No more Bob’s: Famed chicken restaurant moving, rebranding

Bob’s Carryout and Delivery is ending as we know it.

The business announced on its Facebook page that it’s moving to 3607 E. 10th St., the former Toppers Pizza, and renaming itself Cluckin’ Good Chicken & BBQ.

“This location allows us to focus on carryout, catering and delivery,” it said. “Dine-in will be available on a casual basis so you can continue to enjoy our No. 1 chicken and BBQ.”

Phone numbers will stay the same and gift certificates will be honored.

Owners Ben and Jona Weiland said the plan is to open in August.

Bob’s originally was called the Pickle Palace. The building was built in 1944 from lumber recovered from a downtown building fire, according to a history published on the restaurant’s website.

The Pickle Palace was a summer burger joint. The original owners sold it to Ray Starks, who renamed it Rays Drive Inn. In the 1940s, Bob Lyons came in after getting off work at the Nickel Plate restaurant and ended up being hired. Starks sold the business to Lyons in 1951, and it was renamed.

The Lyons family ran Bob’s Cafe for 50 years until 2000, when it was turned over to Ben Weiland and renamed Bob’s Carry Out & Delivery with a focus on broasted chicken.

The former location, at 1312 W. 12th St., has been listed for sale with Dale Zomer of Zomer Automotive, who also is a broker with NAI Sioux Falls. Zomer has the restaurant building listed along with his adjacent dealership.

“We will be listing the building, the land and the sign for sale still,” Zomer said. “The Lyons family will continue to own the Bob’s Cafe name. Ben owns a lot of the equipment and is taking that with him.”

The land is under contract, and the new owners thought Bob’s was staying, Zomer said. The move changes the deal.

“Most of the people (interested) want a signed lease from a tenant. So now it’s basically going to be a building and land with the big sign, and most of the equipment is going to be leaving,” he said.

“I think that puts us at a land and building sale only, but if someone wants to come in with equipment we could open another Bob’s Cafe.”

The family is reducing the price, but no new price has been set yet.

Correction: The story has been updated to reflect that Weiland did not buy the business from Lyons. 

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No more Bob’s: Famed chicken restaurant moving, rebranding

Bob’s Carryout and Delivery is ending as we know it.

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