Memories of the Montrose Bob’s Big Boy – Part 1

This continues the collection of memories from the Montrose Bob’s Big Boy, located at 3212 La Crescenta Ave. near its intersection with Verdugo Road. It was there from the late 1940s until the late 1980s, and was a favorite hangout for families and teenagers during the “baby boom” years.

Here are more of those cherished memories:

“In the late ’50s I worked for Gene Wilson who had a car body and paint shop in Glendale. Gene lived in Montrose and started each day with breakfast at Bob’s in Montrose. Then he would go to his shop. About 10 a.m. we would go to Bob’s on Colorado for coffee. Then back to work until about 1 p.m. for lunch. Bob’s of course. Then back to work until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. [then off] for coffee at Bob’s. Then Gene would go home and then to Bob’s for dinner. I think he did this every day during the summer I worked with him. I think he was also was dating a waitress at Bob’s. I spent lots of time at Bob’s but usually at the one on Colorado with friends at my high school. Only went to the Bob’s in Montrose a few times. I do remember when I drove by a few times wondering if Gene was in there eating.”

“[I] grew up in La Crescenta from birth and Montrose Bob’s was our family’s favorite. Dad taught us how to shoot the frilly toothpicks with a paper straw into the cork ceiling tiles. Boy, did they stick! My friends and I hung out there a lot growing up. We’d take our lipstick and write on the bathroom mirrors. We didn’t want to permanently scratch into the bathroom doors or walls. When I was 18, I worked at the Sunland Bob’s and we called the Bob’s in Montrose ‘Montrose Bob’s.’ I still have my Bob’s Big Boy doll, nametag, and my gold pin. Great memories especially since I met my husband there.”

“We’d go there with a bunch of friends before or after our high school dances. Classic burgers, fries and milkshakes. Other times [I] used to go after our Friday football games.”

“I grew up in La Crescenta, I don’t remember when the Bob’s in Montrose was built, I just remember the good times with my family eating fries dipped in both Thousand Island dressing and blue cheese. We didn’t eat out much [and] going to Bob’s was a special treat. It wasn’t as much about the food as it was about the time and memories with family and friends.”

“Lots of memories there. The front door glass shattered one night when temp changed! Couple of times in the parking lot we had contests downing beers for time! Once with Tommy from ‘Dennis the Menace’ TV series! Class of ’64.”

“Favorite place to lunch with my Rosemont Junior High friends after a Saturday movie matinee! Waitresses were always so nice to us. My dad would pick us up from there. He always went in and made sure we left a decent gratuity!”

“In the late ’60s it was the place to go after football games at Glendale stadium.”

“Many, many Big Boys, mid ’50s to early ’60s, from the Bob’s in Montrose. I went my first two years of college in Mexico City. My dad came down to visit and snuck a Big Boy in his suitcase. I ate it cold, but it was still good.”

“It’s always chili spaghetti for me! I now stop in at the Burbank location when I get a chance.”

“My mom started her waitress career at that Bob’s! She had to wear a giant button that said something like ‘How about a hot fudge cake?’”

“Great memories from childhood to adulthood there. In my teens, after my girlfriends and I went to the beach we stopped on the way home for a bite to eat. After, we each took a dare and sat on the burger in our bikinis. Wish we had taken a picture. My favorite pie was rum cream pie.”

More memories next week.