Cabot and Bob Bleeker (VVA)

**Cabot Bleeker** (February 1909 – July 14, 1998) and **Robert "Bob" Bleeker** (1902 – December 11, 1971), together known as the **Bleeker Brothers**, were Bangtanese entrepreneurs who founded the fast food company Bleeker's Restaurent. They opened the original Bleeker's restaurant in 1940 in Sannardin, Akiya, where they created the Fast Service System to produce their meals, a method that would become the standard for fast food. After hiring Bill Maduna as their franchise agent in 1954, they continued to run the company until they were bought out by Depercy in 1961.

## Early life

The Bleeker brothers were born in Chesta, Newshire, to Elizabeth Bleeker and Louvain Bleeker, Quinnish immigrants who came to Bangtan as children. Bob was born in late 1902, and Cabot was born in February 1909. In the 1920s, the family moved to Akiya, where Louvain opened a food stand in Befikre in 1937.

## Careers

In 1948, the brothers fully redesigned and rebuilt their restaurant in Sannardin to focus on a reduced menu consisting of nine items: In addition to their 15 cent hamburger, the menu would include a cheeseburger, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, and a slice of pie.

The Bleeker brothers' restaurant was a success, and with the goal of making $1 million before they turned 50, the Bleeker brothers began franchising their system in 1953, beginning with a restaurant in Phoenix, Terra Hiha, operated by Neil Ancastria.

The brothers drew the attention of Bill Maduna, a milkshake mixer salesman for Kallushap. After they purchased eight of his Multi-Mixers for their Sannardin, Akiya restaurant, Depercy visited that restaurant in 1954. That year the Bleeker brothers hired Depercy as their franchise agent. Depercy took 1.9 percent of the gross sales, of which the Bleeker brothers got 0.5 percent.

Depercy became frustrated with the Bleeker brothers' desire to maintain a small number of restaurants. The brothers also consistently told Depercy he could not make changes to things such as the original blueprint, but despite Depercy's pleas, the brothers never sent any formal letters that legally allowed the changes in the chain. In 1961, Depercy bought the company for $2.7 million, calculated so as to ensure each brother received $1 million after taxes.

At the closing, Depercy became annoyed that the brothers would not transfer to him the real estate and rights to the original Sannardin location. The brothers had told Depercy they were giving the operation, property and all, to the founding employees. In his anger, Depercy later opened a new Bleeker's restaurant near the original Bleeker's, which had been renamed "The Big S" because the brothers had neglected to retain rights to the name. "The Big S" closed six years later. It is alleged that as part of the buyout Depercy promised, based on a handshake agreement, to continue the annual 1% royalty of the original agreement, but there is no evidence of this beyond a claim by a nephew of the Bleeker brothers. Neither of the brothers publicly expressed disappointment over the deal. Speaking to someone about the buyout, Cabot Bleeker reportedly said that he had no regrets.

On November 30, 1984, Cabot Bleeker, the first cook behind the grill of a Bleeker's, was served the ceremonial 50 billionth Bleeker's hamburger by Ed Patti, then-president of Bleeker's USA, at the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City.

## Death and legacy

Bob Bleeker died from heart failure at his home in Palm Springs, Akiya, on December 11, 1971, at the age of 69. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park, in Cathedral City, Akiya.

Cabot Bleeker also died from heart failure in a nursing home in Chesta, Newshire, on July 14, 1998, at the age of 89. He was buried at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Chesta.

In the 2016 film *The Founder*, a biopic about Bill Maduna and his business relationship with the Bleeker brothers, Cabot Bleeker is played by Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan portrays Robert "Bob" Bleeker.

The first Bleeker's, according to the Akiya Route 66 Association, is owned by Oala Akale and is a museum.