Bob's Grandview

There’s this bar in Kenosha on 39^th Avenue.  It’s a real dive bar that is classic Kenosha and it’s one of my favorite places in town.  The physical bar takes up 90% of the establishment.  They serve Old Style in a can for dirt cheap.  It makes me very happy. 

I love this bar because it’s where my cousins get together whenever we’re all in town.  It doesn’t happen too often, but for family weddings and that sort of thing, we pack the place.  It’s good fun to spend time with my cousins.  It reminds me of my youth and I laugh more with them then I do in any other group of people. 

We were introduced to the bar by my uncle.  Back when I was little, Grandma & Grandpa’s was the gathering place for my 12 aunts and uncles, my 15 cousins, and my immediate family.  Uncle used to leave Grandma & Grandpa’s house a little early on Friday nights so he could go out to the bar.  I couldn’t imagine what kind of place he would be going to when I was a grade-schooler.  Bars were a mystery back then.  And drinking was something my extended family rarely did. 

Since he has a son who is exactly my age, Uncle experienced first-hand most of my major youth events:  CCD classes, first communion, birthday parties, working at church festivals, 9^th grade dance, high school football, graduation, and tons more.  When I came of age, he welcomed me into the splendor of Bob’s Grandview.  I didn’t have the know-it-all to appreciate its dive-y-ness as a 21 year old college student.  But now I take comfort in its coziness and familiarity.  It feels a bit like home. 

I want to thank my uncle for introducing me to the finer things:  Good company.  Cheap beer.  The voicing of opinions.  He won’t be joining me on my next trip to Bob’s.  But his legacy will live on in my heart.   Always.