Archive Record
Metadata
Accession number |
2001.053 |
Catalog Number |
2001.053.001A |
Object Name |
Transcript |
Date |
24 Nov 2001 |
Creator |
Hardin, Vickie |
Title |
Oral History Interview of Cobb's Bar-b-que Owners, Joe & Sue Cobb |
Scope & Content |
Interview: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cobb October 24, 2001 Conducted by Vickie Hardin at Joe Cobb's Bar-B-Que in Bossier City, La. Joe and Sue Cobb have owned and operated Joe Cobb's Bar-B-Que for 49 years in the same location. The interview was conducted at their place of business on Mc Cormick Street in Bossier City. There are customers coming in and out of the business during the interview. Their comments have been added to this transcription. [Mrs. Hardin] We're here today with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cobb of Joe Cobb's Bar-B-Que in Bossier City, LA. Today is October 24 in 2001. And Mr. Cobb, I was wanting to know, what year did your business open? [Mr. Cobb] I started selling bar-b-que here in the first part of November 1952. [Mrs. Hardin] Is that right? And how did you get into the bar-b-que business? [Mr. Cobb] My brothers had been in the bar-b-que business and I'd been in the service a while and they thought it'd be a good way for me to make a good livin'. It's worked perfect. [Mrs. Hardin] So they taught you how to do the business? [Mr. Cobb] Taught me how to do different things, that's right. Bar-B-Que, and make salads, and slaws, and bar-b-que beans, and other things. It's worked perfect. [Mrs. Hardin] Do you make all of this fresh every day, or… [Mr. Cobb] Yes we do, every day. Sure do. Potato salads, slaws, fix the beans, cook chickens, and ribs and beef. We fix it every day. [Mrs. Hardin] You must start awfully early in the morning then. [Mr. Cobb] Well, our cook gets here at 7:30 and gets it started, and we come to work at 10:00. VV Do you work here every day? [Mr. Cobb] Well, every day except Sunday. I've never worked on Sunday. [Mrs. Hardin] How did you choose the location for your business? [Mr. Cobb] My brother had a meat market here and this was the center of town almost. And it worked perfect. [Mrs. Hardin] What was the surrounding area as far as businesses in this area? [Mr. Cobb] Well, across the street was a A&P grocery store, and it was one of the few large grocery stores in the area, so sometime during the week most everybody in Bossier would come to the grocery stores. [Mrs. Hardin] And stop by on the way home for dinner. [Mr. Cobb] Well right across the street, those that we could get to did. [Mrs. Hardin] (Laugh) And has it changed much in this area? [Mr. Cobb] Well, it's a lot of difference, a lot of difference. The A&P grocery store's been closed several years, and we will soon have been sellin' bar-b-que here 49 years. [Mrs. Hardin] Is that right? That's wonderful! That's a long time. [Mr. Cobb] Yes, and we still like and have a lot of customers that have traded with us that long. Our children grew up in the neighborhood and still got to put slaw on a sandwich. [Mrs. Hardin] (Laughing) My sister wanted me to ask you about that. Do you still put slaw on your bar-b-que sandwiches or anything? [Mr. Cobb] On the PO-BOY sandwiches. [Mrs. Cobb] On the PO-BOYS. [Mr. Cobb] We'll put it on the other if they ask, you know. [Mrs. Hardin] I don't remember eating it that way, but she did so (laugh) I promised her I would ask that. [Mr. Cobb] Yeah, good. Certainly. I love and I enjoy this business. It's a good business. All our customers we consider friends and it works great! [Mrs. Hardin] That's wonderful. So you've got family almost who come in here over the years and turned into family and friends. [Mr. Cobb] Almost. [Mrs. Hardin] Some of the original employees that were with you when you opened your business, are they with you today? [Mr. Cobb] No. My cook has been here 30 years. [Mrs. Hardin] Is that right? [Mr. Cobb] And my other worker, up in the front, has been here 7 or 8 years. [Mrs. Hardin] Is that right? [Mr. Cobb] Good, good dependable help. [Mrs. Hardin] They must be happy doin' what they're doin' and enjoy your company as well then. [Mr. Cobb] Well, my good wife helps me a lot. [Mrs. Hardin] Well, Mrs. Cobb, do you work with Mr. Cobb when he's here most days, or have you always worked with him? [Mrs. Cobb] No, now I haven't always. In fact the first, I'm sure, first maybe like 20 years, I did not really come in that much 'cause I was a bookkeeper in Shreveport for the first 5 years. Then we had children and I was, as my daughter says, I was a stay-at-home mom, so I did not start really being here until they were in probably in Jr. High and then I started coming at noon for an hour or two just to run the cash register. And then once they graduated from school and went off to college I started being here a little bit more during the day. But it 's only in the last, oh, 7 or 8 years, that I'm here on some days from opening to closing. But I enjoy it. We both love people. And it is fun to see the different generations and families that come here and have been here. [Mrs. Hardin] I guess there have been generations of families over 49 years. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah, yeah it has. Yes. 'Cause people like to, like to remember coming here as a child and they'll have their grand children with them, so (laughing ) that covers a lot of years. [Mrs. Hardin] That's a real complement though. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah, it is. It really is. [Mrs. Hardin] and you keep track of all of 'em. [Mrs. Cobb] Joe knows where they've worked and where their daddy's worked. Now I bet he doesn't know their name, probably, but he knows everything else. [Mrs. Hardin] Well did you girls work here during the summer for summer jobs or…? [Mrs. Cobb] They helped some during the summer when they were teenagers in high school and course now they're both (customers coming in laughing ) How're ya'll doin'? They are you know both professional women now, so they don't come. Except at Christmas time they will. So they don't mind getting behind that counter helpin' when they know that we need 'em. So it makes you feel good that the, the business means that much to them and 'cause they love to see everybody that comes in too. It's a fun place to be. [Mrs. Hardin] I guess they kind of played when you were here and ran in and out. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah, yeah. Joe has maintained the tradition of their workin', 'cause he had our 6-year-old grandson here at Christmas time with his apron on (laughing), and he thought he was really helpin' a lot too! (laughing) Yeah! [Mrs. Hardin] I bet he did. Teaching him the ropes! [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah, sooo! But Vickie, getting back to the surrounding area, City Hall and the two main banks, everything was just three blocks form here. Barksdale Blvd. out here, was the main thoroughfare. That was where all your traffic was. That's before I-20 was ever built. So this was downtown Bossier City when we started in '52. So there have been a lot of changes. A lot of changes. [Mrs. Hardin] I noticed one of the articles you gave me to, to read talked about the traffic patterns and how when I-20 came through it disrupted things a little bit. Did you notice a big change in your clientele during that time, or more Shreveporters coming through maybe, or out-of-town people with I-20 coming through? [Mrs. Cobb] Well, downtown Shreveport people could get over here very easily and they do. I mean, many times, many times at noon, you know, that's when you have a lot of Shreveport people here because they can get on the Interstate and get here so quickly. 'Cause at noon everybody's within a time frame and they need to come where they can eat quickly and get back to the office. So when the Interstate was being worked on, we could really tell a difference. 'Cause they just couldn't get over here as quickly and the Texas Street Bridge was the main way they could get over here when that was being worked on. So it did, it made a difference. [Mrs. Hardin] I wanted to ask you too, Mr. Cobb, you served in the military for a time, has Barksdale really had an impact on your business? I mean, do you have a lot of military customer? [Mr. Cobb] Well, I consider the greatest things that ever happened to Bossier City, was when they put Barksdale Field down the street. It's brought us a lot of good people, a lot of good retirees things like that. I'm a believer in it. [Mrs. Hardin] I guess with all the, this with the World Trade Center situation, that's kind of renewed everybody's patriotic spirit. [Mr. Cobb] Sure. That's right and it's important. [Mrs. Hardin] I notice Mrs. Cobb's got her, her flag pin on today. [Mr. Cobb] Yes sir! Yes Sir! [Mrs. Hardin] The other day, you had on your patriotic music. [Mr. Cobb] We support our country and the President 100%! [Mrs. Cobb] I still play it. I still play it every morning. I think sometimes they get kind of tired of it, so I don't play it in the afternoon all the time, but oh yeah. [Mrs. Hardin] It's good to hear though. You've got photos on the wall of different planes. [Mr. Cobb] Different planes and crews. You see that picture here is of George Dement our mayor when he was in the Navy. [Mrs. Hardin] Its that right. Oh, my! This one right here? [Mr. Cobb] That's him right there. [Mrs. Cobb] His submarine. George likes to talk about his submarine. [Mr. Cobb] He's a friend of ours and lives in the second house. [Mrs. Hardin] Just around the corner from you. You've got good neighbors don't you? [Mrs. Cobb] Yes. Yes. (laughing) [Mrs. Hardin] Well, tell me about your business as far as the prices and all. Over the years have they changed much? I noticed that 5 for a $1.00 ad in the paper years ago. [Mr. Cobb] 5 for a $1.00 that is, that was in the local newspaper. And I sold thousands during the few years. And it expired, I had my picture when it expired. [Mrs. Hardin] Oh, really? Up there next to the register. There it is. Well, I know a lot of people remember that. I do! [Mr. Cobb] Whew! Sure do! [Mrs. Hardin] and you remember people just comin' in and buying sacks and takin' 'em home? [Mr. Cobb] Sacks, and sacks, and sacks, and sacks. [Mrs. Hardin] Well that's a good picture of you too. [Mr. Cobb] Well, I was a little younger there and my hair was black. [Mrs. Hardin] There's another ad, I really enjoyed this one. Feed 4 for a $1.94. I don't know if you can buy one meal for a $1.94 these days. (laugh) [Mr. Cobb] No! It's up to $5.00! (Customer coming in: Neighbor!) Customer Chuck Birtman Outstanding.. Lady Customer with Mr. Birtman _____ to you. I know you must be very thankful for the family you have. [Mr. Cobb] Thank you! I've got a wonderful family! Lady Customer I know that. I know you do. [Mr. Cobb] He's a retired school principal. [Mrs. Hardin] Oh really! [Mr. Cobb] Did you go to school here? [Mrs. Hardin] I did; I sure did. Bossier High School. [Mrs. Cobb] That's Coach Chuck Birtman. [Mr. Cobb] He was… Mr. Birtman What year did you graduate? [Mrs. Hardin] I'm Vickie Hardin. I graduated in 1972 from Bossier High School. Mr. Birtman I left in '64. [Mrs. Hardin] In '64. Jus a little bit early. Mr. Birtman Wish you'd been there. You're a cute ____. [Mrs. Cobb] Isn't she a doll! I agree. [Mr. Cobb] Well we been wondering where you've been. Lady customer Oh, just wandering around. Mr. Birtman Last time we were here____. [Mrs. Cobb] Oh, well, we're glad you could be here. Lady customer I mean what I said now, you should be and I know you are very thankful. [Mr. Cobb] I am. Lady customer …for the group you have. Mr. Birtman Please take care of the old man! [Mrs. Cobb] I'll do it Chuck. I will. [Mr. Cobb] Chuck! How's your golf game?! _________ Conversation picks back up at the cost of a meal now days. [Mrs. Hardin] Is it? (laugh) And your whole chicken is priced $4.50. Is that right? Okay, just for the whole chicken itself. That's today. [Mr. Cobb] September '66. [Mrs. Hardin] These are great ads. I really enjoyed looking at those. There was a, another article. I hope you don't mid me going through these. [Mr. Cobb] No. No. (people coming in and he visits with them). [Mrs. Hardin] Bob Greene. Customer Chuck Birtman Outstanding.. Lady Customer with Mr. Birtman _____ to you. I know you must be very thankful for the family you have. [Mr. Cobb] Thank you! I've got a wonderful family! Lady Customer I know that. I know you do. [Mr. Cobb] He's a retired school principal. [Mrs. Hardin] Oh really! [Mr. Cobb] Did you go to school here? [Mrs. Hardin] I did; I sure did. Bossier High School. [Mrs. Cobb] That's Coach Chuck Birtman. [Mr. Cobb] He was… Mr. Birtman What year did you graduate? [Mrs. Hardin] I'm Vickie Hardin. I graduated in 1972 from Bossier High School. Mr. Birtman I left in '64. [Mrs. Hardin] In '64. Jus a little bit early. Mr. Birtman Wish you'd been there. You're a cute ____. [Mrs. Cobb] Isn't she a doll! I agree. [Mr. Cobb] Well we been wondering where you've been. Lady customer Oh, just wandering around. Mr. Birtman Last time we were here____. [Mrs. Cobb] Oh, well, we're glad you could be here. Lady customer I mean what I said now, you should be and I know you are very thankful. [Mr. Cobb] I am. Lady customer …for the group you have. Mr. Birtman Please take care of the old man! [Mrs. Cobb] I'll do it Chuck. I will. [Mr. Cobb] Chuck! How's your golf game?! _________ Conversation picks back up at the cost of a meal now days. [Mrs. Hardin] Is it? (laugh) And your whole chicken is priced $4.50. Is that right? Okay, just for the whole chicken itself. That's today. [Mr. Cobb] September '66. [Mrs. Hardin] These are great ads. I really enjoyed looking at those. There was a, another article. I hope you don't mid me going through these. [Mr. Cobb] No. No. (people coming in and he visits with them). [Mrs. Hardin] I'm sorry, I can't help but notice the markings on this pole behind you. Are those your grandchildren? [Mr. Cobb] No, it's a LOT of children. [Mrs. Cobb] A lot of children. [Mr. Cobb] They're proud of that. When they come, that's where they want to go and check out their height. [Mrs. Cobb] You know three or more of our grandchildren are on there, but unfortunately there's so many other children on there we can't even find them. (laugh). [Mr. Cobb] (Talking to a little boy). Come on over here and let me see you! ______ Oh, I'm glad to see you! How you been doin'? That's a pretty ribbon! Little Boy replies Good. [Mr. Cobb] What does it say? Little Boy It says, red ribbon week. The choice for me is drug free. [Mr. Cobb] That's wonderful! That's a good ribbon, I like that! I'm glad to see you! Is that your daddy, your grandaddy, or your great granddaddy? Little Boy Daddy! [Mr. Cobb] That's your daddy. Okay. [Mrs. Hardin] This article that Bob Greene wrote, he's a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, he wrote a wonderful article about your shop. [Mr. Cobb] He sure did. We did not know the band from --- tell her. [Mrs. Cobb] Well, Jan and Dean were back in the 60s, and came here two or three time and they loved stayin' here visiting with us. And Bob Greene a noted columnist sits in and plays guitar with them sometimes. So when he was here, we just thought he was just one of the guys that was goin' to play in the band with them, 'cause several other band members wer here and we just had a good time talkin' carrin' on. And then when he went back to Chicago, they called to make sure they had our names correct because he was doing this article and then 'course that article was syndicated and went out, I think it goes out to nearly 300 newspapers throughout the nation and a lot of people read it and knew about it or called friends and family back here and different things. So, we were very pleased that they did that article on us. And it did cause a little excitement in the Shreveport area because Bob Greene is pretty well know I guess. (laughing) [Mrs. Hardin] He is. The Chicago Tribune. That's wonderful! What better publicity? That's great he really did enjoy his bar-b-que and the hospitality, he spoke highly of the hospitality. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah. [Mrs. Hardin] Is your hospitality one of the keys to your success in business would you say? [Mr. Cobb] Well, it keeps us always happy, you know, and glad to see people we've know for years. [Mrs. Cobb] Yes. This is definitely a personality business. I mean, 'course the food's good, just like you heard that guy just say; the food is very good. But you can get reasonably good food anywhere, but the personality aspect of it plays a big role. 'Cause people want Joe to be here so he can harass them (laughing). [Mrs. Hardin] Do you harass them just a little bit? (laugh). [Mr. Cobb] No-they say I do! [Mrs. Hardin] They say you do (laugh). They pay you to? [Mr. Cobb] But I always tell 'em please come back! (laugh). [Mrs. Hardin] There you go! (laugh). Well, are there any other well noted customers that you remember over the years? You mentioned Jan & Dean, Bob Greene and… [Mrs. Cobb] Well, Diane Sawyer was in here. She had come down to do a news story of a number of years back. That was before she got quite a big, as big as she is now. But so many of the local people, judges, politicians, just all of 'em are goin' to be in here at a given point in time. So if people want to see somebody, they now if they come in here they're going to see 'em. This is. [Mrs. Hardin] So this is sort of a meeting place for… [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah. And educators, and all the educators come here, past, present and future (laugh). _________ that's right! (laugh) [Mrs. Hardin] Well, I guess you've had a lot of business from Bossier High School from time-to- time, students in and teachers as well, faculty? [Mrs. Cobb] Joe often laughs and says if everybody that comes in here now and tells him how they left the school grounds to come over here and eat lunch (laugh), if they all did, (laugh) he'd bound to be a wealthy man, 'cause he did a lot of business, 'cause it's amazing grown adults now say, "Oh, you remember me. I came across from the school over there. Came and ate lunch." They were not supposed to back then, in fact they can't even, I don't think they can leave the campus hardly at all now, but back than they were not supposed to, but they did. So they love to remember that. [Mrs. Hardin] I guess you'd run the risk of seeing your teachers here if you skipped school and got caught! (laugh) [Mrs. Cobb] Yes. Some teachers got one or two of 'em back across the street. [Mrs. Hardin] What is it that you think is the most satisfying after all these years about your business-something special? [Mrs. Cobb] He knows what it is, because Joe could never retire. He could never be happy to being here. Seeing people is his main thing. And I mean we're just here now because we enjoy it. It's better being here than just sittin' at home doing nothing or having to walk the mall to see people. They come here to see us so that makes it better ____. The monetary aspect of course is good, but it's the satisfaction of seeing people. Everybody's happy when they come here. They're not … [Mrs. Hardin] They want to be here. [Mrs. Cobb] They're not upset, they're not angry and they know they're goin' to get food and they know it's going to be like it was 15 or 20 years ago. [Mrs. Hardin] Well, do you EVER see in the future maybe selling your business or retiring and traveling at all, or do you just want to stay here forever? (laugh) [Mrs. Cobb] Joe, say it. (laughing) [Mrs. Hardin] That's okay. (laugh) It's just too hard, isn't it? [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah, I cannot se him, 'cause we travel. We take time off during the year and travel. But to have to do that much time to have somethin' to do - it's just more fun being here. It makes you happy. It's like, it's like party time here. Just today, we got to sit and visit with people and carry on like he, carry on. [Mrs. Hardin] Well, speaking of parties and party atmosphere, do you see anything special coming up for your 50th anniversary being here in this same place? [Mrs. Cobb] I'm goin' to start thinking on it and working on it and talkin' to different ones and see what we ought to try and do, but I'm sure we'll do some type of special recognition for it. "Cause that's quite an, quite an achievement to be the one owner in the same location for 50 years and it still being successful. Yeah, we'll come up with something. Everybody wants us to do the 5 for a $1.00 for one day! (laugh) [Mrs. Hardin] I'm all for that! (laugh) [Mrs. Cobb] I don't think we can handle that! (laugh) [Mrs. Hardin] Well, on thing before I go, I notice, I see that you received the Small Business Of The Year Award in 1998. How did you feel about that? [Mr. Cobb] We were proud of it. They had a special presentation for us at a nice restaurant and everything went great. They took our picture. Gave us a plaque. [Mrs. Hardin] I see that . It's very nice. That's wonderful. [Mr. Cobb] It is, it's a … [Mrs. Hardin] It's quite an honor too. Well is there anything that you'd like to add before we close? [Mr. Cobb] Nothing I know except we enjoy every day comin' to work. Enjoy our customers. That's about it. (Talking to a customer) How long do you think you been eatin' my bar-b-que?! This lady is a reporter! Customer Not long enough! [Mr. Cobb] How long? Customer Well, I don't know. Your brothers kept me fed all the way through High School. [Mrs. Cobb] But your were in Shreveport? Customer Yeah, yes 'mam. [Mr. Cobb] Yeah, his daddy and I went to school together. [Mrs. Hardin] Oh, is that right? [Mr. Cobb] He's a teacher and his wife's a teacher. Customer And he fed my kid pretty good. [Mr. Cobb] Well I… Customer And got another one I'm still trying to… [Mr. Cobb] Well, I know it and they're as good as they can be. We enjoy and love 'me. [Mrs. Cobb] See that's, that's like you know we were talkin' about generations, see he's, there's three generations. His dad and … [Mr. Cobb] We have several… [Mrs. Cobb] 3 or 4 generations. [Mr. Cobb] Five generations! [Mrs. Cobb] Well, yeah we really do. [Mr. Cobb] It's true. I'm goin' to see when this expired. [Mrs. Cobb] Bossier Parish, Bossier Parish has been very good to, good for us. And 'course Shreveport people come over quite a bit. [Mr. Cobb] The 5 for $1.00 expired on October 8, 1969! Customer I eat a bunch of those! [Mrs. Cobb] Those were good! (Laugh) [Mrs. Hardin] Those were good sandwiches! [Mrs. Cobb] Oh, goodness! [Mrs. Hardin] Well, thank you so much for your time and Mr. Cobb stepped out just for a minute, I'll give him time to get back here for a second and thank you so much for talkin' to me. [Mrs. Cobb] We appreciated you takin' time, Vickie, to do it 'cause it's good. And as far as the history of Bossier Parish and seeing how it has changed. He has seen a lot of changes taken place here not only in the city, but just think of all the new things that are here now ___ and the way the city's growin' out. So we're fortunate to still have the business we do in this location, because I know that any of the things you've heard about business, the three most important things are location, location, location. And this certainly would not be, today in like 2001 this would not be an ideal location. No one would come here for the location of an eating place now, but it was the right place in1952. And we've just stayed here and the Lord has blessed it and we continue to do well. [Mrs. Hardin] Well, the Riverwalk that they're talkin'about putting down here, that would definitely be an asset to you. [Mrs. Cobb] If, if they get this far down the boulevard, you know. I don't know, 'cause the boats have not favorably impacted our business eating-wise, you know, because they offer so much food down there. But it's like this little motel that came over here about five years ago, it has been good. So anything that brings people here to this given block to this, or this given area is good, "cause once they come here and eat, they're usually goin' to come back. But I believe the boats are going to be here for quite some time to come, and I hope the Riverwalk can be successful and can be good. [Mrs. Hardin] Be something more for family oriented in that respect. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah. [Mrs. Hardin] This neighborhood, I drove around in it today before I came in, and there's still so many old homes and people have just taken such good care of 'em. This is a really nice neighborhood. You're right in the heart of this neighborhood really. I mean if you really think about it now. And Christ the King Church is still across the street. [Mrs. Cobb] But just, you know, showing the changing times, though, they had to totally shut that school down. It is no longer, that's how, see how things change. "Cause at one time that was an elementary school all the way through sixth grade. Wasn't it? See, then it dropped back down to like kindergarten through third grade 'bout two years ago. So it was not productive for 'em at all, so they just totally shut it down. There is not a private parochial school here in Bossier City at all. [Mrs. Hardin] Things have really, really changed. It's kind of a ripple effect, we don't thing about things like that sometimes. [Mrs. Cobb] Yeah. [Mrs. Hardin] Well thank you again so much and I appreciate your time and I'll be coming in to eat a sandwich or two I'm sure. (laugh) [Mrs. Cobb] Good! [Mrs. Hardin] In fact, I'm going to take some home today so…! (laught) [Mr. Cobb] 5 for a $1.00 just expired! [Mrs. Hardin] I'll have to make sure I make the next one! You'll take a rain check on that maybe! (laugh) |
People |
Cobb, Joe Kenneth Cobb, Sue Williams |
Search Terms |
Restaurants, Joe Cobb's Bar-B-Que Bossier City Businesses Oral History |
Lexicon category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Lexicon sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |
Inventoried date |
2024-04-22 |