Lindsay, CA
On the northwest corner of Elmwood Avenue and Hermosa Street in central Lindsay, a small town fighting through economic struggles, rests Bob's Drive-In.

Owners Frances and Rabon "Dink" Loyd bought the mom-and-pop restaurant in 1967 — 40 years ago this month. Frances Loyd, 63, credits the restaurant's longevity, in part, to customer loyalty.

"It's all about the people," she said. "And we love our customers."

The other factor in the restaurant's staying power: three generations of family members who have helped run the business. "It's been hard work and family help," she said. "We couldn't have done it without our family."

The Loyds' daughter, Marie Arroyo, worked at Bob's Drive-In as a teenager. Now her sons, Travis and Tyler, are helping out.

"My dad's saying is, 'Once you are tall enough to see over the counter, you are tall enough to work,' " Arroyo said.

Frances Loyd's sister, Lois Jackson, has worked at the drive-in for about 38 years.

"She's my sister, friend and employee," Loyd said. "Sometimes I feel like I work for her."

The sisters work alongside one another all week. Dink Loyd, though, hasn't worked for the past six years because of health reasons.

Bob's Drive-In relies heavily on farm laborers for business. Naturally, the restaurant felt the effect of citrus freezes in 1990, 1998 and January of this year.

But even as laborers lost their jobs in fields and packing sheds, the drive-in managed to adjust and survive.

After the 1990 freeze, Frances Loyd said, Bob's Drive-In stopped selling donuts because there was another donut stand in town — and the community couldn't support two. Instead, the restaurant decided to add breakfast burritos and enter the catering business.

Of course, fast-food franchises such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Burger King provide competition, as well.

But while they take business away at times, Frances Loyd said, the customers eventually come back.

One competitor has proved to be more formidable, however: the microwave oven.

"When the microwave came out, we noticed that the people weren't coming in as much," she said. "We don't use the M-word around here."

Except for the breakfast additions, the menu has changed little in 40 years. But while you'll still find burgers, tacos, burritos and hot dogs, some alterations have been required.

"Larger people wanted larger portions, so we added the half-pound burger," Frances Loyd said. "That's been 25 or 30 years ago."

If what you want is not on the menu, Dink Loyd said, ask.

"We'll try and make it for you," Dink Loyd said.

Lindsay Mayor Ed Murray, 58, said he sticks to his "standard" order: two chili dogs, french fries and an ice tea or soda.

"I come here two or three times a week," Murray said.

Originally published online here: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/NEWS01/706090310