Bobbie's (also known as Bobbie's Diner) is the local diner and boarding house in Port Charles. From its establishment until 2024, it was named Kelly's from the original owners.
The diner was renamed "Bobbie's" in 2024, to honor the recently deceased Bobbie Spencer, and her late actress, Jacklyn Zeman.
History[]
Entrance to Kelly's on Pier 52
Kelly's, established in 1980 as a waterfront diner with boarding rooms upstairs, was founded by Paddy Kelly and his wife Rose. It soon became a favored gathering spot for the residents of Port Charles. Shortly after its inception, Rose employed Luke Spencer as a waiter.
Several years following Paddy's death in a mob-related incident, Rose departed the town to join her stepson and transferred ownership of Kelly's to Ruby Anderson, who became renowned for her wise counsel and celebrated chili.
In 1983, following their marriage in the General Hospital Chapel, Bryan Phillips and Claudia Johnston-Phillips celebrated their wedding reception at Kelly's.
In 1986, the financially ruined Quartermaine family moved into the boarding rooms above Kelly's, much to Edward and Alan's chagrin. During their time at the diner, Lila Quartermaine founded a new venture named Pickle-Lila to restore the family's wealth.
In 1990, Kelly's underwent a minor renovation, featuring a new red neon sign in the window and relocating the entrance to the diner's east side.
In 1992, Jagger Cates and a group of gang members, including Cal Atkins, invaded Kelly's and attacked Ruby. During the robbery, Jagger was shot in the neck as he attempted to shield Ruby. Ultimately, Ruby pardoned Jagger for his part in the crime and aided in his recovery by providing him with accommodation above Kelly's and employment. Additionally, Ruby consented to Jagger and Karen Wexler holding their wedding at Kelly's, an event that drew numerous attendees from Port Charles.
In 1997, popular couple Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Webber first encountered each other outside Kelly's as Elizabeth indulged in a cigarette. Being a family-owned business, Ruby often allowed Lucky to organize private "Kelly's-closed dinners" with Elizabeth, Nikolas Cassadine, and Emily Quartermaine, where they enjoyed traditional potluck dishes.
After Ruby's passing in 1999, she bequeathed Kelly's to her niece and nephew, Luke and Bobbie Spencer. Luke, in particular, struggled to maintain Kelly's without Ruby's presence.
Kelly's neon window logo
Following Ruby's passing, Luke and Bobbie handed the daily management of Kelly's to Tammy Hansen.
In June 2000, Luke was managing Kelly's in Tammy's absence and found himself quarantined with Felicia Jones when a man collapsed with the contagious dengue fever.
Tammy departed from town in 2001. Over the years, Luke and Bobbie alternated as managers, offering various Port Charles residents the chance to work and live above Kelly's.
On New Year's Eve 2002, Carly Corinthos and Ric Lansing discovered the remnants of a 1920's speakeasy called “The Flynn's Club”, bricked off in the basement of Kelly's. Carly later ran a club here for a few years and named it The Cellar. Former owner Catherine Flynn, now an old woman who had been living in an apartment across the street, told Carly and Ric the club's history when she observed them breaking through the brick wall.
In February 2004, Luke and Bobbie enlisted Mike Corbin to oversee Kelly's and reside above the diner. Mike gained a reputation for dispensing wisdom akin to Ruby's and for his signature chocolate chip cookies. He also employed several Port Charles residents at Kelly's. Not long after assuming management, Mike was assaulted outside the diner by two hoodlums trying to threaten his son, Sonny Corinthos. Mike received prompt assistance from Sam McCall, who subsequently faced an attack. Shortly thereafter, Emily Quartermaine came to Sam's rescue, confronting the assailants with a gun.
In January 2008, the police began closing in on Cooper Barrett, suspected to be the "Text Message Killer." After stealing DNA evidence that incriminated him from the PCPD, he persuaded Maxie Jones to leave town with him, and she agreed. However, when Maxie arrived at Coop's room at Kelly's, she discovered him hanged. Mike and Jason Morgan rushed to assist upon hearing Maxie's screams. The PCPD declared it a suicide, but Maxie was not convinced. She did not believe Coop had taken his own life or that he had killed Georgie Jones. It was later revealed that the true Text Message Killer was Diego Alcazar, who had also murdered Coop, believing he was close to uncovering his identity. Coop had suspected Lorenzo Alcazar, not Diego.
In early 2008, when the Russian mob invaded Port Charles, two gangsters broke into Kelly's, attacked Mike, and then set the diner on fire, igniting a mob war that involved Sonny. Shortly after Mike's recovery, Bobbie and Luke swiftly made arrangements to reconstruct the diner.
General Hospital - Kelly's Makeover ( GH50)
A video showing Kelly's makeover in 2013, released by ABC.
In 2010, Mike departed from Kelly's to enter gambling rehabilitation, prompting Luke to take over as manager once more. Luke frequently enlists his daughter Lulu to assist with the family business, despite her minimal interest in the role.
In February 2012, Shawn Butler was appointed as the new manager. Shortly after assuming his role, he discovered T.J. Ashford breaking into Kelly's and stealing food. Shawn then decided to mentor T.J., offering him employment and accommodation at the diner.
Later that year, Luke was particularly unhappy when Heather Webber was discharged from Ferncliff Asylum and compelled him to hire her at Kelly's, a place where she was notorious for her affinity for their BLT sandwiches. This arrangement was brief, as Heather soon demonstrated that she remained mentally unstable.
In February 2013, Lucy Coe, under the impression that John McBain was the vampire Caleb Morley, staked John outside Kelly's. He was quickly taken to General Hospital.
As of mid 2013, Kelly's appears to have undergone a renovation, featuring new neon lights and a fresh coat of green paint.
After Shawn's incarceration in 2015, the management of Kelly's was left uncertain.
In 2016, Kelly's experienced another attempted armed robbery, but the perpetrator was successfully subdued by Curtis and Jordan Ashford.
"Kelly's" is now "Bobbie's" (2024)
In 2021, Cameron Webber became a busboy at the diner. By October, he was promoted to Assistant Manager and hired his cousin Spencer Cassadine as a waiter.
The next year, following her breakup with Spencer, Esme Prince, in her pursuit to seduce Nikolas Cassadine, attempted to convince him to allow her to reside at Wyndemere Castle. Nevertheless, he provided her with a room above Kelly's instead. This living arrangement was short-lived as Esme, citing a potential pregnancy and apprehension of Sonny Corinthos' retribution for covertly recording Cameron and Josslyn, persuaded Nikolas to permit her relocation to Wyndemere, with Spencer joining her.
On May 3, 2023, the SEC froze Carly Spencer's assets, leading to a declined payment for a slice of pie. She reminisced with the waitress about her aunt, Ruby Anderson, the diner's former owner. Despite previous claims that Bobbie no longer owned Kelly's, ownership was transferred to Carly on July 24, 2023, making her the new proprietor. Carly informed her daughter, Josslyn Jacks, that Bobbie had traveled to Amsterdam to settle her late brother Luke's estate. Carly's attorney, Diane Miller, discovered that in New York, it's legal for a parent to gift property or a business to their offspring. Consequently, Carly's mother sold her the diner for $1. Carly plans to refurbish the upper floors for tenants or students, not for personal use.
On New Year's Eve 2023/24, the news broke that Bobbie had passed away in her sleep in Amsterdam. Seeking solace, Carly visited Kelly's, reflecting alone in the quiet of the closed diner. Elizabeth and Sonny each arrived, desiring to share in her sorrow. On January 9, the eve of Bobbie's funeral, a storm damaged the diner's iconic sign. Elizabeth volunteered to create a new one, aiming to honor Bobbie's memory. She crafted the sign with "Bobbie's" emblazoned on it, a gesture Carly and Lucas, Bobbie's surviving children, embraced, thus the diner was renamed.
When Jason Morgan is discovered alive in March 2024, he moves into the room about Bobbie's that Carly offers him. Carly also hires a new manager for the diner, Hunter Crews.Staff[]
- Hunter Crews (manager)
- Josslyn Jacks (waitress)
- Beth (waitress)
- Danielle (waitress)
- Julie (waitress)
- Katrina (waitress)
Ruby was recognized for initiating the trend of allowing numerous citizens to live and work at Kelly's, a tradition that continued even after her passing. These include:
- Diego Alcazar
- Brenda Barrett
- Cooper Barrett
- Spencer Cassadine
- Gina Cates
- Jagger Cates
- Mike Corbin
- Lily Corinthos
- Jimmy Lee Holt
- Frisco Jones
- Felicia Jones
- Georgie Jones
- Maxie Jones
- Ric Lansing
- Courtney Matthews
- Sam McCall
- Melissa McKee
- Miguel Morez
- Jason Morgan
- Dillon Quartermaine
- Emily Quartermaine
- Juan Santiago
- Rebecca Shaw
- Bobbie Spencer
- Lucky Spencer
- Luke Spencer
- Lulu Spencer
- Holly Sutton
- Keesha Ward
- Cameron Webber
- Elizabeth Webber
- Karen Wexler
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The diner also originally served beer and wine under Paddy and Rose's ownership.
- Countless fights have also occurred at Kelly's some of these including Elizabeth Webber, Courtney Matthews, Faith Rosco, Carly Spencer, Reese Marshall, Skye Quartermaine, Lulu Spencer, Maxie Jones, Logan Hayes, Dillon Quartermaine, Cooper Barrett, and Lucky Spencer.
