The Melting Pot ‘family’ says goodbye to its ‘dad’

The news of Melting Pot owner Robert Bachelor’s passing on Tuesday afternoon, November 2, led to exchanged messages, condolences, and tributes of affection among long-time customers and employees alike.

The initial staff tribute on Tuesday – thanks Sandy – of Robert’s favorite in-house seat ‘reserved’ with a lit candle in place. Below, later a photo was added – more on that photo later. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

Robert had handed day-to-day management of restaurant operations over to son Elliot over the last several years due to increasing health issues related to age and diabetes he had long battled. Still, he liked to stop in every week or so, even in his “wheelchair buggy” to touch base, trade stories, and share a colorful joke or two with regular customers, while keeping that “tight supervisory eye” on his and Elliot’s employees. For while for some at distance it may have been his business success that marked his life here – Robert missed celebrating the Melting Pot’s 50^th anniversary by about six months – for those who worked any amount of time for him or got to know him chatting while waiting for that thin-crust pizza or your favorite sub or appetizer to arrive, it was Robert’s personality and sense of humor that will define fond memories of him. They were memories gathered over decades of Robert holding court at the Melting Pot bar or at tables of friends he spotted on his rounds.

A second memorial near the entrance hostess station appeared within two days, featuring a younger, suave Robert.

In fact, some of us longer-termers were commiserating during the week that it was sad for the Melting Pot’s generation of newer employees that they didn’t have that daily interaction that characterized Robert’s younger years at the Pot – and I’ll categorize those “younger” years as right up through his 70s – because they missed that interaction that bred the familiarity that transitioned to lifelong friendships as part of “The Melting Pot family” for so many.

Friday, November 5^th, in the Melting Pot’s small bar section where Robert long held court, some of that old Melting Pot family, along with Robert’s son Elliott, and Elliot’s wife and son Kellie and Palmer, gathered to remember, reunite, tell “Robert stories”, and toast their dad, whether it be by blood, marriage or pizza over a beer.

Some of The Melting Pot family is actually family, from left, Elliot’s wife Kellie, then a trio of Haffermans – Jon, Joy and Cindy, and the couple affectionately known as the Chippewas, JT, and Sarah, and at far right a mysterious hand asking why it can’t be family too (it can along with others out of camera range, just not in this picture). Below, Elliot, Kellie, and son Palmer, the latter held aloft by Kellie’s mom Jill; and further below Robert’s grandson Palmer is flying with a little help from his friends.

Here’s to you, Robert, thanks for the stories, the laughs, and the friendships made waiting for that defining thin-crust pizza – especially the anchovy-dressed ones we used to share that drove everyone away from our corner of “the owner’s box”.

See the Royal Examiner’s obituary Robert Bachelor (1938 – 2021) – Royal Examiner for details on services and a brief overview of the expansive and interesting life lived by Robert Bachelor. And hang in there Westy, Ruth, Elliot, Francie, and families – without your family, The Melting Pot family could never have existed.

We promised ‘more’ on the photo added to the staff tribute the day Robert passed. We were informed this photo is of former staffer Marcella giving Robert a cheek squeeze at his ’69 Forever’ birthday party. The above photo was taken at an angle to avoid all the ceiling light reflections on the frame’s glass. However, the initial photo was taken reflections and all – WAIT, is that a halo making its way towards Robert’s head – or perhaps falling off …