners have no roots in Ukraine.
Market Day vendors
The third annual Market Day in Highland Square, presented by the small Akron Honey Co., has attracted additional local vendors.
The open-air event featuring independent purveyors of edibles and other items will run from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in Highland Square, on the street near 1045 Jefferson Ave., the vacant lot turned apiary. The hives of this small-batch enterprise are near the home of Akron Honey Co. owner Brent Wesley, a musician with retro soul band Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites.
The festival site is near Every Blooming Thing florist at 1079 W. Exchange St. Listen for DJ Ben Crazy, who will be spinning music.
Here is the lineup of vendors, some selling items to eat on site, others selling packaged products: Akron Coffee Roasters, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen (vegan), Not Yo’ Daddy’s hot sauce, Norka Soda, Sweet Mary’s Bakery, Stray Dog Cart (hot dogs), Popsmiths (ice pops) and Your Pizza Shop, which will sell items from its location at 1077 W. Exchange, near the site.
Nonfood vendors are Apotheclaire, which opened a salon in downtown Akron this spring; Neighbors Apparel, Saint Augustine & Suds soaps, Urban Buzz beeswax candles.
Jellies and jams
Learn to can jellies and jams from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the first in a series of classes at Summit Lake Apartments Community Room, 9 Plato Ave., off Lake Shore Boulevard in South Akron.
The series is presented by the Pump House Urban Agriculture Center, a collaboration of Let’s Grow Akron, the city of Akron, Akron Summit Community Action Inc. and the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.
The next class, from 2 to 4 p.m. July 23, will be on canning green beans. For more information or a list of classes, call Let’s Grow Akron at 330-745-9700.
Also in the area, a Neighborhood Farmers Market will begin its season Tuesday at Summit Lake Community Center, 380 W. Crosier St., Akron. The market will run from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 4.
Organizers say the market will offer affordable produce and food products, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, music and more.
Customers using the Ohio Direction Card are eligible for a program that provides matching funds for purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Wine at Wise Guys
Wise Guys Lounge & Grill, 1008 N. Main St., Akron, will offer a Wines of Piedmont Italy wine dinner at 7 p.m. June 29. Barolo and Barbaresco red wines will be featured, paired with Italian dishes.
Cost is $70. Call 330-922-3006 for reservations. Wise Guys Lounge & Grill opened in 2014 in the building that formerly housed iconic Nick Anthe Restaurant.
Veggie Mobile in Stark
The Stark County District Library will host the StarkFresh Mobile Market — aka the Veggie Mobile — throughout the summer.
Beginning Wednesday through Oct. 26, the Veggie Mobile will visit the parking lots of Main and Lake Community libraries, offering local produce.
The Veggie Mobile’s Wednesday schedule is: 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at Lake Community Library, 565 Market Ave. SW in Lake Township; 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 715 Market Ave. N., Canton.
Old European Days
Reminder: The German Family Society will host its popular Old European Days and Bierfest Saturday and Sunday at the society’s grounds in Brimfield near Kent. The address is 3871 Ranfield Road, east of state Route 43 and County Road 18. Sausage, schnitzel, stuffed cabbage, pastries, cakes, beer and dancing will be on the menu.
Children’s games will be offered Sunday. Admission is $5, free for children under 12. Parking is free. Hours are 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Go to www.germanfamilysociety.com.
Festival dates
Here are some upcoming festival dates in downtown Akron for your calendar:
• Rib, White & Blue festival — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1-4. Go to http://lock3live.com.
• Akron’s Italian Festival — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 7-9. Go to www.it-am.org.
• National Hamburger Festival — Noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 13, noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 14. Go to www.hamburgerfestival.com.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com.