Bob In Bar & Lounge

How does one describe the Bob-​In? A place prominently featured in the police blotter, where the owner proudly notes that arrests in the bar have gone from 184 to 104 in the past four years. A place for cheap beer and food out of vending machines. A place where they tried to class up the place by adding a second stripper pole. A place where they hire strippers for the wet t-​shirt contests. A place where the local mothers warn their kids not to drink because they will end up there. A place where you see patrons stumbling out drunk at 2 in the afternoon.
Why would it be rated 2 stars? Because it is a veritable part of Waterville history. Because it has the ultimate cool cred of being featured in a Paul Newman movie (Empire Falls). Because of all of the above. Because it has an owner named Gubby Karter. Because every town needs a place like this to establish how low you can go. Because it is still around after forty years and doing just fine, thank you very much. Because nobody wants to go there for any sort of trendy reason. Because this is a neighborhood bar in a skeezy neighborhood that the patrons like.
Just admire from afar. They don’t take kindly to strangers unless you are dealing something.