In between football games yesterday I read the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. There was a story that especially caught my eye (and stomach). A retro ’50s diner is coming to downtown Owensboro and plans to open in time for Barbecue Fest (May 7-8). Is anything cooler than ’50s decor or the type of delicious food served in these types of diners?!
There’s a real buzz of excitement about our downtown area here in Owensboro, Kentucky. While we’re all still emotionally smarting over the Executive Inn, we have plenty to look forward to on our beautiful waterfront and downtown area. Bee Bops is the latest in a string of promising good times headed our way.
According to the story, Bee Bops will have a 32-foot counter with stools and counter service in addition to booths and table service. You can expect to see a lot of the colors and decor of the ’50s including walls decorated with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley (for an example of how much I love these stars and others of their time, check out my Hollywood Yesterday blog). The floors will apparently be like something right out of Happy Days – black and white.
As for the main event… the food…. Bee Bops will serve old fashioned milk shakes, malts, root beer floats, limeade, and burgers.
I love the quote from the director of downtown development, Fred Reeves: “The downtown restaurants are anxious to have more places to eat down here. A rising tide lifts all boats.” The tide of anticipation is certainly rising in downtown Owensboro and the residents can’t wait to see it all play out.
Bee Bops will be located at 122 W. Second Street and I’ll be there drinking chocolate milkshakes as fast as they can make them.
I just got back from my favorite grocery store (Kroger on West Parrish – I’m in there every day). I went with the intention of getting things that I need to make a few white pizzas for lunch. Everything went as planned until I came out of the store and was hit head on with a Heavenly aroma.
Naturally, my head and body followed where my nose led and we all ended up at a grill and table that were set up in front of Kroger. A few of the friendliest guys you could hope to meet were grilling cheeseburgers, hamburgers and bratwurst and doing it like it was meant to be done. I grabbed a few cheeseburgers and told the pizzas they’d have to wait.
When I got home, my husband was still sleeping, but I went ahead and ate my cheeseburger. As a young Shirley Timple would have said, OH – MY - DOODNESS! It was so delicious I just got lost in it for a few minutes. Then I began to eye the husband’s. Normally, I never finish my own burger. My husband has to end up leaving the bites I leave behind. But this time was a whole different game. Not only did I finish mine, his was in danger.
Actually, his is still in danger because I sat right down to tell you about these guys and their amazing food. The husband’s cheeseburger is sitting seductively on the kitchen counter – wrapped in foil marked with a big CB. I see it. It sees me. It’s a battle of wills and I never claimed to have a strong one.
These guys will have their stand of deliciousness set up every weekend in front of the Kroger on West Parrish in Owensboro. They told me that yesterday (the one day in, like, five years I didn’t go to Kroger) they had baby back ribs and sold out fast. Holy cats. I’m grieving over that one – but I know something that’ll make me feel better… and it’s still looking at me.
It’s kind of funny – they did the impossible. Infamous Moonlite BBQ is located within walking distance of Kroger, and its aromas are intoxicating. These guys out-aroma-ed Moonlite.
You have to check them out – great food, friendly smiles, and prices where we need for them to be: Well within reach.
Owensboro, Kentucky (I just call it home) is gearing up for a special guest who’s coming to pay us a visit on August 1. Jason Aldean (Hicktown, Johnny Cash, She’s Country, Big Green Tractor…) is headlining Big O Music Fest and this part of the state couldn’t be more excited.
Jason Aldean has, as they say, hit it big with his unique blend of country rock. He’s winning new fans to country music and giving old fans even more of a reason to dance. He’s having a lot of success on CMT with his videos as well as on the radio with his music. I guess that makes the young man a double threat!
The 2009 Big O Music Fest will be held on Saturday, August 1st at Reid’s Orchard in Owensboro, Kentucky (4812 State Route 144, Owensboro). Click HERE to purchase tickets at TicketMaster. Other performers will include Colt Ford, Chris Young, Brian Davis, Tabor Dame, Aubrey Collins, and Scott Lindsey (from Beaver Dam, Kentucky).
Gates open at noon with the music starting at 1:00 with Aubrey Collins, former lead singer for Trick Pony, and ending with Jason Aldean. There will be food and beverage booths, t-shirts, and souvenirs. Come join the fun as Owensboro throws its annual party.
Fellow Jason Aldean fans: Watch Brian Adams (love him too) and Jason Aldean perform some of their songs together on CMT Crossroads on cmt.com. Great stuff!
An old tobacco warehouse in Owensboro, Kentucky is being given a second chance at life. It’s being transformed into high tech laboratories and other offices. In the 1930’s, the brick warehouse was part of the hustle and bustle of “Tobacco Row.”
Local leaders have been wanting to give downtown Owensboro a shot in the proverbial arm for a while, and many believe that converting this warehouse will do just that. Developers want to make the building an important part of Owensboro’s downtown redevelopment, by turning the building into a laboratory and a small business center.
Developer Malcolm Bryant told 14 WFIE News that he thinks the warehouse is ideal: “It’s already here and it’s strong and it’s already structurally sound.”
With the growth of Owensboro’s bio-tech industry, the community is looking for places to expand, adding laboratories and other business offices.
WFIE Reports:
As Owensboro’s bio-tech industry continues to grow, the community is looking for places to expand, adding laboratories and other business offices.
“We need a place for those people to do business,” Hugh Haydon, Kentucky Bio-Processing, said. “This is it.”
Haydon said Owensboro is working hard to become a leader in the bio-processing industry.
“Having this kind of space available, having a demonstrated local commitment to that industry sector is hugely important,” Haydon said. “Something you haven’t seen in other communities to my knowledge across the world.”
Nick Brake, Economic Development Corporation, said the operations in Owensboro has helped.
“We have a competitive advantage in that facility, in the intellectual property that they control and the research that is going on here,” Brake said.
Local leaders say they hope building on to the bio-tech industry will attract students to town.
But, will this draw young people? Will this draw students into the community to work at this facility?
Brake is hopeful.
“Well we certainly hope it will,” Brake said. “Part of what we’re trying to create here is an environment. It’s all tied into the place making and it will be a unique space.”
The City said Tuesday it will contribute $2 million to the project. Daviess County said it will pay for $500,000 of the project.
Work is already underway, and Brake said in six to nine months the outside of the building could be done and space become available inside.
Story from 14 WFIE News.com
Make no mistake about it, I love myself some Owensboro, Kentucky. We’ve lived, like, 72 gazillion places in the past 23 years. Wichita (Kansas), Pensacola Beach (Florida), Washington (Indiana), Metro-Louisville, Webster City (Iowa) – yep, been everywhere. Even Earlington, Kentucky… Yeah, get you some of that.
Where we currently live (and have for quite a few years) is my favoritest of my favorites: Owensboro, Kentucky – affectionately called the ‘Boro by usin’s. Cool town, good people, very low crime rate, 3 Starbucks, birthplace of The Depp, great parks, a killer walking trail, a beautiful downtown with a gorgeous view of the river, plenty of shopping, BBQ – and lots of it, etc.
I also love that Owensboro is within striking distance of so many other great places: Evansville, Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Greeen, Land Between the Lakes, St. Louis, and so on.
One of my favorite places in Owensboro is the Great Harvest Bread Co. store on Frederica Street. Their bread is phenomenal and they have more varieties than you ever knew existed. As for their sugar cookies (which are about as big as a child’s head), they make you happy to be alive, that’s all. Very, very happy to be alive and to have been born with a mouth.
Something else I’ve noticed about GHB Co. is the fact that they have the friendliest workers you’ll ever meet. It must be a requirement, if you don’t have a good personality and an upbeat disposition – you’re not goint to work at Great Harvest Bread Co. I swear, I’ve been a frequent flyer in and out of their doors for years and have NEVER (not once) encountered an unfriendly worker. They’re always smiling ear to ear and seem genuinely thrilled to see your face every time it walks through the doors.
How many places can you say that about?
The next time you find yourself in Owensboro, Kentucky, you HAVE to stop by Great Harvest Bread Co. While their bread is beyond spectacular, they also have spreads, coffee, cookies, and more. They also have the greatest gift baskets you’d ever hope to send (or receive!).
Click HERE for some Focaccia recipes courtesy of the site. Word to your lid – it’s about to be flipped.
