Restoring a bar’s reputation

Bobby Wilhelm took what his late father told him to heart. “Before dad passed he said, ‘Bobby, you’re mostly to blame for the bad reputation for Bob’s 21 Club; now you’ve got to clean it up,’” Wilhelm said. “And he was right.” Bob’s 21 Club, which will celebrate its 50th year next year as one of the area’s oldest family-owned businesses, gained a rough reputation in the 80s and 90s. “Fighting, cops chasing me through the place, poolstick fights, cocaine on the bar, after-hour parties,” Wilhelm said, summarizing the themes. “I was the worst customer dad ever had — without exception.” It’s been a hard reputation to shake. “Every time a story was repeated, it would keep getting bigger and bigger,” Wilhelm said. So Wilhelm, who owns the bar with sisters Tina Swanson and Keva Wolfe, went to work this summer on a remodel in anticipation of the 50th anniversary and to fulfill Bob’s wishes/ Brian Walker , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

Question: Have you ever bent the elbow at Bob’s 21 Club?