Bob Stane

Bob Stane is an American businessman known for his contributions to the entertainment industry through various venues he has owned and managed. He is the founder and current owner of Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena, California. Stane also co-owned The Ice House folk music and comedy club in Pasadena with Willard Chilcott and founded Upper Cellar coffee house in San Diego.

Stane's career began after attending San Diego State College and serving in the army. He opened Upper Cellar in 1958 with a $500 loan, featuring performers like Mason Williams and Cheech & Chong. This experience led him to co-own The Ice House starting in 1961 until its sale in 1978. In 1962, he briefly worked with Playboy Enterprises in Chicago before returning to The Ice House.

Stane later opened Coffee Gallery Backstage in 1998, which operated until 2022. He authored "How to Run a Coffeehouse" while managing Upper Cellar. Stane has been recognized with several awards, including the Best of the West Ambassador Award in 2009 and the Music Legend Award in 2012 for his contributions to folk music. In 2009, a wooden fork sculpture was created in Pasadena to honor him but faced permit issues before being permanently installed in 2011.