The Real Bob Evans story, from farm to family restaurants 🍳 Bob Evans was born in 1918, and spent much of his childhood in Gallia County, Ohio, near the West Virginia border. After serving in World War II, he returned home and opened the Bob Evans Steak House near Gallipolis. The 12-stool diner was a favorite for truckers and travelers. One thing he couldn’t find? Good sausage. So, he made his own. It was a hit, and the truckers started ordering 10-pound tubs to take home. Realizing the potential, Bob built his own sausage plant for $1,000 in 1950. As their reputation grew, Bob Evans invited people to his farm in Rio Grande, Ohio, and they came in droves – so many, in fact, that Bob opened “a little restaurant… just to take care of them”. Bob Evans would have coffee with them, chit-chat, and of course, serve breakfast. They expanded quickly across Ohio and into other states. In 1963, this company headquarters opened in Columbus. Next to it, a prototype restaurant was built...