This post probably won’t mean anything to anyone unless you lived in Grand Rapids Michigan in the 60’s or early 70’s. Or judging from the comments, apparently they were in a few states…
There was a restaurant on 28th street called Robby’s. It was a hamburger place. There was also a Bonanza very close by if I recall as well as some slides (that you would go down on burlap sacks apparently).
It was very close to where the Red Barn wound up being later, but I don’t think it was the same building as Robby’s was closer to the street.
If anyone remembers Robby’s, please post. Bonus points for having a picture of the place…I don’t know how to put it in comments but if you send it to me at willemaus@gmail.com I’ll put it in the post…like this one.
…and this one below of their ashtray, courtesy of Albert Olson.
Thanks!
Cool 
Robby’s ..they treat you like a guest. The zinger was their famous hamburger. We had 2 locations in Mankato,Mn in the 60s & early 70s
I remeber robbies in grand rapids Mi 1965. Hambergers was 15 cents. Chesseburgers 18 cents. My father would treat us kids there on fridays when he got his paycheck.
That’s the Robby’s….
I also remember Kum Back hamburgers at 28th and Michael/Dehoop (the current location of Wyoming city hall. I never had hamburgers at Robby’s, but I remember getting a milkshake with my Dad. They had child sized shakes back then. Once Macdonalds and Burger King entered the fast food market on 28th Street, that caused the demise of Robby’s. The building sat vacant for years, Little Joes pizza tried it, Hardee’s tore it down and rebuilt it, that lasted awhile, then Arby’s from next door was there for awhile: that building was torn down for a short lived auto parts store, but every time I drive by that location, I always think of that’s where Robby’s used to be. Tom Peterson
I remember it in Mankato!
Do you have any pictures of the building or menu?
I remember Robbys in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
How do you post a photo?
Mankato actually had 3 Robby’s locations: near MSU, by West High School, and along Madison Avenue–the only surviving building, with the diamond shaped signage (which now reads, “TACO”).
I remember the Robby’s near West High School in Mankato in the early 1970s. My family used to live in nearby, and we visited it regularly until we moved to another section of town. I was pretty young, but I remember liking their food better than the other burger joints in town.
It was on 28th Street just east of Eastern Avenue past the VW dealership. Good burgers!
I spent my college years in Owatonna. The food at the college was less than acceptable. Hardly a week went by that we didn’t load up a car full of guys and head to the Robbys
We had a Robby’s in Milwaukee, on Bluemound Rd. It, also, later turned into a Red Barn. Best burgers in the 60’s.
There was also a Robby’s on Teutonia Ave. in Milwaukee’s north side. The building was torn down close to 45 years ago and that area now serves a a parking lot for the post office vehicles. As a 6-7 year old l remember eating there with my dad. I also remember Robby’s was one of the sponsors of the late 60’s & early 70’s kids show Romper Room.
Also one in waukesha WI
I also have an ashtray
Hey, I worked at that Robby’s and probably cooked some burgers for you and your friends. It was a fun place to work. It was bought out by Hardee’s in the late 70’s.
There was one in Austin and across the street, if I remember, was a Henry’s.
Used to be one in Owatonna, MN. Got bought out by Hardee’s.
Going through boxes of old ‘stuff’ and found a Happy Birthday card from ROBBYS on Willard Street in Mankato – good for one free hamburger, shake, or fries. Apparently I didn’t redeem the card, as I still have it. There’s a drawing of Robby’s on the card.
I was 5 when we moved from Grand Rapids to NJ in 1967, but my older brother was a manager at Robbie’s through college (WMU) in the late 60’s
I remember eating at a Robby’s in Neenah, WI. In fact, I think there was one still there in the early 80’s.
The Robby’s in Neenah became a Mars Hamburger restaurant in 1979 or 1980. I remember because I worked there. I do remember going there when it was a Robby’s. It was accross from St. Patrick’s church! I think there’s a carwash there now!
I worked at the Robbies in Owatonna in the mid 70’s. The Zinger was an attempt to copy the Big Mac.
I remember Robby’s in Milwaukee in the 70’s as a kid. Better that McDonalds and BK!!! Great fries and malts and butter burgers!!!
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We had one in Austin, MN. Special treat to eat there after church
Sorry I have a picture but couldn’t figure out how to post it
Can you post it on Facebook?
I worked at Robby’s in Neenah WI 1969-1970. Went out of business early 1970’s.
Pics would be awesome!!! I’m from Milwaukee, WI and we had a few of the restaurants in town.
My first job was at Robby’s on 28 street near Eastern in Grand Rapids in 1968. Worked there for a couple of years. Jerry F was the Manager and Denny B was the assistant Manager. The Dandy burger was the competitor for the Burger King Whopper. The very first Arby’s in GR was next to us on the east side. We would trade Dandy hamburgers for Arby’s roast beef sandwiches so that we could have something different for a change. The drive in was a hangout for street racers on 28th street. We had a lot fun back then.
Hey Louie, I do remember that great hamburger and long great fries. We had several Robby’s in Milwaukee, WI and I liked it when dad took me there. There was also a Bonanza shopping center in Milwaukee and they had go-carts and a putt-putt golf course along with an arcade. FUN FUN FUN!!! Miss those places!!!. Wish I had some old pictures of Robby’s and Bonanza!!! – Brian B.
I’m testing my recollection (was very young) for a book I am writing that has a blurb about Robby’s in GR. What condiments came on the burgers in the late sixties?
Catshup, mustard, pickle and onion. Cheese was extra. We would make 24 burgers at a time and they we’re put under heat lamps. When it got really busy we would make what we called double 24’s. 48 burgers at once. Louie P.
Very helpful, thank you!
THERE WAS ONE ON CAMPUS AT KALAMAZOO COLLEGE, IN THE 70’S I THINK
Yes, it was on Monroe St. Right across from Kalamazoo College’s Angel Football and Track field. The photo above is actually the Monroe location. The building next to it was a laundrymat.
I worked at Robby’s in mid-60s in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Still remember making patties every night and cooking them to perfection. Fries were way better than MickyDs. Sad we had to charge 2 cents for catsup in take-outs. Now, I head for Burger King when I want a quick burger.
I worked at The Ridges CC in the late 70’s. The owner bought the building and we moved it out to the country club for an indoor pool.
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Just for kicks I was searching the internet for anything on Robby’s for the fact my father, Ralph Roberts, and his business partner founded Robby’s back when I was in 1st grade. The first store was in Stevens Point, WI and while my dad was still involved, they were up to 26 stores in WI, MN and MI.
He started out of college delivering meat for Swift and Company, one of their clients the Mc Donald’s in Fond du Lac, WI. He saw how they were thriving, thought “I gotta do something different to feed my family” and started pacing the back room of the Mc Donalds for an idea of dimensions for a store.
He had an original strategy to find college towns without any fast food restaurants which is why the early stores were located where they were.
There were Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo stores I definitely remember. When I was in 6th grade we went fishing in Canada with the Grand Rapids manager and his 2 sons. I think they even had a TV character in Grand Rapids, Robby the clown or something.
I remember Makato, Winona, St Paul(?) and a few others in Minnesota as well as St Point, Neenah, Wisconsin Rapids, Milwaukee and others. It’s been a while.
It’s really a thrill to hear so many people having fond memories of the stores. Thanks for all your positive comments.
I remember a connection to a tv show in Grand Raoids. I think the host was “Jungle Jim”.
Bozo the clown played by Dick Richards who lived in Kentwood MI across from Glenwood School. He was also on one of the local TV stations I belive doing the Weather. Interesting fact he could not drive do to health issues. Louie P.
My husband (sadly passed at a young age) grew up in Kalamazoo, MI. His name was Robert and, as a child, was called Robbie. Rob’s parents were divorced and, when he mowed the yard, his mom would take him to Robby’s for a hamburger, fries, and chocolate milk. I have been trying for months to think of the name of the restaurant she took him to. I finally thought of Robbies but just thought I was thinking that because it was Robs’ s name. So excited to find this post and remember one of my husband’s special memories. Thank you!
I remember Robby’s!! I also remember the Burger Chef, and Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour!!! Makes me sad to know that none of them are around any longer!!
I grew up in grand rapids and went to Robby’s on 28th st all the time. I even remember the Kewpee restaurant on south division. Also Miller’s ice cream parlor on Burton st se. I Eben have one of the Robby’s Ashley trays. Great memories.
We had one in Steven’s point Wi back in the early 70s.
I went to UWSP and worked at Robby’s in Stevens Point in 1972. We females had to wear white waitress dresses. When it was time for a meal break, we paid a nominal amount for a meal. Because I was a poor student, I usually got just a bun, which cost 2 cents. I can’t remember the place ever being *not* busy, but when a bus full of skiers pulled in, we really earned our $1.65 per hour pay.
I ate at Robbys in Stevens Point,WI 1966. had a big burger(cost more?) big slice onion & tomato. Can you tell me what was in that delicious red sauce?? Best burger i ever had!!! I can still close my eyes and taste it!!!!!!!
I even remember their jingle! Where do you want to go? Let’s go to Robby’s! What do you want to eat? Robby’s has it all; hamburgers, cheeseburgers-best that you can buy, cokes and shakes and fries and happy apple pies! I loved that place as a kid. They had a big barrel of toys you could pick from. Good times.
Loved Robbys on 28th st. However, it wasnt a water slide next door near Arbys, it was a slide with a burlap bag you sat on.
Was it? That’s great!
I remember Robby’s in Ripon, Wisconsin. It didn’t last long. I moved to Ripon in 1970 at the age of 3. At the northwest edge of town was a Dog N’ Suds. We ate there at least once or twice when I was 4. By the time I was 5 (1972), it had been replaced by Robby’s. I even remember hearing commercials on the radio advertising it. By the time I was 6, Robby’s had moved out and it was Mr. Nick’s. I’m guessing this was probably as a result of dropping the Robby’s franchise. By the time I was 7 going on 8, Mr. Nick’s was renamed Whoppin’ Burger. Shortly after turning 8, I moved to Madison and I never saw the northwest edge of Ripon again until 1990. Sometime before then the former restaurant site had become a liquor store called Pete’s. Since it first became Robby’s in 1972, that red roof sign had stood there and was still standing there bearing the Pete’s liquor store name in the early 1990’s. That was the only way I could tell that I was seeing the former Robby’s.
I worked at Robby’s in Austin, Minnesota by the High school it was fun and met some great friends and coworkers. Was a lot of fun and great coworkers. Helped me to pay for my first car. Enjoyed meeting people and laughing a lot. 😄. Jerry Dahlback.
we were just reminiscing about this place in Grand Rapids…my mom would take us due to dad working late some evenings. I think the hamburger buns were standard size but the burger pattie was about the size of a silver dollar 🤣 and the building still stands, home recently to Atlantic Fish Fry…at least in 2022.
There was a Burger Chef on S. Division just down 28th St. we would go to as well.
I lived in Ripon Wisconsin from 1970 until 1975. The Dog N’ Suds drive-in restaurant at the northwest end of town became a Robby’s in 1971 and remained that way for next 1.5 to 2 years, after which the franchise was dropped and became a succession of local restaurants, although the menu remained the same. While it was still a Robby’s, I occasionally heard commercials advertising it on the local radio station.
I have one of their (Robby’s)kites I picked up at an antique mall while visiting GR. Mall is by Founders. Big warehouse looking place.
Robby’s had the best sauce on their burgers. My friend Chuck was an “assistant manager” there (16 and willing to work evenings) before it became a Hardies in the mid 70’s.
This was in Owatonna, MN