B-Bops is a fast food franchise found only in the Des Moines area. There are seven locations – four scattered throughout Des Moines and one in Altoona, Ankeny and Ames respectively. Each location has the feel of a 1950s style drive-thru. 

The owner of B-Bops, Bob Johnson, told us a little bit about his franchise.

What interested you in becoming a restaurant owner?

Needed a job. I started back in 1970 in fast food.

What is your favorite thing about being the owner of B-Bops?

Well, the profit, naturally. Making money.

Do some locations get more business than others?

Oh, sure, yeah. It just depends on what day and, like, over on the East side we sell quarter-pound hamburgers on Saturday and Sunday for $1.09 each. And we had to do that because there’s just nothing else over there on the weekends. And we’ve been doing it for five years. And it’s just really gone gangbusters now.

Do you plan to plan to expand outside of the Des Moines area?

Mainly right now we want to concentrate right here, central Iowa.

What is the atmosphere you try to provide at B-Bops?

Nice, clean restaurants with fast, affordable food. We’re always less expensive than our competitors when it comes to our hamburger.

If someone wanted to open up a new B-Bops location, what steps would they have to take and what specifications would there be for the building?

Well, right now we don’t want to expand on our franchising. So we’re sticking just with our own corporate.

You said you started out in fast food. Did you start out as an employee?

I started out as an assistant manager trainee in Bollingbrook, Ill. The chain was Mr. Quick Hamburgers.

What sort of feedback do you receive about the restaurants, food, service, etc.?

Well, nothing but good.

B-Bops’ 25th anniversary is coming up in November, correct? How do you plan to celebrate that?

Right. Still be here. No, we haven’t made any formal plans yet for that.