2008 Woodie Awards
Local family business withstands test of time
By Liz Cooper
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Life
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It's a historic landmark that has been around for more than 30 years. So the question, "Who is Bob?" needs to be answered. The original creator of the name was Robert Woolston of New York. Woolston started Bob's in Fredonia, N.Y., and later expanded to parts of Pennsylvania like Edinboro, Clarion and Slippery Rock. There was even a Bob's Sub in Florida at one point, but due to the heavy humidity it made bread making almost impossible. Management was hard to find for the Bob's in Edinboro, so that sub shop closed down, leaving only two Bob's Sub shops left open. Woolston decided to later sell his shops and retire.
With perfectly circled black framed glasses, an ageless face and a memory filled with Bob's Sub stories, you would never know that Cindy Marlowe is the reason why Bob's has stayed an established landmark in Slippery Rock. Born, raised and graduated from Slippery Rock, Marlowe bought Bob's Sub from Woolston back in 1986. She worked for Woolston prior to buying it and knew the ropes of running it. With a German and English background, sub-making a typical Italian concoction isn't always in the blood, but for Marlowe it is.
"I eat a sub a day and have never and will never get sick of them," Marlowe said.
Marlowe's whole family works with her in creating the "Super Subs," as they are called. Her mother, Esther, her two sisters, Linda Wigton and Jo Ann Marlow all work in the shop. Besides intermediate family, Marlowe also considers any of the other thousands of students throughout the years who have worked for her a part of her family as well.
"It's a family business and we work as a team," Marlowe said. "You work best and produce efficiently when you have closeness."
Bob's was not always located at 252 South Main St. In 1989, Marlowe decided to move out of the run-down building where McDonald's is now located and relocated to its present spot. For the past 15 years Bob's Sub has been there, but its surroundings have changed. Inside the Bob's Sub shop there use to be a mini-mall with Dunkin Donuts and a TCBY yogurt shop. Now when you enter you will find Haas's Bakery across from Bob's ordering and pick-up area.
