Big Boy Restaurants

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates {{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check|nested=1|template=Infobox company|cat=Template:Main other|name; company_name|logo; company_logo|logo_alt; alt|trade_name; trading_name|former_names; former_name|type; company_type|predecessors; predecessor|successors; successor|foundation; founded|founders; founder|defunct; dissolved|hq_location; location|hq_location_city; location_city|hq_location_country; location_country|num_locations; locations|areas_served; area_served|net_income; profit|net_income_year; profit_year|owners; owner |homepage; website }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox company with unknown parameter "_VALUE_" | ignoreblank=y | alt | area_served | areas_served | assets | assets_year | aum | brands | company_logo | company_name | company_type | defunct | dissolved | divisions | embed | equity | equity_year | fate | footnotes | headquarters | former_name | former_names | foundation | founded | founder | founders | genre | homepage | hq_location | hq_location_city | hq_location_country | incorporated | image | image_alt | image_caption | image_size | image_upright | income_year | industry | ISIN | key_people | location | location_city | location_country | locations | logo | logo_alt | logo_caption | logo_class | logo_size | logo_upright | members | members_year | module | name | native_name | native_name_lang | net_income | net_income_year | num_employees | num_employees_year | num_locations | num_locations_year | operating_income | owner | owners | parent | predecessor | predecessors | production | production_year | products | profit | profit_year | rating | ratio | revenue | revenue_year | romanized_name | services | subsid | subsidiaries | successor | successors | traded_as | trade_name | trading_name | type | website| qid | fetchwikidata | suppressfields | noicon | nocat | demo | categories }}

Big Boy is an American casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Southfield, Michigan; it is currently operated in most of the United States by Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Big Boy name, design aesthetic, and menu were previously licensed to a number of named regional franchisees. The parent franchisor company has changed over the system's lifetime: it was Bob's Big Boy from 1936 to 1967, then Marriott Corporation until 1987, then Elias Brothers' Big Boy until 2000. Since 2001, control of the trademark in the United States has been split into two territories, between Big Boy Restaurants in most of the country, and Frisch's Big Boy as an independent entity in a few states in the Midwest.

As of May 2025, Big Boy Restaurant Group operates 55 total locations in the United States: 51 "Big Boy" branded restaurants in Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, and Ohio; 6 formerly as “Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes” in Frisch’s territory before shuttering them in late October 2025; and four additional locations in California branded as "Bob's Big Boy".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One Big Boy location also operates in Thailand.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Frisch's operates 31 Big Boy restaurants in the United States, of which 13 are franchised.<ref>...

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Anchor

Food

The Big Boy hamburger

Frisch's Big Boy hamburger and other versions
An illustration showing how Big Boy hamburgers are assembled. The original version developed by Bob Wian (left) has mayonnaise and red relish (a combination of pickle relish, ketchup and chili sauce). Frisch's version (right) replaces them with tartar sauce and dill pickles, and applies them in a different order. The worldwide Big Boy system version (center) instead uses a thousand island-type dressing advertised as "Big Boy special sauce".

The signature Big Boy hamburger is the original double-deck hamburger.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The novel hamburger started as a joke. In February 1937, some local big band musicians, who were regular customers of Bob's Pantry, visited the restaurant. When ordering, bass player Stewie Strange asked, "How about something different, something special?"Template:R [emphasis added].<ref group="note">Exactly which band was involved is unclear. Hansen said Strange was a member of the Chuck Foster Orchestra.Template:R However, Rick Brough in The Newspaper (Park City, Utah) said Strange was a road musician with the Harry Lewis Dance Band.<ref name="Brough 1980">Template:Cite news</ref> Lawrence quoted Wian saying it was the Glendale High School Orchestra,Template:R while Searl quoted Wian simply saying it was a big band that Wian used to rehearse with.Template:R</ref> Bob Wian improvised, creating the first (then unnamed) Big Boy, intending the thing "look ridiculous, like a leaning tower".Template:R Demand for "the special" soared but Wian sought a "snappy" name, which became Big Boy.Template:R<ref group="note">Some reports say the Big Boy was first called the Fat Boy hamburger until discovering Fat Boy was a protected trademark.<ref name="Sculle 2002" /><ref name="wiannrn">Template:Cite journal</ref></ref> In 1938, the Big Boy hamburger cost 15¢Template:R<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Template:Inflation).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, the Big Boy cost $6.49 in Michigan.<ref>Big Boy take out menu Template:Webarchive. Wyandotte Big Boy. Retrieved April 22, 2018</ref> Several slogans were used from the 1950s through the 1970s to promote the Big Boy hamburger, such as, "A Meal in One on a Double–Deck Bun" and "Twice as Big, Twice as Good". On menus from that period, it was called, "...the Nationally Famous, Original Double–Deck Hamburger...".

The Big Boy hamburger inspired and was the model for other double deck hamburgers. This includes McDonald's Big Mac,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burger Chef's Big Shef<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Burger King's Big King.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Big Boy consists of two thin beef patties placed on a three-layer bun with lettuce, a single slice of American cheese, and either mayonnaise and red relish (a combination of sweet pickle relish, ketchup and chili sauce),Template:R Big Boy special sauce (often called thousand island dressing) or (at Frisch's, Manners and Azar's) tartar sauce on one or more layers of bun. (Regardless, the Big Boy condiment used was often simply referred to as "special sauce" on menus chainwide.) Wian used a sesame seed bun while Frisch's used a plain bun and included pickles.<ref group="note">Frisch's placed pickles above bun bottom, and Manners below the bun top.</ref> The Big Boy hamburger originally called for a quarter pound (4 ounces) of fresh ground beef, but later, franchisees were permitted to use frozen beef patties, and the minimum content reduced to a fifth of a pound to offset increasing food costs. Other specifications were exacting, such as the bun's bottom section being 1½  inches high and the center section ¾ inches, and 1½  ounces of shredded lettuce used.<ref name="Tucson-franchise">Template:Cite news</ref>

Originally, the Big Boy hamburger was the only common menu item required of all Big Boy franchisees.<ref name="Tucson-franchise" />

Other core menu items

Just as Bob Wian's Big Boy hamburger was served by all franchises, the early franchises also contributed signature menu items. Frisch's provided the "Brawny Lad" and "Swiss Miss" hamburgers, Shoney's contributed the "Slim Jim" sandwich and Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake, while Strawberry Pie was introduced by Eat'n Park. Hot Fudge Cake and Strawberry Pie remain popular dessert items chainwide but other items were not necessarily offered by all franchises, and franchises would sometimes change the item's name: The "Slim Jim" became the "Buddie Boy" at Frisch's, and Elby's renamed the "Swiss Miss" as the "Brawny Swiss".<ref name="Frisch menu">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Similarly, when franchisees left Big Boy, they would typically rebrand the Big Boy hamburger: it became the "Superburger" (Eat'n Park),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the "Buddy Boy" (Lendy's),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the "Big Ben" (Franklin's),<ref name="Big Ben">. . .

|CitationClass=web }}

Big Boy offers breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, salads, dinner combinations, and various desserts.<ref name="Frisch menu" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Big Boy mascot

File:Big Boy Logo Revised 2014.svg
Big Boy logo used from 1988 to 2020, featuring the Big Boy mascot and still seen at many locations

The chain is best known for its trademark chubby boy with a pompadour hairstyle wearing red-and-white checkered overalls holding a Big Boy sandwich (double-decker cheeseburger). The inspiration for Big Boy's name, as well as the model for its mascot, was Richard Woodruff of Glendale, California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When he was six years old, Woodruff walked into the diner Bob's Pantry as Bob Wian was attempting to name his new hamburger. Wian said, "Hello, Big Boy" to Woodruff, and the name stuck. Warner Bros. animation artist Ben Washam sketched Richard's caricature, which became the character seen on the company trademark.<ref group="note">Shoes were added to Washam's bare-footed Big Boy sketch. </ref>

In 1955, Bob Wian hired Manfred Bernhard, son of graphic designer Lucian Bernhard,Template:R to create a new public image for Big Boy.<ref name="Grantham 1996" /> Bernhard was not impressed with Washam's mascot, saying it was sloppy and had a moronic expression.<ref name="Grantham 1996" /> The "West Coast Big Boy" mascot was revised, fiberglass statues molded, schemes created for menus and building designs, and a comic book for children launched.

In 1951, Bob Wian's original franchisee Dave Frisch developed a slightly different Big Boy character. He was slimmer, wore a side cap, saddle shoes and striped overalls. Having reddish or blonde hair, he was portrayed in a running pose.<ref group="note">"Big Boy" wasn't written on the chest of the East Coast mascot. It was written on the side cap in the comic book, but otherwise, it was written on the sleeve and the franchise name written on the side cap.</ref> Known as the "East Coast Big Boy", he was copyrighted by Frisch's and used for statues and comic books for Frisch's, and its subfranchisees Manners and Azar's. Before 1954, Parkette (Shoney's) used both versions, though never together.<ref name="parkettelogo" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 1956, the Wian "West Coast Big Boy" design was used exclusively by all franchisees other than Frisch's, Manners and Azar's. In the late 1960s, both characters were redrawn to appear similar, incorporating the checkered outfit, pompadour and hamburger above the raised arm from the West Coast design, and the running pose and direction of the East Coast design. In the 1980s, the hamburger was removed from the West Coast design; representing a de-emphasis of the hamburger in North American Big Boy restaurants, it also accommodated the Japanese Big Boy restaurants, which do not serve hamburgers on a bun.

In 1985, concerned that the Big Boy mascot had become dated, Marriott Corporation put its fate up for a public vote, which was overwhelmingly in favor of keeping it.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Big Boy statues

Changing Big Boy logos
citation CitationClass=web }} (Image file)</ref> D 1969. Revised East Coast Big Boy.<ref>Template:Cite news Note: The Big Boy character copyright is dated 1969.</ref> E 1969. Revised West Coast Big Boy. Differences between the East and West Coast designs, including the statues, created confusion along the Ohio-Michigan border where Frisch's and Elias Brothers operated. This motivated a common Big Boy mark, derived with elements of both predecessors, (B) and (C). He retained the look of the West Coast figure (C) but assumed the running pose and orientation of the East Coast figure (B). Nonetheless, similar West and East Coast versions were realized, maintaining the facial style of the previous marks, respectively. Frisch's continued to use (D) through 2016. F 1981. To emphasize a full menu the hamburger was removed from the West Coast design. G 1988. After buying Big Boy, Elias Brothers lowered the left arm completely.

Early versions of the West Coast Big Boy statues were gigantic, measuring up to Template:Convert tall<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Sculle 2002">Template:Cite book</ref> with later versions as short as Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The early statues always included the Big Boy hamburger above the mascot's raised right arm; much later versions eliminated the hamburger with both arms clutching the suspenders instead. The hamburger remained a part of the Frisch's East Coast statues, though the slingshot was eliminated from the figure's back pocket. Although still used by that chain, some Frisch's restaurants currently display the West Coast statue instead.

Occasionally Big Boy statues have come into conflict with local zoning ordinances. In 2002, Tony Matar, a Big Boy franchisee in Canton, Michigan, was cited in violation of local sign ordinances. The town claimed the statue was a prohibited second sign; Matar asserted that the Template:Convert statue was a sculpture, not a sign.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 2004 compromise allows the existing statue to remain with the words "Big Boy" removed from the figure's bib.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When a Brighton, Michigan, franchise closed in early 2015 for financial reasons, zoning codes caused the entire signTemplate:Sndtopped with a rotating Big Boy statueTemplate:Sndto be taken down before the restaurant could be reopened.<ref>. . .

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> In contrast, the planning commission in Norco, California — known as Horsetown USA — was concerned that the statue was not Western enough. In response, the restaurant's Big Boy statue is now outfitted wearing a cowboy hat and boots.<ref>. . .

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A few other modified statues are in official use. In Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, a Frisch's statue is painted wearing a 1970s Reds baseball uniform with a Reds ballcap added. Frisch's Big Boy hamburgers are sold at two of the park's concession booths.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rather than modifying a typical statue, the Big Boy restaurants in Manistique<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and St. Ignace,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michigan, display full scale moose statues dressed in checkered overalls with "Big Boy" printed across the chest. To conform with Gaylord, Michigan's, Alpine theme, the local restaurant's statue previously wore a green Tyrolean hat.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (The restaurant was rebuilt in 2016, and no longer displays the modified statue.)

In March 2017, Frisch's unveiled a restyled statue. The new statue resembles the West Coast design but wears striped overalls like the original East Coast Big Boy.<ref name="New Frisch 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The debut statue wearing a Reds uniform is placed near the existing statue at Great American Ball Park; another is planned for an unnamed Frisch's restaurant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Frisch's will gradually swap the new statues for existing restaurant statues in need of repair.<ref name="New Frisch 1" />

Because of the closing or separation of former Big Boy restaurants, many West Coast statues were acquired by private individuals, and often traded through eBay.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (Note: The "Hamburger" Bob is the older 1950s style and the "Suspender" Bob is the newer style.)</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Smaller versions of the statues are sold as coin banks and bobblehead figures.<ref>. . .

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The three-dimensional Big Boy figure was also used on early ashtrays,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> salt and pepper shakers,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> wooden counter displays and as small unpainted pewter models.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gigantic air inflatable Big Boy figures are available and typically used for restaurant openings and special promotions.<ref>. . .

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Anchor

Template:Anchor

Adventures of the Big Boy comic book

Notable Big Boy comic book cover pages
The Adventures of the Big Boy comic book Template:Bulleted list

Adventures of the Big Boy (initially The Adventures of Big Boy) was a promotional comic book given free to children visiting the restaurants. Intended to "give the kids something to do while they waited for their food",Template:R the book involves the escapades of Big Boy, his girlfriend Dolly and dog Nugget. From the comic books, children could also join the Big Boy Club, a kids' club offering them free Big Boy hamburgers,<ref name="Bennett 1989">Template:Cite news Part 2</ref> decoder cards,<ref name="Bennett 1989" /> pin-back buttons<ref>. . .

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}

  • {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> and other premiums. The serial – sometimes called "King of the Giveaways"<ref name="Grantham 1996">Template:Cite news (continued page 5D)</ref>Template:R – once had distribution estimated at three million copies.<ref name="Evanier 1997">Template:Cite news</ref>

Manfred Bernhard commissioned Timely Comics to produce the book. In the first year, Adventures of the Big Boy was managed by Sol Brodsky, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Bill Everett, Brodsky, and Dan DeCarlo.<ref name="Caputo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:R<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="note">Mike Sekowsky may have also drawn in the first year.Template:R</ref> DeCarlo continued drawing in the second year and Lee writing the series through 1961.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref group="note">Lettering in early issues was credited to Artie Simek; coloring and possibly some drawing was by Stan Goldberg.<ref name="Caputo" /></ref> For 17 years, starting in the mid-1970s, Manny Stallman drew the (Marriott) series,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> followed by Bob Bindig who drew the series until 1995.Template:R<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="note">Lorina Mapa drew Adventures of the Big Boy, she said for five years;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (Examples of Mapa's Big Boy work are found at this URL.)</ref> Jerry Buckley also drew several issues at the end of the run.Template:R</ref>

Because of the distinct East and West Coast Big Boy mascots, dual versions of Adventures were produced, identical except for the detail of the Big Boy figure.<ref name="Adventures Gallery">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In July 1969, the versions merged, and a fluffy brown haired Big Boy appeared.<ref name="Adventures Gallery" /> In 1976, Shoney's began publishing their own series instead.<ref group="note">However, a January 1977 edition (#237) of the original series bears the Shoney's imprint.Template:R</ref> Contracted to Paragon Products, this version featured an older, leaner Big Boy, with his siblings Katie and Tripp replacing Dolly and Nugget,Template:R and was adopted by the JB's and Azar's Big Boy franchises.<ref name="Comics Shop">Template:Cite book</ref> After 75 issues, it became Shoney's Fun and Adventure Magazine introducing a Shoney's mascot ("Uncle Ed" bear) in place of Big Boy, allowing it to serve Shoney's non-Big Boy restaurants.Template:R<ref group="note">Comic book artist Sheldon Moldoff drew Adventures of the Template:Smallcaps Big Boy from 1980 past the conversion to the Shoney's Fun and Adventure Magazine.Template:R</ref>

In 1996, after 39 years and 466 issues,<ref name="Comics Shop" /> Big Boy cancelled the comic book and hired Craig Yoe's Yoe! Studio to revamp the characters and produce a magazine-styled replacement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After 63 issues, the Big Boy Magazine was itself cancelled in 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Regional franchises

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} <imagemap> File:Historic Big Boy Restaurant Franchisee Logos.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|alt=Historic Big Boy franchisee logos|Logos of historical Big Boy franchisees.
Franchisees were once required to use their own name with the Big Boy name and character. Some changed logos periodically and these show designs used while a Big Boy affiliate, most dating from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Eat'n Park, Shoney's and JB's are no longer affiliated with Big Boy. Logos for Adler's, Arnold's, Bud's and Chez Chap were not available to the artist.

circle 206 83 42 #Bob's circle 77 177 32 #Abdows circle 162 177 32 #Azars circle 248 177 32 #Beckers circle 332 177 32 #Eat'n Park circle 73 264 31 #Elbys circle 160 264 36 #Elias Brothers circle 246 264 36 #Franklins circle 332 264 35 #Frejlachs circle 72 351 35 #Frischs circle 159 349 32 #JBs circle 245 349 31 #Kebos circle 332 351 33 #Kens circle 73 437 33 #Kips circle 159 436 36 #Lendys circle 245 437 32 #Leos circle 333 437 35 #Manners circle 73 522 31 #Marcs circle 159 523 33 #McDowells circle 245 523 32 #Mr Bs circle 333 523 32 #Shaps circle 76 610 31 #Shoneys circle 163 609 31 #Teds circle 249 609 31 #TJs circle 336 609 31 #Tops circle 74 696 32 #Totes circle 161 697 34 #Tunes circle 247 696 31 #Vips circle 334 696 34 #Yodas desc none </imagemap>The Big Boy name, concept, menu, and mascot were originally licensed to a wide number of regional franchise holders. Because many of the early franchisees were already in the restaurant business when joining Big Boy, "Big Boy" was added to the franchisee name just as the Big Boy hamburger was added to the franchisee's menu. In this sense, it is confusing when referring to a chain, as each named franchisee was itself a chain and Big Boy could be considered a chain of chains.

People tend to know Big Boy not simply as Big Boy but as the franchise from where they lived such as Bob's Big Boy in California, Shoney's Big Boy in the south or Frisch's Big Boy in much of Ohio, Marc's Big Boy in the Upper Midwest, Elias Brothers' Big Boy (or sometimes just Elias Brothers') in Michigan, among many others.

Franchising costs today

Big Boy Restaurant Group and Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants both continue to offer franchises in their exclusive territories, each having 20 year terms. As of 2023, Big Boy Restaurant Group charged a $50,000 franchise fee and an ongoing 4% royalty and up to 3% advertising fees based on weekly gross revenue.<ref name="BBRIfranchise12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (In most of Michigan, the franchisee pays a 2% advertising fee and must spend an additional 1% on local advertising. Franchisees in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or outside of Michigan pay a ½% advertising fee and must spend 1½% on local advertising.)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2020, Frisch's Big Boy charges a $40,000–$45,000 franchise fee, and an ongoing 4% royalty and 2½% advertising fees on gross revenue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref group="note">By comparison, in 2020, the former Big Boy master franchisee Shoney's Restaurants, charges a $35,000 franchise fee, a 4% royalty and 3¼% advertising fee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> </ref> The majority of Big Boy Restaurant Group units are franchised<ref name="BBRIfranchise12" /> while the majority of Frisch's units are currently company owned.<ref name="presskit2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Big Boy Restaurant Group franchise agreements are not renewable but new agreements are required.<ref name="BBRIfranchise12" />

History

Big Boy statue
A Big Boy statue common to many restaurants in the chain

Creation by Bob Wian

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Big Boy began as Bob's Pantry in 1936 by Bob Wian in Glendale, California.Template:R There, he assembled his special double-decker hamburger. Created as a joke for a customer wanting something different, the novel hamburger began drawing business. The "snappy" name given to the popular sandwich provided a new name for his restaurant: Bob's Big Boy.<ref name="Rasmussen">Template:Cite news</ref>

The restaurants became known as "Bob's", "Bob's Drive-Ins",<ref name="Advertisement April 1956">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Valley News 1961">Template:Cite news</ref><ref group="note">In a 1947 training film, the office door is lettered Bob's Drive-In and although large mascots appear atop the building, nowhere is Bob's Big Boy mentioned.<ref name="Smalley 1947">Template:Cite AV media</ref></ref> "Bob's, Home of the Big Boy Hamburger",<ref name="Valley News 1961" /> and (commonly as) Bob's Big Boy. It became a local chain under that name. Nationally it was franchised by Robert C. Wian Enterprises; Wian only required franchisees to use "Big Boy" and not include his name "Bob's".

In the late 1940s, Wian licensed two operators in the East to sell his Big Boy hamburger, Frisch's Big Boy in Cincinnati and Eat'n Park Big Boy in Pittsburgh; this served Wian's goal to procure and maintain a national trademark.<ref>Template:Cite news Note: it is a federal trademark which requires a national presence and which Wian sought.</ref> In 1951, the third licensee Alex Schoenbaum of Shoney's Big Boy sold Wian on a formal franchising system, and with the popularity of the drive-in restaurant, a series of franchising and subfranchising Big Boy followed in the 1950s.<ref name="Shoney's 1968">Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> The franchisees were required to sell the Big Boy hamburger and use their own name with Big Boy, not Bob's.<ref name="Shaw 2007">Template:Cite news</ref>

Marriott and Elias Brothers ownership

Marriott Corporation bought Big Boy in 1967.

One of the larger franchise operators, Elias Brothers, purchased the chain from Marriott in 1987, moved the headquarters of the company to Warren, Michigan, and operated it until bankruptcy was declared in 2000.

Big Boy Restaurants International

During the bankruptcy, the chain was sold to investor Robert Liggett Jr., who took over as chairman, renamed the company Big Boy Restaurants International and maintained the headquarters in Warren.<ref name="Frank 2019" /><ref name="Frank 2019a" /> Immediately after Liggett's purchase, Big Boy Restaurants International—then known as Liggett Restaurant Enterprises—negotiated an agreement with the other large franchise operator, Frisch's Restaurants. The Big Boy trademarks in Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee transferred to Frisch's ownership; all other Frisch's territories transferred to Liggett.<ref>"Transfer Agreement between The Liggett Restaurant Group and Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. Template:Webarchive", January 12, 2001.</ref><ref>"Agreement Regarding Use of Trademarks", November 7, 2007.</ref><ref group="note">As a franchisee, the Elias Brothers bankruptcy threatened Frisch's future use of the Big Boy trademark.<ref name="Fasig 2001" /></ref> Thus Frisch's is no longer a franchisee; instead, Big Boy Restaurant Group and Frisch's are now independent co-registrants of the Big Boy name and trademark.<ref name="Fasig 2001">Template:Cite news</ref>

The previous Michigan-based owner of the Big Boy chain, which chiefly franchised previous Elias Brothers Big Boy restaurants in Michigan, has suffered a gradual loss of franchised restaurants. About 175 Big Boys existed in July 2006,<ref name="TotalBigBoys2006">Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Subscription or libraries</ref> compared to 76 in July 2019.

On April 16, 2017, the last Big Boy restaurant in the city of Detroit closed.<ref name="Detroit 2017">Template:Cite news</ref> The Big Boy in Fenton, Michigan, was expected to close in 2017.<ref name="Fenton">Template:Cite news</ref> Both properties have been sold to developers. Likewise, in 2016, the Jackson, Michigan, Big Boy closed after the site was purchased by a developer.<ref name="Closings 2016" />

Other franchisees simply left the Big Boy chain. In April 2017, the Danville Big Boy, the only unit in Illinois, dropped Big Boy and rebranded as the Border Cafe.<ref name="Danville">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2016 both the Ann Arbor, Michigan, restaurant (on North Zeeb Road)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the restaurant in Houghton Lake, Michigan, continued to operate but not as Big Boy restaurants.<ref name="Closings 2016">. . .

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Company-owned restaurants have also closed for under-performance.<ref name="Mt Clemens">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Eastpointe">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Westland">Template:Cite news</ref>

Big Boy Restaurant Group

In 2018, Big Boy was sold to a group of Michigan investors and renamed Big Boy Restaurant Group, with David Crawford as chairman, CEO, and co-owner of the new company.<ref name="Frank 2019" /><ref name="Frank 2019a" /> In January 2020, Tamer Afr replaced Crawford as chairman, CEO, and co-owner.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, Big Boy was sold to a group of Michigan investors and renamed Big Boy Restaurant Group. The company moved its headquarters from Warren to nearby Southfield in 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In August 2020, a partnership was announced with Terrible Herbst to expand into Southern Nevada.<ref name="Bradley-Nevada">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On November 8, 2020, the first Big Boy restaurant opened in Indian Springs, Nevada.<ref name="Rzucidlo-Nevada">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A second Big Boy opened in May 2022 in the Centennial Hills neighborhood of Las Vegas;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> called Big Boy Tavern, it includes a bar and small casino area.<ref name="Thilmont-Las-Vegas">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Lilly-Las-Vegas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June 2021, it was reported that a Big Boy restaurant will open on July 14, 2021, in Germantown, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb. The franchisees will also operate two Big Boy food trucks and plan to open additional Big Boy restaurants in southeastern Wisconsin over a three-year period.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The grand opening was pushed back to July 21 due to equipment shipping delays.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Big Boy Restaurants International tried a new fast casual concept known as Big Boy's Burgers and Shakes. The restaurant opened in 2016 in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, operated in strip mall instead of a larger traditional stand-alone building.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Fenton" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The restaurant was closed by January 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In November 2020, the Big Boy restaurant in Sandusky, Michigan, was stripped of its franchise when it refused to comply with Michigan's COVID-19 restrictions. It now operates as Sandusky Family Diner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In June 2023, Big Boy began to open restaurants with no table service and a fast-food menu and, harkening to their origin, called them Bob's Big Boy. The first two locations announced are in Michigan in the Detroit suburb of Farmington<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Lansing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On February 14th, 2025, the owners of Frisch’s Big Boy, known as “New Frisch’s” sued Big Boy Restaurant Group for allegedly negotiating with NNN REIT to reopen formerly closed locations as “Big Boy”, which violates the agreement settled with the parent organization in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March, Big Boy Restaurant Group started opening new restaurants in the evicted units, branded as "Dolly's Burgers and Shakes."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Big Boy began experimenting with a fast food model by opening Bob's Big Boy. One was located in Farmington, Michigan that opened in 2023, which has since closed, another opened in 2025 in Lansing, Michigan.<ref>https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2025/09/17/bobs-big-boy-opens-lansing-zeus-coney-island/86203676007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z118446p119450n00----c00----e007400v118446b0093xxd119365&gca-ft=177&gca-ds=sophi</ref>

Southeast Asia and Western Pacific locations

A franchise briefly operated at the beginning of the 21st century with three Big Boy restaurants in Bangkok and one in the southern beach town of Pattaya, but the business ultimately failed because the native Thai customers did not understand nor appreciate American-style food at that time.<ref name="wsj-2000apr12">Template:Cite news</ref> The restaurants adapted the menu to local tastes. Some Thai customers regarded the Big Boy statues as religious icons or had superstitions about them.<ref name="wsj-2000apr12" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Template:AnchorIn 2019, Singapore-based Destination Eats signed a franchise agreement with the Big Boy Restaurant Group to initially open restaurants in Thailand,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and later in Australia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines.<ref name="dtn-2020-08-28">Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2020, the first Thai Big Boy restaurant opened in Bangkok, operated as a delivery only service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A second restaurant was opened in Pattaya in October 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company is obligated to open 70 restaurants in its overall territory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Big Boy began experimenting with a fast-food model using the Bob's Big Boy name. One opened in Farmington, Michigan in 2023, and has since closed, another opened in 2025 in Lansing, Michigan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

Template:Portal bar

Notes

Template:Reflist

References

<references> <ref name="Searl 1986">Template:Cite news</ref>

<ref name="Lawrence 1958">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>

<ref name="Hansen 2002">Template:Cite book</ref>

<ref name="Miller 1996">Template:Cite news</ref>

<ref name="comicguysince1977 2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> </references>

Further reading

Template:Sister project

Official Big Boy company sites
Other sites

Template:Fast-food chains of the United States Template:Food chains in Japan

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Big_Boy_Restaurants&oldid=716032"