Memories of the Original Bobby Buford's

I wonder how many people remember Bobby Buford's, a little restaurant/bar that was located at the intersection of I-70 and Stadium. When I first went to Buford's in the early 1980's it was surrounded by pasture and had a peaceful ambiance like a small country restaurant. I have very few memories of what I ordered, what the food was like and how the place looked inside but I do remember the building boom that went on around it. The Columbia Mall and several motel chains almost surrounded Buford's and destroyed that restaurant's peaceful setting. I remember looking at the restaurant as I drove south on Stadium from the Interstate, noticing how odd it looked stuck in the middle of all that development. It was closed by then and I cannot remember what, if anything took its place.

My favorite memory of Bobby Buford's happened the last time I went there to attend a friend's surprise birthday party in one of its private rooms. The food and drink was grand and everyone was having a great time. His son who may of been four or five entertained us with his singing ability as he belted out theme songs from old movies and television series. Randy, his father, was a movie buff like the rest of us and taught his son well. Well enough that the bartender heard the singing and asked the parents if their kid could go the the bar and sing for the customers. I believe the son's name was Matt or Matthew but he went with the bartender and a few seconds later we hear the first words of "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier." We all laughed and I could see the pride on the father's face as his son did him proud. A toast to Bobby Buford's and thanks for the few, but great memories you gave me.