|
Bob Murdock |
||
|
Subscribe Now! Weekly lunch & dinner specials and events delivered to your email box FREE! Click Here and email us with subject line 'Subscribe.'
Upcoming Events
Goings On
Beer & Labels
Merchandise
News Letter
In order to keep up with the constant improvements and additions to this site, please bookmark it.
|
Bob is our General Manager and recently wedded Jodean Rousey, one of our bartender/managers in a snowy outdoor ceremony at Black Hawk State Park. Most often seen in a tropical shirt and a smile, Dr. Bob is one the many reasons the Blue Cat has so many regular customers. Read on to find out how he got into this business, what to order at the Blue Cat bar, and how he got his nickname. Bob Murdock: Oh no, a taped interview! Bob Murdock. Star date 2682428267. Captain’s log. Melissa Coulter: <laughter> How’s it goin’, Bob? BM: Good, baby. MC: Good. How long have you been here at the Blue Cat? BM: I started the first Saturday night that they were open. Which is basically eight years ago in March - March 5th I think it was. We opened the bar the 3rd. Jodean was here the first day. That was a Thursday and I started two days later. I think it was the 3rd. Martha said it was the 3rd, we got married on the 3rd...March 3rd. MC: Did you grow up around here? BM: No, I grew up in Akron, Ohio, actually. Born in Reno, Nevada, Lake Tahoe. Grew up in Akron, and then ran around Cleveland for awhile and moved to Columbus, Ohio, for about 6 years, I think, and then moved here in ‘91. MC: Where did you work before Blue Cat? BM: I worked for the Funny Bone Comedy Club chain in Columbus, Ohio, then we came here and opened the one out on Kimberly Road. While we were here we opened the one up in South Bend, as well. MC: I’ve heard that’s how you met Jo. BM: Yeah, yeah, Jo hired over at the Kimberly Road Funny Bone. Bliss in the making. MC: And the two of you got married on March 3rd? BM: March 3rd of this year. One of the biggest snowstorms the Quad Cities has ever seen. MC: But it was a beautiful day the next day. BM: It was. MC: A little cold, but it was nice. So, how did you get into the bar business? BM: Well, when I moved to Columbus I hired in at the Funny Bone. Started out as a server, you know, like everybody else, did my kitchen share, and all that good stuff. And then I’ve just been in it ever since. It’s a great way to make a living. MC: What’s been your scariest moment? BM: As far as work related? MC: Yeah, any crazy customers? BM: Yeah...when you have a customer, probably four time the size of you, wanting another drink and he’s just too intoxicated to get one. What do you do, man? Just try to be as nice as possible, until it’s time not to be nice. MC: We don’t get a real rough crowd in here. BM: No, not at all, absolutely not. I’ve never been hit - not once - in all the nights that I’ve worked here. Nobody’s ever taken a clear shot at me and connected, so that’s a good thing. I think our clientele...and we don’t even hire "bouncers" we hire "door men." And I think that’s the difference...the music we play, what we serve, what we do. MC: What do you do on your days off, besides catch up on sleep? BM: <laughter> Yeah...Well, I pull a 50 hour week here. That’s every week. And Jo and I are landlords on the side, so we’ve got two houses plus our own to take of. Between mowing yards and just tightening up nuts and bolts, man, that’s about it. We’re pretty much homebodies, ya know. We’re always doing something, especially when summer gets here. And then we’re socially active in the winter and fall. MC: How is Vlad doing? I was very sorry to hear about Koa. BM: Thanks, honey. Vlad’s doing good. I just left him before I came to work, gave him a big hug and a kiss. MC: What kind of dog is he? BM: He’s a Rottweiler. 12 years old in October. He was flat on his side asleep when I left. MC: The furry child. BM: Yep. He doesn’t hear so well anymore. He more or less smells us when we come in. You can walk by him two or three times, he’s sound asleep, snoring, and then all of a sudden his eyes wake up and he knows - he smells something. MC: When you’re behind the bar, what’s your favorite drink to make? BM: Well, I put a bunch of signature drinks on the menu. But I would say, as far as enjoyment, they’re all the same to me. Make each one the best you can, and hope it satisfies the member’s needs, and if it doesn’t, well, try to get them something else. It seems like here at the Blue Cat the most popular drinks are Long Islands, man. That is no doubt, hands down the best seller. And as far as the sweeter drinks are concerned, it’s probably the Sweet Talker. Sweet Talker and the Southern Raspberry - those go over real good. But we’ve got some more in the making... MC: And if you’re on the other side of the bar, what are you drinking? Baileys? BM: Baileys and soda! You’ve gotta put the soda in!. It sounds awkward, but I tell you what, once you try it - if you like the creamy style drinks or something on the lighter side - oh, man, it’s good. MC: Do you get a chance to travel much? BM: It seems we used to when we didn’t have the other houses. Vacations were plentiful... MC: What’s your favorite place that you’ve visited. BM: Well, they were all good. Anywhere I’ve been with Jodean was just fantastic. You know, we did go to France one year. And that was real nice. We went when prices were low, which is usually the winter breaking into the spring time. I’d like to go back in the summer when the flowers have flourished, ‘cause it was a little cloudy, overcast. There wasn’t any rain or anything, it was just sort of gray. And I know that all countries have their good time of year, their sunny time, and that’s when I’d like to go back with Jo. MC: What’s your favorite part of this job? BM: Being here. MC: What’s your least favorite? BM: Everybody’s got least favorite parts of a job, but I tell you what - none of them are worth mentioning. MC: That’s very kind of you. And lastly, why "Dr. Bob?" BM: I kind of acquired that nickname when I left Akron and went to Columbus. A good listener, I guess, and I give, maybe not so common advice, but direct advice. MC: It doesn’t have anything to do with the medicinal qualities of the beverages you serve? BM: <laughter> No, just the psychological qualities. Just being there - listening and talking.
|
by
Melissa Coulter - 6/8/02