Bo had a steakhouse???
First off, all props to MVictors.com for this story and here's the link:
http://mvictors.com/eat-at-bos/
"Huh? On eBay right now, a placemat and a menu from Bo’s Steakhouse. It was apparently located somewhere on Boardwalk where the Seoul Garden restaurant resides today. Did this actually exist at some point?
Sadly the menu contains very few Bo-era menu tie-ins. I was hoping for the something along the lines of the Hammerstein Half-Pounder, the Bergeron Burger (includes thickcut John U. bacon), AC Iced Tea, Touchdown Billy Taylor Tator Tots, Jumbo Elliott Shrimp, Bubba Paris Potstickers, Erik Campbell Soup De Jour, etc.
Bid on these beauties here, and someone hit me up if you know the history of this place."
Does anyone remember this existing??? If so, when and where and for how long. This is really interesting.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
Harbaugh-ganoush...
September 21st, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
"Fifthangell on September 18, 2015 at 11:25 pm
It was originally a Ponderosa Restaurant that closed in the early 1990’s. It reopened as Bo’s in 1992, but closed in a few months. It looked a lot like the Ponderosa, with a few UM memorabilia items added. It was a bit disappointing."
Id be all about that 'all american soup and salad bar'.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
I remember the Ponderosa out near Huron Parkway and Washtenaw Avenue (I don't think there was another location, but I could be wrong) - if I am not mistaken, that site is now where Chipotle, Biggby's, FedEx Office and one or two other places sit on the south side of Washtenaw Avenue. That corridor has changed a lot in 25 years, I will say that. Years ago, if you were standing where the lululemon and North Face stores are now, right across from Barnes & Noble, you would be scouting out cars in a delaership lot.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
never owned a restaurant. And I think you are right about the location of this place. I remember going to a place in the early 90's on Washtenaw near the border with Ypsilanti where this place was located. I wanted to go to a Michigan-themed place for dinner and I think that was the place. Though I could be mistaken. It was in 1994 and like you said that corridor has changed considerably.
September 21st, 2015 at 9:16 PM ^
Didnt Monahan once give Bo a Dominos Pizza in Columbus? if you consider a Dominos to be a restaurant....
September 21st, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
September 22nd, 2015 at 9:55 AM ^
iirc, the Columbus one made headlines for the LOL factor, but the real money was from a series of franchises in Boston and New Hampshire that are run by Bo's son Geoff.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
there was a ponderosa on stadium, near liberty. it's gourmet garden now. (not actually relevant to the topic, but just for historical accuracy :)
September 21st, 2015 at 10:26 PM ^
September 22nd, 2015 at 2:36 AM ^
I'm sure they tore it all down in the 90s!
September 21st, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
....according to a comment on the article.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
Funny, I wore my Bo's Steakhouse t-shirt this weekend. I hadn't had it on in a long time and found it while cleaning out my closed for Purple Heart.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^
I'm not exactly sure, but I thought that it was near the corner of State & Eisenhower (across from Briarwood). I haven't lived in A2 in a loooong time but I think there used to be a Damon's in that area, too.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:18 PM ^
The building that is now Buffalo Wild Wings right next to Wendy's is the old Damon's building.
Those were great Sundays when I was in college... standard definition projectors where I could watch 4 games at a time and fight over who listened to what broadcast on the broken tuner at your table. Loved every second of it.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
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September 21st, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
I see you could get Fro Yo from Bo's
September 21st, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^
How is there not a Bo themed restaurant anywhere in A2?
September 21st, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
For the employees:
"The restaurant, the restaurant, the restaurant..."
For the diners:
"Those who stay will be full..."
September 21st, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
Also, we could probably decorate the place with the overflow from WD's personal collection.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
I always order the John U. Bacon Burger with cheese, with a side of Bo's Ever-Lasting Steak Fries.
And a Diet Coke...
September 21st, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
The menus would be in binders.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
Too bad I don't know the first damn thing about running a restaurant.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
Bo's was located where Seoul Garden is today. (3125 Boardwalk Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108).
As I recall, it opened in the early 1990s and didn't last more than five or six years. I was a student at the time, so I didn't have the budget to hit up the steak houses in town.
I don't know the story behind why it wasn't a success -- pricing, location, menu, quality? I have no idea. I will say that just about every non-fastfood restaurant that was located along State Street south of Eisenhower other than Macaroni Grill has failed. That list includes Damon's, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bo's, Enzo’s and Gallagher’s.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^
As I recall, it was largely owned and operated by some of Bo's friends, and he had a piece of the ownership, and allowed his name to be used. When I was a manager the entire team went there prior to its grand opening as part of a "soft opening." It was basically a mid-level steak house without much that was special to offer, other than Michigan memorabelia all over. It was a step up from the Ponderosa it had been, but not by much. I worked for the Outback Steakhouse in A2 when I was in school, and Bo's was universally regarded as being dissappointing by the steak loving community. It didn't last long.
What I remember most is after we ate, the entire team went and saw "The Program," which Bo had a cameo in. Probably one of the few theaters where, after the "team" the main characters all played for actually lost, to MICHIGAN, the crowd erupted.
AND... I actually have one of those menus myself as a momento!
September 21st, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
It was in a building that had formerly been another restaurant, and then after Bo's closed Gallagher's was there for a few years.
September 21st, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^
The address is listed on the menu.
3125 Boardwalk Drive Ann Arbor
September 21st, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
the Seoul Garden
September 21st, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Sounds like it was about as successful as Terry Foster's restaurants. A "step up from Ponderosa" probably wasn't the best idea.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^
Ok, I can clear up much about this as I worked there from the day it opened until the day I showed up to locked doors and a man handing out our last paychecks. I was a bus boy initially and a server VERY briefly as they struggled to keep people. It was one of my first ever jobs.
First, the location. I can confirm with certainty that it was located on Boardwalk across the street from the Wendy's. It occupied what is now a sushi restaurant (not sure of the name anymore) and had previously been a Ponderosa.
The restaurant was filled with promise, but I blame the manager for the ultimate failure. He had been the Ponderosa manager and he ran Bo's in the same vein. It wanted to be an upscale steakhouse, but paper placemats and napkins, Ponderosa style salad bar and steaks, cheap decorations and low quality servers really all added up to a "meh" experience.
One thing that I distinctly remember is that in the restuarant, they built a small radio studio. The radio studio had been intended to have Bo and radio hosts come on location to have their Sunday (or whatever day) radio show from the restaurant. The studio was actually pretty nice, but I don't recall the radio show ever taking place there. Honestly I don't know what happened in that regard.
One more "cool story bro" moment - years later I took up a job catering and I worked multiple events with Bo in attendance. I was serving drinks and Bo came up to the station I was working and took his glass and just stood there sipping his white wine. Striking up conversation, I mentioned to him that I had actually worked at his restaurant and how I had wished it had turned out differently. He smiled at me, shook his head and told me how it was an investment that his advisors had suggested, and how it was a total cluster f&ck. I had the pleasure of serving Bo many times and he was always like that in my experience. Blunt and friendly.
September 21st, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
occasions but never ate there. I think in between Bo's and the current Seoul Garden, there was some buffet restaurant in there back when those places were in vogue (and before the owners figured out there was no way to make money with them).
September 21st, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^
I am pretty sure it was also a massage parlor for part of the time between Bo's and Seoul Garden. That incarnation was closed during a big crackdown on massage parlors in Ann Arbor in the '90s.
Regarding the earlier comment about how unsuccessful restaurants in that area have been, Seoul Garden has been the exception. I think it was the first place in southeast Michigan to serve Koren BBQ. I haven't been there in years, but I remember some great meals there.
September 21st, 2015 at 3:44 PM ^
I remember the word on the street being that the restaurant was on the crappy side. Drove past it on several occasions but could never get the wife to stop. Was surprised that Bo had his name on it. Always assumed someone just snatched "Bo" and used it anyway, trying to play off his name.
September 21st, 2015 at 6:26 PM ^
Bo's was located where Seoul Garden is today. (3125 Boardwalk Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108).
September 21st, 2015 at 9:41 PM ^
In the Foreward, Albom talks about his favorite moment with Bo was that during a trip to Annapolis to address the Naval Academy they took an unauthorized detour to "a well-known hamburger restaurant." I have always wondered what burger that was...
September 21st, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^
There was nothing legendary about this restaurant other than its name. It was right across from the Wendy's next to Wolverine Tower on Boardwalk halfway between Victors Way and Eisenhower. It's now a Seoul Garden.
There's a place in Carborough, NC (just outside of Chapel Hill) called Carrburitto. It's amazing and a place you should try if you are anywhere near it. It would be pretty fitting to open one of those up on campus...
September 21st, 2015 at 11:51 PM ^
I was there around '96-97 maybe. Can't remember exactly.
It was... Okay
I don't think bo had much to do with it
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September 22nd, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
I think its Carrboro, NC...
Or perhaps Hillsborough, NC
September 21st, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^
September 22nd, 2015 at 2:48 AM ^
A sports bar called Bo's that severed great food and beer and all other drinks! Wall to wall big screen TVs and a bunch of Michigan memorabilia! May be a Bo museum in the back! I'd go there when visiting Ann Arbor!