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[]
Kelly's was introduced in 1980 as a waterfront diner that also features boarding rooms upstairs. Founded originally by Paddy Kelly and his wife Rose, Kelly's quickly became a popular meeting place for the people of Port Charles. Not long after opening, Rose hired Luke Spencer as a waiter for the diner.
Some years after Paddy was killed during an incident with the mob, Rose left town to be with her stepson and sold Kelly's to Ruby Anderson, who became known for her sage advice and famous chili.
In 1984, the bankrupt Quartermaines took residence at Kelly's much to Edward's dismay. While working and living at the diner, Lila Quartermaine creates a new business called Pickle-Lila to build the Quartermaines fortune back.
In 1990, Kelly's received a slight makeover and was updated with a red neon sign in the window, while the entrance was moved to the east side of the diner.
In 1992, Jagger Cates and some other gang members broke into Kelly's and roughed up Ruby. Ruby later forgave Jagger for his part in the robbery and even helped him get back on his feet, by offering him the room above Kelly's and a job. Ruby also grants Jagger and Karen Wexler permission to hold their wedding at Kelly's, where many Port Charles guest attended.
Being a family-owned business, Ruby often allowed Lucky Spencer to host private "Kelly's-closed dinners" with Nikolas Cassadine, Emily Quartermaine, and Elizabeth Webber which consisted of traditional potluck dinners.
When Ruby passed away in 1999, she left Kelly's in the hands of her niece and nephew, Luke and Bobbie Spencer. Luke found it especially difficult to keep Kelly's afloat without Ruby.
Not long after Ruby's death, Luke and Bobbie turned over daily operations to Tammy Hansen who ran Kelly's until leaving town sometime in 2001. Over the years Luke and Bobbie juggled the manager position themselves also allowing numerous Port Charles citizens 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 โThe Flynn's Clubโ, bricked off in the basement of Kelly's. Carly later ran a club here for a few years and named it The Cellar.
In February of 2004, Luke and Bobbie hired Mike Corbin to run and live above Kelly's. Mike became known for giving his advice much like in the way of Ruby, and his chocolate chip cookies. Some months after taking over Kelly's, Mike was attacked outside the diner by two thugs attempting to send a message to his son Sonny Corinthos. Mike was quickly rescued by Sam McCall who in turn was attacked instead. Sam was later saved by Emily Quartermaine who held the thugs at gun point.
Mike has also hired a variety of Port Charles citizens.
When the Russian mob invaded Port Charles in 2008, two mobsters break into Kelly's, assault Mike, then set the place ablaze fueling a mob war involving Sonny Corinthos. Not long after Mike recovered, Bobbie and Luke quickly made plans to rebuild the diner.
In 2010, Mike leaves Kelly's to go to gambling rehab forcing Luke to once again step in as manager. Luke often employs his daughter Lulu to help out the family business with Lulu showing little interest.
In February 2012, Shawn Butler was hired as the new manager. Not long after taking over Shawn found T.J. Ashford breaking into Kelly's and stealing food. He then took T.J. under his wing and gave him a job and room at the diner.
Later that year Luke was especially displeased when Heather Webber was released from Ferncliff and forced Luke to employ her at Kelly's where she was known for expressing her fondness of their BLT sandwiches. However this was short lived as Heather proved to still be mentally unstable.
As of 2013, it seems Kelly's has been given a make over with new neon lights and green paint.
When Shawn was sentenced to jail in 2015, it was unclear who became manager of Kelly's.
In 2016, Kelly's had another attempted armed robbery, this time the culprit was subdued by Curtis and Jordan Ashford.
In 2021, Cameron Webber became a busboy at the diner. In October, he is made Assistant Manager, and hires his cousin Spencer Cassadine as a waiter.
In 2022, after breaking up with Spencer Cassadine, and in order to continue with her plan to seduce his father Nikolas Cassadine, Esme Prince attempts to manipulate him into letting her stay at Wyndemere Castle. He decides instead on renting her the room above Kelly's. This only lasts for one day, as Esme claims she might be pregnant, and is "scared" of Sonny Corinthos getting revenge on her for secretly recording Cameron and Josslyn having sex. Nikolas agrees to let her move into Wyndemere, and Spencer comes along.
On May 3, 2023, due to the SEC freezing Carly's assets, her payment for a slice of pie is rejected. Carly talks with the waitress about her aunt Ruby Anderson formerly owning the diner. She notes that Bobbie isn't the owner of Kelly's anymore - this is then contradicted on 7/24/23, as Bobbie gives Kelly's to Carly.
As of July 24, 2023, Carly Spencer is the new owner of the diner. She informs her daughter Josslyn Jacks that Bobbie went to Amsterdam to take care of her late brother Luke's affairs. Carly's lawyer Diane Miller learned that the state of NY recognized a parent can gift their child a property or business. Carly was entrusted with it so her mother sold her the diner for $1. She plans to fix up the rooms upstairs for residents or college students, not to live there herself.
On New Years Eve 2023/24, it was revealed that Bobbie had died in her sleep in Amsterdam. Wanting to feel closer to her mother, Carly went to Kelly's, spending some time alone and thinking in the closed diner. Both Elizabeth and Sonny show up, each wanting to commiserate with her loss.
On January 9, the night before Bobbie's funeral, a storm broke the iconic diner's sign. Elizabeth offered to paint a new one, wanting to help keep Bobbie's spirit alive. She repainted the sign as "Bobbie's", which Bobbie's living children, Carly and Lucas, approved of, officially renaming the diner.Former Employees[]
Ruby was known for starting the trend of letting many citizens live and work at Kelly's some of these including and after her death;
- Diego Alcazar
- Brenda Barrett
- Cooper Barrett
- Jagger Cates
- Mike Corbin
- Lily Corinthos
- Jimmy Lee Holt
- Frisco Jones
- Felicia Jones
- Georgie Jones
- Maxie Jones
- Ric Lansing
- Courtney Matthews
- Sam McCall
- Miguel Morez
- Jason Morgan
- Dillon Quartermaine
- Emily Quartermaine
- Juan Santiago
- Rebecca Shaw
- Bobbie Spencer
- Lucky Spencer
- Luke Spencer
- Lulu Spencer
- Holly Sutton
- Keesha Ward
- 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.