Friday, November 7, 2008
People It Was Twenty Years Ago Today: Bongo Bob Bernstein Celebrates His Arrival in Nashville
Posted by Jim Ridley on Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 1:18 PM
There is no way Nashville would be the city it is today if it hadn't switched nearly two decades ago from depressants—e.g., most any honky-tonk elixir of choice—to stimulants. And it's safe to say Nashville's coffeehouse culture would not have developed the same way without the efforts of one man.
No, not Juan Valdez. On the anniversary of Bob Bernstein's arrival in Nashville from Chicago 20 years ago today, his wife, Las Paletas founder (and Bobby Flay's worst nightmare) Irma Paz Bernstein, is asking the Bongo Java generalissimo's many friends and customers to send him best wishes. You can write him at bob (at) bongojava.com.
In the meantime, let's play a game called It's a Wonderful Life. How would Nashville be different if Bob Bernstein had never started the Bongo Java empire?
UPDATE: We can think of no better 20th anniversary present for Bongo Bob than the safe return of the Nun Bun.
Comments (13)
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Well, we would have had to focus our death ray somewhere other than Belmont Blvd.
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My good works would have faded into oblivion. Miracles don't just happen at Cinnabon, y'know.
Hello? I don't think we'd finished discussing my fabulous prepared foods and inexpensive bulk items from many lands.
Kim Totzke wouldn't have gotten her start. I wouldn't have anywhere to take my AA friend after a movie at the Belcourt. I wouldn't ever have discovered half-caff skim sugar-free vanilla latte on ice, which makes me sound like a hipster when I order it really fast.
Several people might have retired earlier. At least until that pesky stock market crash and all...
I totally hate Bongo Java's coffee. It's bitter and tastes like it was roasted by an amateur. A LOT of local businesses use it in their everyday brew I gues because it's a local thing, but overall it stinks. HOWEVER, I like the coffee houses themselves. They are always interresting and have lots of really cool merch. From one person to another who roasts their own beans - PLEASE GET SOMEONE ELSE TO ROAST YOURS. All the coffee is meant for people who like dark roasts. OH and Las Paletas is friggen AMAZING!
