Joce Johnson

Statesman Journal

Some Salem residents would argue that the closure of Bob's 19-Cent Hamburgers left a gaping hole in the city's classic American dining options.

Luckily, fans have a chance to get their Bob's fix this summer.

The business will temporarily resurrect its menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings when it operates a booth at the state fair.

Former Bob's restaurant manager and current owner of Golden Grill Concessions Gina Dankenbring made the initial announcement on Facebook June 20:

"(Owner) Bob Corey signed a contract today allowing Golden Grill Concessions to operate an authentic Bob's booth at the Oregon State Fair!"

Bob's also will have a booth at the Marion County Fair.

The post generated a hefty response from nostalgic supporters: About 1,585 people had shared the announcement by Thursday afternoon, 372 liked it and more than 100 others left comments expressing excitement about Bob's return.

Within an hour of posting it, the announcement gained more likes than Dankenbring had friends on Facebook.

"I'm shocked," she said. "It gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling."

Bob's founder Robert Corey first opened the restaurant in 1955 near downtown Salem and even had a slogan to match: "Capitol and Hood Where the Food is Good." It turned into a regional chain that offered burgers, fries and drinks — for less than 20 cents each.

Corey sold the chain in the early 1990s, around the time when Dankenbring originally began working at a Salem location.

She recalled Corey being somewhat of a hometown celebrity. Sometimes he visited the locations and pointed out the TVs inside the restaurant, which were among the things that weren't around when he was the owner.

"I was part of the modern Bob's," Dankenbring said.

The business was eventually sold a second time and went bankrupt, then came to an ultimate close in May 2001. But the taste of the burgers and the low prices were apparently enough to maintain a community of loyal supporters.

"It's making people smile," Dankenbring said. "I've heard of so many people who are traveling just for a burger."

The booth at the fairs will have all the makings of an authentic Bob's experience: an all-beef patty, Bob's special sauce made from scratch and Franz buns.

Even the wrapping will look the same.

"It's exactly as it was when I was there in the early '90s," Dankenbring said.

There also will be a Bob's neon sign and the booths at the state fair will be custom made to replicate the look of the actual restaurant.

The burgers will not be 19 cents, but to keep with the spirit, Dankenbring said they will be sold for $2.19. With the next cheapest burger at the concession stand estimated to be $3.50, that's not bad in terms of fair food.

"It's not a big money maker for me, it's just the right way to do it," she said.

One hundred percent of the proceeds made from selling Bob's T-shirts and special sauce, along with a portion of the food sales, will go toward Corey's scholarship fund at Chemeketa Community College.

jdewitt@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter.com @Joce_DeWitt

Bob's at fairs

Marion County Fair: July 10-13

Oregon State Fair: Aug. 22-Sept. 1