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Bob's Diner
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
September 21, 2003--In the 1930's a little metal diner was produced called the Valentine Diner.
The first was designed in Hazelton, Kansas by A. H. Valentine.
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Three thousand of the diners were produced.
One was put in Anthony, Kansas in the 1940's. It's been sitting vacant on Anthony's Main street for 27 years, that is, until Bob And Carol Hamilton found it.
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For them, it became a restoration project.
"Bob's Diner. We've got French fries or tator tots."
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It sets on Main street, among the
towering grain elevators in Anthony. Bob's Diner is a history project
come alive for Bob & Carol Hamilton.
"Ok are you going to eat it here or take it with you."
Both now, barley have time to talk because they are too busy dishing out
burgers.
"It's utter chaos."
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It is packed and overflowing at
lunch time. People order their burgers and then wait...either inside on
the eleven stools or wait outside.
"There ya go. Hot off the press."
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So why is this little
diner so important? It's been vacant for 27 years and it's part of
Anthony's history.
"I think this is about a '48 or '49 model, I think that's when
this was built. It was number 658, that was the serial number on it and
they made around 3,000 of them. It was an antique diner basically."
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"It was Bob's idea
and I thought he was crazy."
"All the pieces and parts were still here and so it was just a matter of
refurbishing it and putting in new wiring and new plumbing. Lots of elbow
grease getting it going again." |
The restoration included removing six layers of floor tile and a host of
other fixes...but for those who remember the original diner (which by the
way was called 'The Green Spot') this is a welcome and tasty piece of
history.
"And to see peoples reaction when they walk in here, who haven't been
here for years, it's like 'wow' this is the way we remember it."
"It's been fun to see it come back to life."
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Bob and Carol used to own a donut shop in Anthony. Now it appears the hours are a little better but the work in this little hamburger place is just as much work.
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| Historic Note: In later years the Valentine Diner concept was purchased by the Ablah restaurant chain in Wichita. The all-metal diners were delivered to their locations on the beds of trucks. |
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