Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
TIM GALLAGHER
Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
TIM GALLAGHER
Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
TIM GALLAGHER
Bob's Drive-In, of Le Mars, Iowa, has been a Siouxland food staple since Robert Kass, a World War II veteran, opened the eatery in June 1949.
TIM GALLAGHER
Bob's Drive-In, of Le Mars, Iowa, has been a Siouxland food staple since Robert Kass, a World War II veteran, opened the eatery in June 1949.
LE MARS, Iowa | You've heard of businesses that began in someone's garage?
How about a business that WAS the garage?
That's what you find in learning the story of the legendary Bob's Drive-In, an institution built on tasty food and family service, at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars.
"My grandpa, Bob, tore down a garage and used the wood to build a drive-in," said Nate Kass, who represents the third generation of the Kass family to run Bob's Drive-In.
Robert Kass, a World War II veteran, opened Bob's Drive-In in June 1949. His son, Myles Kass, grew up working in the business, serving Bob's hot dogs and loose meat sandwiches, also known as taverns. Myles Kass took over for his father after Robert's death in 1982. Myles Kass expanded the operation to include Bob's at the Park at Arnolds Park some 14 years ago. Myles Kass died in June, ending a four-year battle with esophageal cancer.
Nate Kass, who, like his six siblings, grew up working hard at the eatery in hopes of attracting and keeping customers who left the drive-in full and satisfied.
"Basically, our claim to fame is that we've got this natural casing hot dog on a locally baked bun, and then we've got this extra lean ground beef sandwich that we brown, we strain and we fresh cook in a sauce and strain it again," Myles Kass explained three years ago. "So if we talk about health food, we've been doing health food for 65 years."
Myles Kass went on to say that the crispy-cooked fries at Bob's were the best in the business, able to stay crispy even in milk.
"It's the same with our onion rings," he added. "It's like if we're going to do it, we're going to do it correctly."
If you go
WHAT: Bob's Drive-In
WHERE: Intersection of Business Highway 75 and Highway 3 in Le Mars, Iowa.
HINTON, Iowa | Hillview, located one mile west of Hinton on County Road C60, is the hub of outdoor recreation opportunities in Plymouth County.
Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
Nate Kass operates his family's Bob's Drive Inn at the intersection of Highways 3 and 75 in Le Mars, Iowa. Kass grew up in the business, working at the side of his father, Myles Kass, and six siblings. Bob's was opened by Robert Kass, Nate's grandfather, in June 1949.
