Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Big Boy Restaurants

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|American restaurant chain}}
{{About|the general history of the Big Boy restaurant chain, including Big Boy Restaurant Group|additional history|Bob's Big Boy|additional history specific to Frisch's Big Boy|Frisch's}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Big Boy Restaurants<br /><small>Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC</small>
| trade_name = Big Boy
| image = File:Big Boy Logo 2022.svg
| alt = Big Boy logo
| image_size = 220px
| image_caption = "It's your Big Boy"
| type = [[Limited liability company]]
| predecessors = Big Boy Restaurants International, LLC<br />Bob's Pantry<br />Elias Brothers Restaurants, Inc.<br />[[Marriott Corporation]]<br />Robert C. Wian Enterprises
| founder = [[Bob Wian]]
| area_served = {{Unbulleted list|
*Michigan (56 stores)
*California (4 stores)
*Ohio (2 stores)
*Nevada (2 stores)
*North Dakota (1 store)
*Wisconsin (1 store)
*<small>'''Outside of US'''</small>
*Thailand (2 stores)<ref name="Selasky 2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2019/08/09/big-boy-pasquales-royal-oak-woodward/1965268001/ |title=Pasquale's site in Royal Oak to become home to Big Boy, possibly Buddy's Pizza|last=Selasky|first=Susan|date=August 9, 2019|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810032708/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2019/08/09/big-boy-pasquales-royal-oak-woodward/1965268001/|archive-date=August 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| key_people = {{plain list|
*Tamer Afr (CEO, 2020–present)
*David B. Crawford (CEO, 2018–2020)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180213/news/652851/big-boy-promotes-david-crawford-as-permanent-ceo|title=Big Boy promotes David Crawford as permanent CEO|last=Clifford|first=Tyler|date=February 13, 2018|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215100606/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180213/news/652851/big-boy-promotes-david-crawford-as-permanent-ceo|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
*Bruce Ferguson (CFO)
*Robert Liggett, Jr. (Chairman, 2000–2018)<ref name="Frank 2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/obituaries/radio-entrepreneur-former-big-boy-owner-robert-liggett-dies|title=Radio entrepreneur, former Big Boy owner Robert Liggett dies|last=Frank|first=Annalise|date=July 15, 2019|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723095706/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/obituaries/radio-entrepreneur-former-big-boy-owner-robert-liggett-dies|archive-date=July 23, 2019|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Frank 2019a">{{Cite news|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/big-boy-looks-bounce-back-under-new-ownership|title=Big Boy looks to bounce back under new ownership|last=Frank|first=Annalise|date=August 11, 2019|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811072817/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/big-boy-looks-bounce-back-under-new-ownership|archive-date=August 11, 2019|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
}}
| industry = [[Casual dining]] [[restaurant]]
| products = {{plain list|
*Big Boy hamburger
*Brawny Lad sandwich
*Hot Fudge Cake
*Slim Jim sandwich
*[[Strawberry pie]]
*Fish and Chips
}}
| homepage = {{URL|bigboy.com}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1936|08|06}} (as Bob's Pantry)<br/>[[Glendale, California]], U.S.<ref name="DriveIns">{{cite news |first=Barbara |last=Slavin |title=Drive-ins and carhops are things of the past |newspaper=The Day |location=New London, CT |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19780809&id=OqpGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1364,1510484&hl=en |page=5 |agency=The New York Times Service|date=August 9, 1978 |access-date=April 14, 2015 }}</ref>
| location = [[Southfield, Michigan]], United States
| locations = {{plain list|
*66 (US)
*<small>'''Licensed outside US'''</small>
*2 (Thailand)
*<small>'''Independent'''</small>
*95 (Frisch's Big Boy)
*274 (Big Boy Japan)<ref name="Frank 2019a" /><ref name="BigBoyJapanUnits">{{cite web |url=http://www.bigboyjapan.co.jp/company |title = About Us |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Big Boy Japan |access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC''' is an American restaurant [[chain store|chain]] headquartered in [[Southfield, Michigan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title="Big Boy" |url=http://www.bigboy.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209015806/https://www.bigboy.com/ |archive-date=2021-12-09 |website=Big Boy Restaurants}}</ref> The Big Boy name, design aesthetic, and menu were previously licensed to a number of regional franchisees.

Big Boy began as Bob's Pantry in 1936 by [[Bob Wian]] in [[Glendale, California|Glendale]], [[California]].{{r| "Hansen 2002"|page=11}} The restaurants became known as "Bob's", "Bob's Drive-Ins",<ref name="Advertisement April 1956" /><ref name="Valley News 1961">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15684995/bobs_home_of_the_big_boy/|title=Bob's home of the 'Big Boy' [Advertisement]|date=June 29, 1961|work=Valley News|access-date=December 10, 2017|location=Van Nuys, CA|page=38B|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|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" />|group="note" }} "Bob's, Home of the Big Boy [[Hamburger]]",<ref name="Valley News 1961" /> and ([[colloquialism|commonly]] as) [[Bob's Big Boy]]. It became a local chain under that name and nationally under the Big Boy name, franchised by Robert C. Wian Enterprises. [[Marriott Corporation]] bought Big Boy in 1967. One of the larger franchise operators, [[#Elias Brothers|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. 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. 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" /> The company is the operator or franchisor for 66 Big Boy restaurants in the [[United States]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 16, 2021|title=locations|url=https://www.bigboy.com/big-boy-restaurant-locations/|url-status=dead|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=Big Boy|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716125613/https://www.bigboy.com/big-boy-restaurant-locations/}}</ref> and two in Thailand. In January 2020, Tamer Afr replaced Crawford as chairman, CEO, and co-owner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/new-big-boy-ownership-moves-forward-comeback-not-without-some-bumps |title=New Big Boy ownership moves forward on comeback, but not without some bumps |first=Annalise |last=Frank |date=January 16, 2020 |work=[[Crains Detroit Business]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116160338/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/new-big-boy-ownership-moves-forward-comeback-not-without-some-bumps |archive-date=2020-01-16 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

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|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>"[http://globaldocuments.morningstar.com/DocumentLibrary/Document/761483afc652eb17.msdoc/original/l87542aex10-b.txt Transfer Agreement between The Liggett Restaurant Group and Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616115627/http://globaldocuments.morningstar.com/DocumentLibrary/Document/761483afc652eb17.msdoc/original/l87542aex10-b.txt |date=June 16, 2013 }}", January 12, 2001.</ref><ref>"[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/39047/000119312508007132/dex10c.htm Agreement Regarding Use of Trademarks]", November 7, 2007.</ref>{{#tag:ref|As a franchisee, the Elias Brothers bankruptcy threatened Frisch's future use of the Big Boy [[trademark]].<ref name="Fasig 2001" />|group="note" }} Thus Frisch's is no longer a franchisee, but Big Boy Restaurant Group and Frisch's are now independent co-registrants of the Big Boy name and trademark.<ref name="Fasig 2001">{{Cite news|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2001/01/10/fin_ohio_turf_gets.html|title=Ohio turf gets larger for Frisch's|last=Biank-Fasig|first=Lisa|date=January 10, 2001|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|quote=Craig Maier, chief executive of Frisch's, said the bankruptcy nearly cost the Cincinnati company its right to franchise Big Boys.<br />{{in5}}'In a bankruptcy proceeding, franchise contracts are considered to be no different than a contract to owe money,' Mr. Maier said. 'They could have said, "You are no longer franchisee of the Big Boy system.{{"'}}|access-date=September 5, 2016}}</ref> Frisch's operates or franchises 84 Big Boy restaurants in the United States.<ref>...
* {{cite web| url=http://nrn.com/top-100/big-boy-restaurant-bakeryfrischs-big-boy | title=Big Boy Restaurant & Bakery/Frisch's Big Boy | website=Nation's Restaurant News | access-date= June 15, 2015 | quote=The Big Boy system has restaurants operated by and franchised to others by Big Boy Restaurants International LLC and Frisch's Restaurants Inc. ... Headquarters: Big Boy Restaurants International LLC – Warren, Mich./Frisch's Restaurants Inc. – Cincinnati, Ohio ... CEO: Big Boy International – Keith Sirois/Frisch's – Craig F. Maier}}
* ''[http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-94002189-CNU-25.pdf Order of United States Patent and Trademark Office, Concurrent Use Proceeding Number 94002189]'', Big Boy Restaurants International, LLC and Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. August 18, 2009.
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/heres-whats-different-about-the-fountain-square-frischs/21097468|title=Here's what's different about the Fountain Square Frisch's|last=Setters|first=Andrew|date=June 6, 2018|work=WLWT|access-date=June 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609061337/http://www.wlwt.com/article/heres-whats-different-about-the-fountain-square-frischs/21097468|archive-date=June 9, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/green-township/2018/08/27/frischs-closes-green-township-location/1108763002/|title=A Green Township Frisch's closes its doors|last=Key|first=Jennie|date=August 27, 2018|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=September 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904044123/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/green-township/2018/08/27/frischs-closes-green-township-location/1108763002/?from=new-cookie|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref name="frischunits">{{cite press release | author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title=Frisch's Restaurants Announces Transaction with Affiliate of NRD Partners I, L.P. at $34 Per Share | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frischs-restaurants-announces-transaction-with-affiliate-of-nrd-partners-i-lp-at-34-per-share-300087675.html | location=Cincinnati | publisher=Frisch's Restaurants | agency=PR Newswire | date=May 22, 2015 | access-date=May 28, 2015 | quote=Agreement Contemplates Continued Operation of all 95 Company Owned Frisch's Restaurants along with 26 Franchised Locations}}</ref>

Big Boy Japan, also independent of Big Boy Restaurant Group, operates 274 restaurants in [[Japan]].<ref name="Frank 2019a" /><ref name="BigBoyJapanUnits" /><ref name="zensho" />

==Origin==

[[File:Bob's big boy statue burbank 2013.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Big Boy statue|upright=1|A Big Boy statue common to many restaurants in the chain.]]

===The Big Boy mascot===
[[File:Big Boy Logo Revised 2014.svg|right|thumb|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)|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>{{cite news | title=Richard Woodruff Dies at 54; Model for 'Big Boy' Statues | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/28/obituaries/richard-woodruff-dies-at-54-model-for-big-boy-statues.html | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 28, 1986 | access-date =October 3, 2012}}</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. Cartoons|Warner Bros.]] animation artist [[Ben Washam]] sketched Richard's [[caricature]], which became the character seen on the company trademark.{{#tag:ref|Shoes were added to Washam's bare-footed Big Boy sketch. | group="note"}}

In 1955, Bob Wian hired Manfred Bernhard, son of graphic designer [[Lucian Bernhard]],{{r|"Hansen 2002"|page=12}} to create a new [[corporate identity|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.{{#tag:ref|"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.| group="note" }} 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>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-mar-13-1953-34462/|title=Now your enjoy the famous Parkette Foods in downtown Charleston [advertisement]|date=March 13, 1953|work=Charleston Daily Mail|page=20|access-date=September 16, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</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.

===Big Boy statues===
<!-- logo image -->
[[File:Progression_of_Big_Boy_logos.png|thumb|alt=Changing Big Boy logos|upright=1.8| <big>'''The evolution of the Big Boy mascot'''</big>
{|
|-
|valign="top"|'''A.&nbsp;&nbsp;'''
|''' 1937.''' The first Big Boy (left) was derived from a sketch by Warner Brothers animation artist Bennie Washam in 1937. A frequent customer, Washam doodled the character on a napkin for Bob Wian for a free lunch.<ref name=Animation2016 >{{cite web | url=http://animationresources.org/theory-big-boy-and-the-power-of-licensing-a-cautionary-tale/ | title=Theory: Big Boy and the Power of Licensing- A Cautionary Tale | last=Worth | first=Stephen | date=June 8, 2016 | website=Animation Resources | access-date=September 12, 2016 | quote= One day, animator Ben Washam was lunching at Wian's stand, doodling on placemats. Wian saw that he was a cartoonist and asked him to draw a caricature of Richard Woodruff, a chubby, apple cheeked boy who helped out at the stand sweeping up after school. Washam obliged, depicting the lad in oversized checkered overalls munching on a burger. Wian loved the doodle and gave Washam his lunch for free. Bennie gave the sketch to Wian to use as a mascot for the stand.}}</ref> The logo, redrawn holding a hamburger (right), was typically used by Wian and several early franchisees: Parkette (Shoney's),<ref name="parkettelogo">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-14-1954-34466/|title=Springtime is Big Boy time [advertisement]|date=April 14, 1954|work=Charleston Daily Mail|page=8|access-date=September 16, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> Elias Brothers<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/05/how_well_do_you_remember_big_b.html#4|title=How well do you remember Big Boy restaurants?|website=Open Cleveland / The Plain Dealer|date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=September 16, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/hphistorical/status/609887449532207106|title=Elias Brothers Dixie Drive In menu|website=Hazel Park History|access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> and [[#Frejlachs|Frejlach's]].<ref name="Frejlachs1954" /> The orientation was also reversed.
|-
|valign="top"|'''B.'''
|''' 1952.''' Wian's first franchisee, David Frisch, developed his own Big Boy character. Dated 1952, the design was copyrighted in 1951 and became known as the East Coast Big Boy. He was the model for fiberglass statues used by Frisch's, and subfranchises Azar's and [[#Manners|Manners]]. This Big Boy varied between blond and reddish blond hair. Unlike West Coast designs (A) and (C), he held the hamburger in both hands and was always running to his left.
|-
|valign="top"|'''C.'''
|''' 1956.''' This scheme introduced the modern Big Boy character and is the model for the iconic fiberglass statues. It replaced Wian's original figure (A), and was actually seen in 1955 Shoney's advertisements. Typically drawn with the hamburger atop his right arm, occasionally the hamburger was raised atop his left arm.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-oct-25-1965-106289/|title=Bob's Big Boy advertisement|date=October 25, 1965|work=Press Telegram|location=Long Beach, CA|page=15|access-date=October 19, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-jul-28-1958-83808/|title=A Big Boy Kiddies Special [Advertisement]|date=July 28, 1958|work=Bristol Daily Courier|location=Bristol, PA|access-date=September 13, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1957-EAT-N-PARK-BIG-BOY-MENU-OLD-RESTAURANT-HAMBURGER-AT-YOUR-SERVICE-/302123980352?hash=item4657fe1640:g:scQAAOSw44BYDiFM |title=Vintage 1957 Eat n Park Big Boy menu old restaurant hamburger at your service |website=eBay |access-date=November 2, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161102063733/http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1957-EAT-N-PARK-BIG-BOY-MENU-OLD-RESTAURANT-HAMBURGER-AT-YOUR-SERVICE-/302123980352?hash=item4657fe1640:g:scQAAOSw44BYDiFM |archive-date=November 2, 2016|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-may-11-1956-116034/|title=Now... We are featuring a complete curb service [Advertisement]|date=May 11, 1956|work=Chester Times|location=Chester, PA|page=35|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> Shown is a common version of the several renderings used. By 2009, a new styled version is sometimes being used again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/dahlstroms/4135789374/in/photolist-7it16m-b76fqe-2PqjDM-7mHN5K-dMdGrL-eSNegT-obkPAJ-NYHTFF-4r9VFH-4oYfJN-kM3Diq-66AJc9-62k16Z-74D7HW-bzX73B-6cwzWu-4NaFje-buKj1w-6gVsv4-c4Kgfo-9fbsVQ-6Jxx8i-8KBonK-cufwYj-5X8V3m-gduZhF-7fSSuL-c4Kged-6UczQX-bs4iJk-ddR6up-c4KgqJ-3bqr67-fWpbSd-8udnbb-dGhrUh-8n5e8M-7ggMmU-8WtCjq-5Xn3M8-9fSSos-6ro54s-du76nS-isoADE-8iZSZh-9SDPNJ-9KvToK-4JxJxT-8qR73b-QTFYuj|title=Big Boy burgers|last=Dahlström|first=Håkan|date=November 13, 2009|website=flickr|access-date=March 14, 2017}} (Image file)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/cropwithanna/5416602406/|title=Bob's Big Boy|last=Day|first=Anna|date=October 4, 2009|website=flickr|access-date=March 14, 2017}} (Image file)</ref>
|-
|valign="top"|'''D.'''
|'''1969. '''Revised East Coast Big Boy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15682634/may_we_serve_you_too_advertisement/|title=May we serve you, too? [Advertisement]|date=July 30, 1970|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=December 10, 2017|pages=48|via=Newspapers.com}} Note: The Big Boy character copyright is dated 1969.</ref>
|-
|valign="top"|'''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.
|-
|valign="top"|'''F.'''
|''' 1981.''' To emphasize a full menu the hamburger was removed from the West Coast design.
|-
|valign="top"|'''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 16 feet tall<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marriott|first=Karin|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RS&p_theme=rs&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CADCF194E620D0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Big Boy's Back: 16-foot statue of restaurant icon occupies rightful place|date=September 16, 2005|work=[[The Press-Enterprise]]|access-date=September 7, 2017|page=B01|via=[[NewsBank]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Sculle 2002">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&pg=PA77|title=Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age|last1=Jakle|first1=John A.|last2=Sculle|first2=Keith A.|date=January 1, 2002|publisher=JHU Press|isbn=9780801869204|page=77|language=en}}</ref> with later versions as short as 4 feet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://upstart.bizjournals.com/news/wire/2009/10/02/shoneys-founders-daughter-michigan-restaurant-chain-battle-over-big-boy-monument.html?page=all|title=A Big Boy Battle|website=Upstart Business Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005085948/http://upstart.bizjournals.com/news/wire/2009/10/02/shoneys-founders-daughter-michigan-restaurant-chain-battle-over-big-boy-monument.html?page=all|archive-date=October 5, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</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 7 foot statue was a sculpture, not a sign.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Big Boy Statue Either Art or Advertising|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/04/18/big-boy-statue-either-art-or-advertising/b8b1616c-3a66-4860-b1b4-7498e48bc1a7/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 18, 2004|access-date=February 16, 2016|issn=0190-8286|language=en-US}}</ref> A 2004 compromise allows the existing statue to remain with the words "Big Boy" removed from the figure's bib.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.cantonpl.org/observer/2004/07_Jul%202004/07-11-2004.pdf|title=An end in Sight, Big Boy to Stay|last=Maliszewski|first=Joanne|date=July 11, 2004|access-date=February 16, 2016|newspaper=Canton Observer|page=1|location=Canton, MI}}</ref> When a [[Brighton, Michigan]], franchise closed in early 2015 for financial reasons, zoning codes caused the entire sign{{snd}}topped with a rotating Big Boy statue{{snd}}to be taken down before the restaurant could be reopened.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2015/06/05/big-boy-sign/28556781/|title=Big Boy sign comes down|date=June 8, 2015|website=Daily Press & Argus, livingstondaily.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502101643/http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2015/06/05/big-boy-sign/28556781/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2015/08/02/big-boy-reopens/30965879/|title=Big Boy in Brighton reopens|date=August 2, 2015|website=Daily Press & Argus, livingstondaily.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502070318/http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2015/08/02/big-boy-reopens/30965879/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref> In contrast, the planning commission in [[Norco, California]] — known as ''Horsetown USA'' — was concerned that the statue was not [[Western United States|western]] enough. In response, the restaurant's Big Boy statue is now outfitted wearing a cowboy hat and boots.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|title='Horsetown USA' balks at 4th Bob's Big Boy mascot|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-horsetown-usa-balks-at-4th-bobs-big-boy-mascot-2010aug03-htmlstory.html/news/2010/aug/03/horsetown-usa-balks-at-4th-bobs-big-boy-mascot/|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 3, 2010|access-date=February 16, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|title=Big Boy dumps red checkerboard overalls for cowboy hat|url=http://abc7.com/archive/5850343/|website=ABC7 Los Angeles|date=December 14, 2010|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</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 [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] baseball uniform with a Reds [[Baseball cap|ballcap]] added. Frisch's Big Boy hamburgers are sold at two of the park's concession booths.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frisch's Big Boy Back at Great American Ballpark!|url=http://www.frischs.com/community.aspx|website=www.frischs.com|access-date=February 16, 2016|quote=Frisch's is looking forward to operating its two concession booths inside Great American Ballpark.... There is a highly visible 6' 6" Big Boy statue dressed as a 1970s Cincinnati Reds ball player sporting #46 just in front of the Gapper's Alley booth.|archive-date=February 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211211245/http://www.frischs.com/community.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rather than modifying a typical statue, the Big Boy restaurants in [[Manistique, Michigan|Manistique]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qo2AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA95|title=Oddball Michigan: A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places|last=Pohlen|first=Jerome|publisher=Chicago Review Press|year=2014|isbn=9781613748930|pages=95|language=en|df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadarch.com/critters/mam4.html|title=Mammal Statues|website=RoadsideArchitecture.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330022659/http://www.roadarch.com/critters/mam4.html|archive-date=March 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2017|df=mdy}}</ref> and [[St. Ignace, Michigan|St. Ignace]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8567634,-84.73535,3a,80.8y,183.63h,85.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdt8L3VkpKhu8n_jKJO_8rg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Maps|date=November 2016|website=Google Maps|access-date=May 27, 2017}}</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>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KI35AwAAQBAJ|title=Main Street Revisited: Time, Space, and Image Building in Small-Town America|last=Francaviglia|first=Richard V.|date=June 1, 1996|publisher=University of Iowa Press|isbn=9781587290718|page=126|language=en}}</ref> (The restaurant was rebuilt in 2016, and no longer displays the modified statue.)

In March 2017, Frisch's unveiled a [[Frisch's#New statue|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">{{Cite web|url=http://www.franchisetimes.com/news/April-2017/Frischs-Big-Boy-Loses-His-Checkered-Pants/|title=Frisch's Big Boy Loses His Checkered Pants|last=Weingartner-Monroe|first=Nancy|date=April 2017|website=FranchiseTimes.com|language=en|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</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>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/03/31/frischs-serves-up-new-big-boy-statue/99878334/|title=Frisch's serves up new Big Boy statue|last=Vilvens|first=Sheila|date=March 31, 2017|work=Cincinnati.com|access-date=April 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502073731/http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/03/31/frischs-serves-up-new-big-boy-statue/99878334/|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=live|language=en}}</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, often traded through [[eBay]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://la.curbed.com/2008/8/13/10562822/own-a-piece-of-bobs-big-boy|title=Own a Piece of Bob's Big Boy|last=Gluck|first=Marissa|date=August 13, 2008|website=Curbed LA|access-date=February 24, 2017}} (Note: The "Hamburger" Bob is the older 1950s style and the "Suspender" Bob is the newer style.)</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-sep-25-2005-204056//|title=Don't trash it, frame it!|last=Herron|first=Frank|date=September 25, 2005|newspaper=Syracuse Post Standard|access-date=February 24, 2017|page=H4|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> Smaller versions of the statues are sold as [[Piggy bank|coin banks]] and [[bobblehead]] figures.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|url=http://shop.bigboy.com/collections/gifts|title=Gifts|website=Big Boy Restaurants|access-date=May 9, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.bobs.net/products/memoribilia/bobs-big-boy-bank|title=Bob's Big Boy Bank|website=Bob's Big Boy|access-date=May 9, 2016|archive-date=April 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422153751/http://www.bobs.net/products/memoribilia/bobs-big-boy-bank|url-status=dead}}</ref> The three dimensional Big Boy figure was also used on early ash trays,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/bobs-big-boy-vintage-ashtray-1760494025|title=Bobs Big Boy Vintage Ashtray|date=July 29, 2015|website=Worthpoint|access-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref> salt and pepper shakers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Ceramic-Big-Boy-Figural-Salt-amp-Pepper-Shakers-from-the-1950s-1960s-/111558438182|title=Rare Ceramic Big Boy Figural Salt & Pepper Shakers from the 1950s/1960s|website=eBay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309005922/http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Ceramic-Big-Boy-Figural-Salt-amp-Pepper-Shakers-from-the-1950s-1960s-/111558438182|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref> wooden counter displays and as small unpainted [[pewter]] models.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Boy-Pewter-Figurine-Statue-Collector-Series-2-Ltd-Ed-of-500-1956-/162393325996|title=Big Boy Pewter Figurine Statue Collector Series #2 Ltd Ed of 500 "1956"|website=eBay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309010539/http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-Boy-Pewter-Figurine-Statue-Collector-Series-2-Ltd-Ed-of-500-1956-/162393325996|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref>

Gigantic [[inflatables#decorative inflatables|air inflatable]] Big Boy figures are available and typically used for restaurant openings and special promotions.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|title=Inflatable Mascot for Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants{{snd}}Landmark Creations|url=http://landmarkcreations.com/frischs-inflatable-big-boy-mascot|website=landmarkcreations.com|access-date=February 16, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|title=Inflatable Ideas{{snd}}Big Boy Inflatable|url=http://www.inflatableideas.com/character-shapes/inflatable-character-shapes-big-boy-inflatable-003.html|website=www.inflatableideas.com|access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Adventures of the Big Boy}}

{{anchor|comic book}}

=== ''Adventures of the Big Boy'' comic book ===

<!-- comic books image -->
[[File:Big-Boy-Comic-Book-Composition.png|thumb|alt=Notable Big Boy comic book cover pages|upright=1.8| <big>'''The ''Adventures of the Big Boy'' comic book'''</big>
{{bulleted list|'''Top row''' (left to right): No. 1, July 1956, West Coast and East Coast versions; No. 13, July 1957, West Coast and East Coast versions.|'''Bottom row:''' No. 155, June 1969, West Coast and East Coast versions; No. 156, July 1969, combined version; No. 1, Shoney's version, 1976 (month unknown).}}]]

''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",{{r|"Miller 1996"}} 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">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20629384/pittsburgh_postgazette/|title=After 40 years, remembering the enchanted era of Eat'n Park|last=Bennett|first=Marcia|date=June 6, 1989|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=June 2, 2018|pages=21, 23|quote=[C]hildren could enroll in the Big Boy Club and on Christmas and their birthdays receive a token that could be redeemed at the restaurant for a Big Boy burger. Later the restaurant offered a kiddies' comic book, which contained coded messages the youngsters could decipher if they sent for their Big Boy decoder.|via=Newspapers.com}} [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20629399/pittsburgh_postgazette/ Part 2]</ref> decoder cards,<ref name="Bennett 1989" /> [[pin-back button]]s<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.buttonmuseum.org/buttons/national-big-boy-club-member-blue|title=National Big Boy Club Member Blue|website=Busy Beaver Button Museum|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603062935/http://www.buttonmuseum.org/buttons/national-big-boy-club-member-blue|archive-date=June 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2018}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.buttonmuseum.org/buttons/national-big-boy-club|title=National Big Boy Club|website=Busy Beaver Button Museum|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603063817/http://www.buttonmuseum.org/buttons/national-big-boy-club|archive-date=June 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2018}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://mattsko.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/big-boy-club/|title=Big Boy Club|date=September 23, 2011|work=Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys|access-date=June 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603064433/https://mattsko.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/big-boy-club/|archive-date=June 3, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref> and other premiums. The serial – sometimes called "King of the Giveaways"<ref name="Grantham 1996">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15581160/manfred_bernhard_big_boy_12_page_1d/|title=Bye-bye, Big Boy: Comic creator loses meal ticket|last=Grantham|first=Loretta|date=October 20, 1996|work=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=December 5, 2017|pages=1D, 5D|via=Newspapers.com}} ([https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15581163/manfred_bernhard_big_boy_22_page/ continued page 5D])</ref>{{r|"Miller 1996"}} – once had distribution estimated at three million copies.<ref name="Evanier 1997">{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsfromme.com/pov/col146/|title=POV: Manny Stallman|last=Evanier|first=Mark|date=July 25, 1997|work=Comics Buyer's Guide|access-date=April 8, 2017|language=en-US}}</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">{{Cite web|url=https://nick-caputo.blogspot.com/2012/06/sol-brodsky-big-boy-and-marvels-unknown.html|title=Marvel Mysteries and Comics Minutiae: Sol Brodsky, Big Boy and Marvel's Unknown 1960s comics (Updated)|last=Caputo|first=Nick|date=June 7, 2012|website=Marvel Mysteries and Comics Minutiae|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>{{r|"Miller 1996"}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cbldf.org/2016/06/the-humble-history-of-the-adventures-of-big-boy/|title=The Humble History of The Adventures of Big Boy|last=McCabe|first=Caitlin|date=June 24, 2016|website=Comic Book Legal Defense Fund|language=en-US|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|[[Mike Sekowsky]] may have also drawn in the first year.{{r|"Miller 1996"}}| group="note" }} DeCarlo continued drawing in the second year and Lee writing the series through 1961.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_fsoARercNsC&pg=PA73|title=Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book|last1=Raphael|first1=Jordan|last2=Spurgeon|first2=Tom|date=August 28, 2004|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=9781556525414|pages=73|language=en|quote=...by 1961, [Lee] was in his fifth year of scripting duties for Sol Brodsky on a series of giveaway comic books for the Big Boy restaurant chain.|via=Google Books}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Lettering in early issues was credited to [[Artie Simek]]; coloring and possibly some drawing was by [[Stan Goldberg]].<ref name="Caputo" />| group="note" }} For 17 years, starting in the mid-1970s, Manny Stallman drew the (Marriott) series,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jweekly.com/1997/07/11/big-boy-cartoonist-manny-stallman-dies-here-at-70/|title=Big Boy cartoonist Manny Stallman dies here at 70|date=July 11, 1997|newspaper=J|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> followed by [[Bob Bindig]] who drew the series until 1995.{{r|"Miller 1996"}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/bindig_bob.htm|title=Bob Bindig|date=November 29, 2007|website=Lambiek Comiclopedia|access-date=April 16, 2017|quote=In 1985, Bindig retired from his advertising career to take over 'The Adventures of the Big Boy'. He drew the series until 1995, when he really retired.}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Lorina Mapa drew ''Adventures of the Big Boy'', she said for five years;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lorinamapa.com/comics/|title=Comics|last=Mapa|first=Lorina|website=www.lorinamapa.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2017|quote=For 5 years I was commissioned to draw a monthly comic book called "The Adventures of Big Boy" which was distributed in the ... Big Boy chain of restaurants found all across North America.|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417070604/http://www.lorinamapa.com/comics/|url-status=dead}} (Examples of Mapa's Big Boy work are found at this URL.)</ref> [[Jerry Buckley (cartoonist)|Jerry Buckley]] also drew several issues at the end of the run.{{r|"Miller 1996"}}| group="note" }}

==== Variations ====
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">{{Cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/series/11780/covers/?page=4|title=Adventures of the Big Boy Cover Gallery|website=www.comics.org|access-date=April 9, 2017}}</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.{{#tag:ref|However, a January 1977 edition (#237) of the original series bears the Shoney's imprint.{{r|"comicguysince1977 2019"}}| group="note"}} Contracted to Paragon Products, this version featured an older, leaner Big Boy, with his siblings Katie and Tripp replacing Dolly and Nugget,{{r|"Miller 1996"}} and was adopted by the JB's and Azar's Big Boy franchises.<ref name="Comics Shop">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uORls7bMR8QC&pg=PT187|title=Comics Shop|last=Thompson|first=Maggie|date=September 27, 2010|publisher=Adams Media|isbn=978-1440216503|pages=187|language=en}}</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.{{r|"Miller 1996"}}{{#tag:ref|Comic book artist [[Sheldon Moldoff]] drew ''Adventures of the {{smallcaps|Shoney's}} Big Boy'' from 1980 past the conversion to the ''Shoney's Fun and Adventure Magazine''.{{r|"Miller 1996"}}| group="note" }}

==== Cancellation ====
In 1996, after 39 years and 466 issues,<ref name="Comics Shop" /> Big Boy cancelled the comic book and hired [[Craig Yoe#Big Boy comic book|Craig Yoe's Yoe! Studio]] to revamp the characters and produce a magazine styled replacement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19801211&id=AQYgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1385,2570689&hl=en|title=Oldest and Biggest Comic Book Turning 25|date=December 11, 1980|work=The Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun|volume=88|page=27|access-date=March 23, 2016|via=Google News Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9609/24/bigboy/|title=Restaurant icon Big Boy shrinks from competition|last=Zarrella|first=John|date=September 24, 1996|website=[[CNN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020814214937/http://www.cnn.com/US/9609/24/bigboy/|archive-date=August 14, 2002|url-status=live|access-date=April 14, 2017}}</ref> After 63 issues, the ''Big Boy Magazine'' was itself cancelled in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/series/11779/|title=Big Boy Magazine, YOE Studio!, 1997 Series|date=April 25, 2015|website=Grand Comics Database|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Big Boy hamburger}}

==Food==
===The Big Boy hamburger===

[[File:Three-Big-Boy-hamburgers.png|frameless|alt=Anatomy of the Big Boy hamburgers, Wian's, Big Boy system and Frisch's.|right|upright=2.7]]

The signature Big Boy hamburger is the original double deck hamburger.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bigboy.com/food/burgers/|title=Burgers - Big Boy|work=Big Boy|access-date=April 8, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409021634/http://www.bigboy.com/food/burgers/|url-status=dead}}</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''?"{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}} [emphasis added].{{#tag:ref|Exactly which band was involved is unclear. Hansen said Strange was a member of the Chuck Foster Orchestra.{{r|"Hansen 2002"}} 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">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16783491/|title=I tot I taw a puddy-tat!|last=Brough|first=Rick|date=June 26, 1980|work=The Newspaper|access-date=January 24, 2018|location=Park City, Utah|page=15|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Lawrence quoted Wian saying it was the Glendale High School Orchestra,{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}} while Searl quoted Wian simply saying it was a big band that Wian used to rehearse with.{{r|"Searl 1986"}}| group="note" }} Bob Wian improvised, creating the first (then unnamed) Big Boy, intending the thing "look ridiculous, like a leaning tower".{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}} Demand for "the special" soared but Wian sought a "snappy" name, which became Big Boy.{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}}{{#tag:ref|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">{{cite journal | last=Carlino | first=Bill | date=February 1996 | title=Bob Wian | url=http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/delivery?sid=40a97190-f02b-4bf7-bf97-d5b3cd19e345%40sessionmgr4001&vid=2&hid=4104 | journal=Nation's Restaurant News | volume=30 | issue=6 | pages=166 | access-date=April 14, 2014 }}</ref>| group="note" }} In 1938, the Big Boy hamburger cost 15¢{{ r | "Hansen 2002" | p=156 }}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-famous-bobs-big-boy-menu-1938-burbank|title=Vintage famous Bob's Big Boy menu 1938 Burbank CA {{!}} #42474613|website=WorthPoint|access-date=December 28, 2016}}</ref> ({{Inflation|US|0.15|1938|2018|fmt=eq|r=2}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/|title=US Inflation Calculator|website=US Inflation Calculator|language=en-US|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, the Big Boy cost $6.49 in Michigan.<ref>[http://www.bigboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Wyandotte-Carry-Out-B.pdf Big Boy take out menu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033910/http://www.bigboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Wyandotte-Carry-Out-B.pdf |date=April 23, 2018 }}.<nowiki> Wyandotte Big Boy. Retrieved April 22, 2018</nowiki></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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17220755/tallahassee_democrat/|title=The Big Mac: Americana on a sesame-seed bun|last=Wallace|first=Amy|date=December 31, 1993|work=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=February 7, 2018|agency=Los Angeles Times|edition=Other|page=3A|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[Burger Chef]]'s Big Shef<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17141092/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|title=Burger Chef has something big for big appetites. Big Shef. [advertisement]|date=September 26, 1979|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=February 4, 2018|page=E-12|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and Burger King's [[Big King]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consumerist.com/2013/11/05/burger-king-resurrects-its-big-king-which-is-just-like-the-big-mac-but-who-cares/|title=Burger King Resurrects Big Mac Clone, Complete With Third Bun|last=Quirk|first=Mary Beth|date=November 5, 2013|website=Consumerist|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://burgerking.ca/menu-item/big-king|title=Big King|website=Burger King (Canada)|language=en|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</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]]),{{r|"Searl 1986"|p=D4}} Big Boy special sauce (often called [[thousand island dressing]]) or (at Frisch's, Manners and Azar's) [[tartar sauce]] on one or each slice 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.{{#tag:ref|Frisch's placed pickles above bun bottom, and Manners below the bun top.|group="note"}} The Big Boy hamburger originally called for a quarter pound (4&nbsp;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&nbsp; inches high and the center section ¾&nbsp;inches, and 1½&nbsp; ounces of shredded lettuce used.<ref name="Tucson-franchise">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-feb-15-1969-162204//|title=Tucson To Tumwater: Tummy Teasers Are Twins|last=Brown|first=Mary|date=February 15, 1969|access-date=February 16, 2017|via=newspaperarchive.com|newspaper=Tucson Daily Citizen}}</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|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 [[#Elbys|Elby's]] renamed the "Swiss Miss" as the "Brawny Swiss".<ref name="Frisch menu">{{Cite news|url=http://www.frischs.com/menu/menu.aspx|title=Menu|website=Frisch's Big Boy|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=May 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518051418/http://www.frischs.com/menu/menu.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jan-22-1983-43804/|title=Elby's Specials This Week|date=January 22, 1983|newspaper=Altoona Mirror|location=Altoona, Pennsylvania|page=26|access-date=May 20, 2016|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]}}</ref> Similarly, when franchisees left Big Boy, they would typically rebrand the Big Boy hamburger: it became the "Superburger" (Eat'n Park),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/lifestyles/2007/07/buckeyes_and_burgers_a_long_fu.html|title=Buckeyes and Burgers -- A long, fulfilling relationship|date=July 17, 2007|website=cleveland.com|access-date=May 21, 2016|quote=The closest might be the Superburger of Eat'n Park, which was once essentially the Manners of Pittsburgh, complete with carhops and franchised Big Boy.}}</ref> the "Buddy Boy" (Lendy's),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-10-1969-119897/|title=Local Lendy's Gets Going|date=April 10, 1969|work=The Radford News Journal|page=2|quote=Featured on the menu will be the famous "Buddy Boy" double-deck hamburger ...|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> the "Big Ben" (Franklin's),<ref name="Big Ben">. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-oct-28-1980-118625/|title=Hey Kids! [Advertisement]|date=October 28, 1980|work=The Doylestown Intelligencer|department=30|quote=... receive a coupon redeemable at any future date for a free "Big Ben" double decker hamburger at any Franklin's ...|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://franklins-restaurants.blogspot.com/|title=Menu image at Franklin's Family Restaurants Reunion|website=franklins-restaurants.blogspot.com|access-date=November 10, 2016}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15491769/franklins_big_ben_hamburger/ |title=20th Anniversary Specials [Advertisement] |work=The Morning Call |location=Allentown PA |page=D6 |date=September 2, 1986 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and the "Elby Double Deck hamburger" (Elby's).<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jun-02-1979-44112/|title=Choose from a variety of 21 great sandwiches ... [Advertisement]|date=June 2, 1979|work=Dover Times Reporter|page=B5|quote=Our Famous Elby Double Deck Hamburger Platter.|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-oct-14-1976-44118/|title=Elby's 20th Birthday [Advertisement]|date=October 14, 1976|work=The Weirton Daily Times|page=16|quote=Our Famous Elby's Big Boy Hamburger Platter.|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>  Shoney's reintroduced the "Classic Double Decker", somewhat different than the Big Boy, about a decade after leaving.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-sep-18-1995-119895/|title=Classic Comeback [Advertisement]|date=September 18, 1995|work=Gettysburg Times|page=A10|quote=Re-introducing Shoney's Classic Double Decker Burger Meal|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>

Big Boy offers breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, salads, dinner combinations, and various desserts.<ref name="Frisch menu" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigboy.com/food/|title=Food|website=Big Boy|language=en-US|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514224955/http://www.bigboy.com/food/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Philosophy and practices==
[[File:Bob Wian circa 1948.jpg|thumb|Bob Wian, founder of Big Boy, {{circa|1948}}]]
Bob Wian developed rules and philosophies about how Big Boy should operate. Besides the Big Boy hamburger and its construction, he attributed most of his success and that of his franchisees to following these rules.{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}} His fundamental restaurant principles were: "serve the best quality food, at moderate prices, in spotless surroundings, with courtesy and hospitality."<ref name="Big New Big Boy">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-feb-06-1972-207796//|title=Big New Big Boy Restaurant|last=Floury|first=Bob|date=February 6, 1972|work=Star News|access-date=February 27, 2017|location=Pasadena, CA|page=A8|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref><ref name=Tucson-franchise /> He believed "[[the customer is always right]]" and instructed employees that, "if any food item is not satisfactory, return it cheerfully and apologize for the error".<ref name="Smalley 1947"/> Wian said he had five basic rules for building his business: "be a good place to work for, sell to, buy from, and invest in. And be a good neighbor in the community."{{r|"Finneman 1967"}} He also attributed the growth to, "capable management and a conservative policy of not trying to seat more people than can be served or opening more restaurants than can be serviced."{{r|"Finneman 1967"}} If some disruption occurred at a restaurant, such as a new manager or renovation, Wian would postpone advertising until operations would return to his standards.{{r|"Hansen 2002"|page=81}}

Typical of Big Boy restaurants, Elby's Big Boy used a nine-step process waiting on dining room customers:<ref name="9 steps">{{Cite web|url=http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-2/|title=The Elby's Empire: Part 2 – 9 Steps|last=Novotney|first=Steve|date=February 6, 2016|website=Weelunk|language=en-US|access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref>
# Greet customers within one minute of being seated, serving water and taking beverage orders.
# Serve beverages and take meal orders.
# Call in meal orders to kitchen.
# Place setups (e.g., [[Cutlery|silverware]]) and condiments, serve salad items.
# Watch kitchen (number panel) for completed order and promptly serve meals to table.<br />(The kitchen should complete orders within 8 minutes, 10 minutes for steaks.) 
# Check back with customers within a few minutes: "Is everything OK?"
# Return and place check on the table: "I'll return shortly."
# Suggest dessert and take dessert orders.
# Serve desserts or deliver final check, remove empty dishes.

Bob Wian was discerning of employees, hiring wait staff—which he considered a profession—by appearance, intelligence and enthusiasm.<ref name="Smalley 1947">{{cite AV media | last=Smalley | first=Alfred E. | date =1947 | title =Car Hop | medium =telefilm recording | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQAsYunEmPc | access-date =June 12, 2018 | format =mp4 | location =Glendale, California}}</ref> He preferred employees with little or no restaurant experience which afforded training in the Big Boy tradition.<ref name=Tucson-franchise /><ref name="18th Bob's 1963" /> Wian said that he "conned [employees] into believing in themselves ... I put my cooks in chef's outfits, even though they couldn't boil an egg".{{r|"Searl 1986"|p=D4}} Other than wait staff, employees typically started as dishwashers and busboys, and advanced to short-order cooks, and then possibly to management.<ref name="Tucson-franchise" /><ref name="Big New Big Boy" /><ref name="18th Bob's 1963">{{cite news | url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-celebrity-clipping-apr-11-1963-448609/ | title=18th Bob's Big Boy Coffee Shop Opens | work=Press Telegram | location=Long Beach, CA | date=April 11, 1963 | page=P 3 Z 1–2–3–4–5 | via=NewspaperArchive.com | access-date=November 4, 2017 | quote=...all personnel go through extensive training before being placed in one of the restaurants. 'In fact,' Wian said, 'most managers start in the dish room or as fountain boys.' This method, Wian feels, offers the employees a complete background which thereby brings better service and quality control to the customer.}}</ref> Bob's Big Boy was one of the first restaurant chains to offer health insurance and profit-sharing to employees.<ref name="lat-1992apr01">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1992-04-01/local/me-242_1_big-boy |title=Robert C. Wian, Founder of Bob's Big Boy, Dies at 77 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 1, 1992 |first=Matt |last=Lait}}</ref>

Bob Wian excelled at franchise relations. He led 20-person training crews to open new Big Boy restaurants,{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}} made periodic nationwide tours of the franchises,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20621703/the_salt_lake_tribune/|title=Trade winds|date=September 29, 1965|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=June 2, 2018|department=Today in business|page=24|via=Newspapers.com|quote=Robert C. Wian. founder and president of the national chain of Big Boy Restaurants, will arrive in Salt Lake City Sunday as part of a cross-country tour of Big Boy franchises.}}</ref> was available for consultations and claimed to know every manager's name.{{r|"Searl 1986"|p=D4}} He also assembled the principal franchisees as board members of the National Big Boy Association to participate in leadership. After Wian left, some Big Boy operators began to question the value of their franchise.<ref name="Silverstein 1984">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19488439/the_atlanta_constitution/ |title=Shoney's going after new markets|last=Silverstein|first=Stuart|date=May 20, 1984|work=The Atlanta Constitution|access-date=April 22, 2018|pages=1–K, 6–K, 7–K|via=Newspapers.com|quote='No one says they're going to Shoney's Big Boy Restaurant. They say they're going to Shoney's,' said Ray Danner, the company's company's chairman and chief executive officer. Gary P. Spoleta, Shoney's 40-year-old president and chief operating officer, added, 'We got no service or anything (from Marriott) and we were paying $2 million-plus (annually) in franchise fees.'}} [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19488553/the_atlanta_constitution/ part 2], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19488571/the_atlanta_constitution/ part 3]</ref><ref name="Leininger 1984" /><ref name="lat-1988mar18">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-03-18/business/fi-1644_1_big-boy-franchisee |title=Chubby 'Big Boy' May Disappear as Restaurant Changes |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 18, 1988 |first=Keith |last=Bradsher |quote=Salt Lake City-based JB's Restaurants announced that after this summer it would no longer use the [Big Boy] name on its 110 restaurants in 10 Western states, not including California. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Clark D. Jones said the company ... felt it was getting very little for its franchise fee payments.}}</ref>

==Regional franchises==

===Operation and history===

In addition to the Big Boy name, the "Big Boy" concept, menu, and mascot were originally [[Franchising|licensed]] to a wide number of regional franchise holders (listed in the [[#Roster of named franchisees|next section]]). 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.

Each regional franchisee typically operated a central commissary which prepared or processed foods and sauces to be shipped fresh to their restaurants.<ref name="Advertisement April 1956">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15088408/new_bobs_1_900_colorado_glendale/ | title=New 'Bob's' Opens Tuesday: California's Fanciest Hamburger Joint newest 'Home of the Big Boy' | author=Advertisement | work=Los Angeles Times | date=April 15, 1956 | page=G8 | via=Newspapers.com | quote=His original capital was $300...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/behind-the-scenes-tour-of-frischs-commissary-provides-tasty-preview-of-chains-founders-day|title=Behind-the-scenes tour of Frisch's Commissary provides tasty preview of chain's Founder's Day|last=Cunningham|first=Libby|date=April 25, 2013|newspaper=WCPO TV-9|access-date=February 10, 2017|language=en-US|quote=That sense of pride fills the Frisch's Commissary, where workers prepare everything from pie crusts to sandwich spices and fresh hamburgers that will be shipped out to Frisch's 93 restaurants in Columbus, Dayton, Louisville, Lexington and of course, Cincinnati.|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906181323/http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/behind-the-scenes-tour-of-frischs-commissary-provides-tasty-preview-of-chains-founders-day|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite court | litigants =Elias Bros. Restaurants v. Treasury Department | vol =549 | reporter =N.W.2d | opinion =837 | quote =Food for both company-owned and franchised restaurants is produced at a facility called the Commissary, which Elias Brothers owns and operates. | court =Mich. | date =1996 | access-date=September 6, 2017| url=http://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/supreme-court/1996/101226-6.html}}</ref><ref name="Novotney 4" /> However, some items might be prepared at the restaurants daily, such as [[soup]]s and breading of [[seafood]] and [[onion ring]]s.

Through the 1950s and 1960s, the emphasis changed from [[Drive-in|drive-in restaurant]] to [[Coffeehouse|coffee shop]] and family restaurant. New franchisees without existing restaurants signed on. A larger standard menu was developed. Most adopted a common graphic design of [[menu]]s and promotional items, offered by Big Boy but personalized to the franchise. Stock plans of restaurant designs were provided by Los Angeles architects [[Armet and Davis]] or Chicago architectural designer Robert O. Burton, and modified as needed.

In the 1960s, Big Boy and other drive-in restaurants could not compete with the spreading fast food restaurants such as [[McDonald's]] and [[Burger King]]. Big Boy built its last drive-in in 1964 and, by 1976, only 5 of the chain's 930 restaurants offered curb service.<ref name="DriveIns" /><ref>{{cite news |first=John C. |last=Eagan |title=Drive-ins give way to fast food, counter operations |newspaper=The Day |location=New London, CT |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19761117&id=Ps4tAAAAIBAJ&pg=1337,2731677&hl=en |page=18 |agency=Associated Press |date=November 17, 1976 |access-date=April 14, 2015 }}</ref> Big Boy redefined itself as a full service restaurant in contrast to fast food. Nonetheless, in the late 1960s and 1970s, Bob's, Shoney's and JB's also opened Big Boy Jr. stores, designed as fast food operations which offered a limited menu. Sometimes called drive-ins, these junior stores did not use carhops.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17319112/valley_news/|title=Bob's launches junior version|date=February 23, 1971|work=[[Valley News (Van Nuys, California)|Valley News]]|access-date=February 9, 2018|location=Van Nuys, California|edition=West|page=21–A|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17289013/the_charleston_daily_mail/|title=Shoney's Jr. is now open... [advertisement]|date=August 26, 1966|work=The Charleston Daily Mail|access-date=February 9, 2018|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=J.B.'s Opens 2 'Junior' Drive-Ins |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19690919&id=oYohAAAAIBAJ&pg=5811,4587652&hl=en |page=10B |date=September 19, 1969 |access-date=April 14, 2015 }}</ref> In 1993, [[#Marcs|Marc's Big Boy]] similarly developed Big Boy Express stores using dual drive-thrus and no interior dining area.<ref name="Big Boy Express" /> Two Express stores were built, offered for sale a year later and closed in 1995.<ref name="Marcs 1994" /><ref name="Wisconsin History" />

[[Image:BobsBigBoy Burbank.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|left|alt=Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, California|[[Bob's Big Boy]] restaurant in [[Burbank, California]]]]

Several franchises also held [[KFC|Kentucky Fried Chicken]] franchises and sold that chicken in their Big Boy restaurants; these included Marc's,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-aug-23-1968-116092/|title=Weekend Special! [Advertisement]|date=August 23, 1968|work=Manitowoc Herald Times|page=5|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> [[#McDowells|McDowell's]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-oct-19-1957-115852/|title=A Good Idea for the Hungry Hunter [Advertisement]|date=October 19, 1957|work=Billings Gazette|page=2|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref><ref name="McDowells 2016">{{Cite news|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/business-beat/article_7031b59d-12a8-5dcf-8f59-575f99c2e02e.html|title=Business beat|date=May 27, 2006|newspaper=The Bismarck Tribune|access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref> Lendy's and one or more Shoney's subfranchises. The practice was discouraged and Big Boy eventually provided a similar scheme of selling buckets of take out chicken, marketed as Country Style<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-may-19-1972-115822/|title=New at Frisch's [Advertisement]|date=May 19, 1972|work=Journal News|location=Hamilton, OH|page=14|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-jan-18-1973-113291/|title=Save $1.00 [Advertisement]|date=January 18, 1973|work=Manchester Journal Inquirer|location=Manchester, CT|page=16|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-apr-13-1979-115828/|title=Bring the coop, take home the chicken! [Advertisement]|date=April 13, 1979|work=Kenosha News|location=Kenosha, WI|page=21|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-may-22-1974-115829/|title=Introductory offer [Advertisement]|date=May 22, 1974|work=Benton Harbor News Palladium|page=13|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> or Country Cousin Chicken.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-jun-13-1969-116020/|title=Great idea! [Advertisement]|date=June 13, 1969|work=Weirton Daily Times|page=12|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-jul-02-1975-115825/|title=July 4th. Chicken Sale! [Advertisement]|date=July 2, 1975|work=Mansfield News Journal|page=13|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> Franchises who resisted the change were forced to remove Kentucky Fried Chicken menu items and physically relocate those operations.<ref name="McDowells 2016" /> However, Marriott sold "Pappy Parker Fried Chicken" in Bob's Big Boys;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31712527/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Bob's Fried Chicken Special [Advertisement]|date=January 5, 1979|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 19, 2019|page=IV-24|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the Marriott owned brand was also sold in the company's Hot Shoppes and [[Roy Rogers Restaurants]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31680931/the_salt_lake_tribune/|title=Hot Shoppes Picnic to Go-Go [Advertisement]|date=June 12, 1965|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=May 19, 2019|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31680936/the_pittsburgh_press/|title=Super Season Special: Taste the difference fresh makes|date=June 26, 1978|work=The Pittsburgh Press|access-date=May 19, 2019|page=C-5|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and later Marriott Hotel Restaurants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31680944/the_cincinnati_enquirer/|title=A Thanksgiving Menu That's Really Stuffed! [Advertisement]|date=November 25, 1986|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=May 19, 2019|page=A-10|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Big Boy's origins as a drive-in restaurant required a much smaller investment to open and much lower costs to operate: a small building having no dining room or limited counter space. Thus persons of modest assets could become Big Boy operators. It was the profits from these operations which allowed not only additional drive-ins, but allowed operators to build modern restaurants with large pleasant dining rooms. Many of the early successful franchisees would probably not have assets (converted to present value) sufficient to join Big Boy today.

By 1979, there were more than a thousand Big Boy restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, and about 20 franchisees. Shoney's, Elias Brothers and Frisch's—charter franchisees—controlled the vast majority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/Pugwm/familynews.html |title=[Big Boy Progress Image at] Janies's Big Boy Webpage: Big Boy Family Newsletter |last1=Glassett |first1=Janie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719175955/http://members.aol.com/Pugwm/familynews.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> These mega franchisees paid practically no fees, e.g., Frisch paid $1 per year for its core four state territory. After Bob's, the four original franchisees (in order) were Frisch's, Eat'n Park, Shoney's (originally called "Parkette") and Elias Brothers, all clustered near the state of Ohio. All, including Bob's, remain in operation today, albeit Elias Brothers is simply known as Big Boy, and Eat'n Park and Shoney's dropped Big Boy affiliation in the 1970s and 1980s.

Big Boy developed named franchisees in several ways. Very quickly the Big Boy name and even the Big Boy character were being widely used without permission. Bob Wian, needing Big Boy restaurants operating in multiple states to maintain national (U.S.) trademark protection, offered very generous [[franchise agreement]]s to Frisch's, Eat'n Park and Parkette (Shoney's). In 1952, Wian instituted a formal franchise process and Elias Brothers became the first such "official" franchisee paying Wian 1% of sales. Bob Wian also settled trademark infringements allowing the rogue operator to become a licensed franchisee, such as [[#McDowells|McDowell's Big Boy]] in North Dakota.<ref name="mcdowellsuit" /> Franchisees were permitted to subfranchise; these early subfranchisees often used their own name and operated independently: Frisch's licensed [[#Azars|Azar's]], and Manners; Shoney's licensed [[#Adlers|Adler's]], [[#Arnolds|Arnold's]], [[#Beckers|Becker's]], Elby's, [[#Lendys|Lendy's]], [[#Shaps|Shap's]], [[#Tunes|Tune's]], and [[#Yodas|Yoda's]].<ref name="ShoneysFranchisees" /><ref name="ShoneysMenu1959" /> (An eastern Pennsylvania Elby's franchisee briefly operated as [[#Franklins|Franklin's Big Boy]] before dropping Big Boy.)

Acquisitions and mergers also occurred. In the early 1970s, Frisch's acquired [[#Kips|Kip's Big Boy]]; JB's acquired [[#Vips|Vip's]], [[#Kebos|Kebo's]], [[#Leos|Leo's]] and [[#Buds|Bud's]] which were rebranded JB's. Shoney's acquired the Missouri territory previously assigned to [[Totes|Tote's]]. After buying Big Boy, Elias Brothers bought Elby's and [[#TJs|TJ's]]. Elby's was unique in leaving and rejoining the Big Boy system. When Marriott purchased Big Boy (Wian Enterprises) in 1967, this included Bob's Big Boy. The name "Bob's" would be used by all Marriott owned Big Boys and became common in parts of the eastern U.S. and elsewhere, far away from Bob's historic territory.

Frisch's now owns the "Big Boy" name in a defined four-state region and its franchisee Azar's closed in 2020. Bob's is licensed Big Boy Restaurant Group. Many of the other former franchise owners (Shoney's, particularly) have expanded into the former territories of other franchise holders.

After buying the Big Boy system from Marriott, Elias Brothers planned to phase out franchise names,<ref name="88FranchiseNames">{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-aug-19-1988-85726/.|title=Elby's rejoins Big Boy franchise system|newspaper=The Doylestown Intelligencer |date=August 19, 1988|page=B-9|access-date=September 6, 2017|quote=[T]he entire chain is being united under the Big Boy name, which means our Elby's name, as well as all other franchise names, will eventually be phased out...The chain is also moving toward a consistent core menu. This means that all Big Boys across the country will offer the same basic items, along with certain regional favorites.|via=newspaper archive}}</ref> only generally realized by Big Boy Restaurants International after 2000.<ref name="BBRI names">{{cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/1054664FA34A92D0?p=AWNB|title=Sign of the times|work=The Grand Blanc News|date=September 19, 2004|page=GB-4|access-date=September 9, 2017|quote=The Elias Brothers sign at the corner of Grand Blanc Road and Saginaw Street in Grand Blanc comes down after more than 30 years. [T]he national Big Boy chain ... no longer wants to be referred to as Elias Brothers, and it wants all of its signs to have the same look.|via=[[Newsbank]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This was intended to strengthen the trademark but also prevent defections, such as happened with Shoney's Big Boy retaining identity as Shoney's.<ref name="big boy name" /><ref>{{cite court|litigants=Frisch's Restaurant, Inc. v. Shoney's Inc.|court=6th Cir.|reporter=F.2d|vol=759|opinion=1261|pinpoint=1265-6|date=1985|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/759/1261/260084/|quote=In the case at bar, the district court concluded that the "Big Boy" mark was neither an indicator of origin nor distinctive, but was "a relatively weak mark". ... By emphasizing "Shoney's Big Boy Restaurants", as it did in its advertising, Shoney's has identified itself as the source of the services.|access-date=March 2, 2013}}</ref> The same occurred with Eat'n Park, Elby's, Lendy's, JB's, and [[#Abdows|Abdow's]] who kept their names after leaving Big Boy. Big Boy now permits operators to informally identify by location such as ''Tawas Bay Big Boy'' in East Tawas, Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tawasbaybigboy.com/|title=Tawas Bay Big Boy|website=Tawas Bay Big Boy|access-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref>

Unlike most modern franchises, the historic Big Boy franchisees differed somewhat from one another in [[pricing]] and menus. After purchasing Big Boy in 1987, Elias Brothers intended to standardize the name and menu, but Bob's, Frisch's and McDowell's (now known as Bismarck Big Boy) continue to offer distinctions from the standard Big Boy menu.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.bismarckcafe.com/blogs/wiki/bismarck-big-boy-restaurant|title=Bismarck Big Boy Restaurant|website=BisManCafe|access-date=March 22, 2016}} continue to offer distinctions from the standard Big Boy menu.
* {{cite news | title =Around the Mountain State | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5qRBAAAAIBAJ&pg=2931,1629685&dq=elby's+quits+big+boy&hl=en | newspaper =Point Pleasant Register | date =August 4, 1988 | page =14 | access-date =June 27, 2013 | quote =[A]ll restaurants in the chain will operate under the Big Boy name with standardized menus across the nation. Individual franchise names will be phased out gradually. }}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.bobs.net/menu|title=Menu|website=Bob's Big Boy|access-date=March 22, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.frischs.com/menu/menu.aspx|title=Menu|website=Frisch's Big Boy|access-date=March 22, 2016|archive-date=March 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321080136/http://www.frischs.com/menu/menu.aspx|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.allmenus.com/nd/bismarck/339531-big-boy-restaurant/menu/|title=Big Boy Restaurant menu: Bismarck, ND|website=All Menus|access-date=March 22, 2016}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.bigboy.com/food/|title=Food|website=Big Boy|language=en-US|access-date=March 22, 2016|archive-date=March 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327235834/http://www.bigboy.com/food/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 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="BBRIfranchise1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/bigboyrestaurantsintl/299169|title=Big Boy Restaurants Int'l. Franchise Information|website=Entrepreneur|language=en|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigboy.com/franchise-faq.pdf|title=Bob's Big Boy FAQ's|website=BigBoy.com|access-date=March 27, 2017|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202050302/https://www.bigboy.com/franchise-faq.pdf|url-status=dead}}</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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.franchise-info.ca/restaurant_funding_group/Big%20Boy%20Franchise%20Disclosure%20Document%202012.pdf|title=Big Boy Franchise Management Franchise Agreement|date=2012|website=Franchise-Info,ca|pages=8–9|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frischs.com/franchise/faqs/|title=Franchise {{!}} Frequently Asked Questions|website=Frisch's Big Boy|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401042209/https://www.frischs.com/franchise/faqs/|archive-date=April 1, 2020|access-date=April 1, 2020|quote=The franchise fee for single restaurant is $45,000. The franchise fee for multi-restaurant franchise development is $40,000 per restaurant.}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shoneys.com/franchising/faqs/|title=Franchisee FAQs|website=shoneys.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> |group="note" }} The majority of Big Boy Restaurant Group units are franchised<ref name="BBRIfranchise1" /> while the majority of Frisch's units are currently company owned.<ref name=presskit>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frischs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PressKit.pdf|title=Frisch's At-A-Glance|website=frischs.com|access-date=March 27, 2017|archive-date=March 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105514/http://www.frischs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PressKit.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Big Boy Restaurant Group franchise agreements are not renewable but new agreements are required.<ref name="BBRIfranchise1" />

{{Anchor|Roster of named franchisees}}

===Roster of named franchisees===

Big Boy restaurants were cobranded with at least 34 different names representing various franchisees. These franchisees are listed below with territories, time span, founders, comic book code (in brackets) and additional notes, as known:

{{Anchor|Abdows}}
*'''Abdow's''' ([[Western Massachusetts|Western]] and [[Central Massachusetts|Central]] Massachusetts, [[Connecticut]], 1963{{ndash}}1994, founded by George and Ron Abdow and their sister Phyllis Abdow-LaVallee)<ref>{{cite news | title=George Abdow, co-founder of Springfield-area Abdow's Big Boy restaurant chain, dies at 82 | url=http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2013/05/george_abdow_co-founder_of_springfield-a.html | newspaper=The Republican | location=Springfield, MA | date=May 29, 2013 | access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32964016/hartford_courant/|title=Abdow Brothers Cooking Up a Success|last=Hyland|first=John|date=August 4, 1984|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=June 17, 2019|page=F8|quote=[T]he Abdows bought their Big Boy franchise in 1963... The Abdows are scheduled to open their 16th Big Boy restaurant and sixth in Connecticut on Route 44 in Avon on Monday.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Abdow's opened as a Hi-Boy franchisee in 1959, bought a Big Boy franchise in 1963 and changed the corporate name to Abdow's Big Boy in 1965.<ref>{{Citation | title =Massachusetts Secretary of State Corporate Search: Abdow's Big Boy of Riverdale, Inc.| url =http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/corpsearch/CorpSearchSummary.asp?ReadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed=&FEIN=042257678}}</ref> Abdow's left Big Boy in 1994 over menu conflicts with Elias Brothers and value served for the franchise fees, removing 18 restaurants from the national chain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32964619/the_berkshire_eagle/|title=Abdow's bids Big Boy adieu|date=April 15, 1994|work=The Berkshire Eagle|access-date=June 17, 2019|location=Pittsfield, Massachusetts|page=C5|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Big Boy Bounced from New England | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CIwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=4883,2297911&dq=abdow's+big+boy&hl=en | newspaper =Kingman Daily Miner | location =Kingman, AZ | date =April 15, 1994 | page =1 | access-date =June 14, 2013}}</ref> Now defunct, many converted to Elxsi Corporations's [[Bickford's (restaurant)|Bickfords Family Restaurants]] or remain vacant.  [N]

{{Anchor|Adlers}}
*'''Adler's''' (Lynchburg, Virginia, 1958–1960, founded by Abe Adler)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/from-the-archives-nostalgia-on-the-menu/collection_e3e4487a-c41e-5a5d-8632-84579039376d.html#2|title=From the archives: Nostalgia on the menu|date=July 22, 2019|work=The News & Advance|access-date=July 23, 2019|location=Lynchburg, VA}}</ref> Became a Lendy's Big Boy, when Adler sold the business to Leonard Goldstein of Lendy's.<ref>{{Citation|last=Teague|first=Kipp|title=Lendy's Big Boy sign, Wards Road, Lynchburg - 1967|date=January 1, 1967|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/retroweb/14364161177/|access-date=July 23, 2019|quote=...briefly known as Adler's Big Boy (Abe Adler of Lynchburg sold the business to Leonard Goldstein of Roanoke within a year or so of building and opening the restaurant).}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Arnolds}}
*'''Arnold's''' (Folsom, Pennsylvania, 1955–?, founders unknown) Arnold's and [[#Tunes|Tune's]] operated in the Philadelphia area.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-may-11-1956-116034/|title=Now... We are featuring a complete curb service [Advertisement]|date=May 11, 1956|work=Chester Times|location=Chester, PA|page=35|access-date=November 4, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-jul-01-1955-116036/|title=Presenting the taste sensation you'll never forget! [Advertisement]|date=July 1, 1955|work=Chester Times|location=Chester, PA|page=5|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Azars}}
*'''Azar's''' (Northern Indiana, Colorado, 1953–2020,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-aug-13-1970-37499/|title=Formal Opening|date=August 13, 1970|access-date=April 29, 2016|location=Valparaiso, Indiana|page=20|quote=Azar's was started in Fort Wayne in 1953...|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]|newspaper=Valparaiso Vidette Messenger}}</ref><ref name="Leininger 1984" />{{#tag:ref|Some sources, including a 1986 Azar's menu, say 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/Azars-Big-Boy-Family-Restaurants-Large-Menu-1986-Indiana-Colorado/153030192501?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=2&asc=50544&meid=44960b622c874ca9924165d64191238a&pid=100011&rk=2&rkt=4&sd=111234930025&itm=153030192501&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850|title=Azar's Big Boy Family Restaurants Large Menu, 1986, Indiana, Colorado|date=May 20, 2018|website=eBay|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603124156/https://www.ebay.com/itm/Azars-Big-Boy-Family-Restaurants-Large-Menu-1986-Indiana-Colorado/153030192501?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D50544%26meid%3D44960b622c874ca9924165d64191238a%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D111234930025%26itm%3D153030192501&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850|archive-date=June 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2018|quote=Since the first Big Boy opened in Fort Wayne in May of 1954, Azar's Restaurants and their chubby little mascot with the checkered pants have become a familiar sight in Northern Indiana and Colorado.}}</ref>| group="note" }} founded by brothers Alex, David and George Azar) Opened in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, as a Frisch's subfranchise and in 1967 expanded to the Denver, Colorado, market. Operated 26 units in 1984.<ref name="Leininger 1984">{{cite news | url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB6C482E9CD84B1?p=AWNB |url-access=subscription | via=NewsBank | title=Cherubic Big Boy Caught in a Pickle | first=Keith | last=Leininger | work=News-Sentinel | place=Fort Wayne  | date=December 6, 1984 | access-date=October 22, 2017}}</ref> Alex Azar's son, George Azar, became CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20131201/LOCAL/312019943/-1/vid|title=Azars shifting family business from food to property|last1=Wyche|first1=Paul|date=December 1, 2013|newspaper=The Journal Gazette|access-date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418234146/http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20131201/LOCAL/312019943/-1/vid|archive-date=April 18, 2014|url-status=dead|publisher=Fort Wayne Newspapers|location=Fort Wayne}}</ref> After closing during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19]] pandemic, the last Azar's Big Boy closed permanently.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shelley|first=Jonathan|date=2020-06-08|title=Azar's Big Boy notifies workers of permanent closure|url=https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2020/06/08/azars-big-boy-notifies-workers-of-permanent-closure/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Fort Wayne's NBC|language=en-US|archive-date=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627165810/https://fortwaynesnbc.com/2020/06/08/azars-big-boy-notifies-workers-of-permanent-closure/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cornwell|first=Alex|date=June 19, 2020|title=Azar's Big Boy will not reopen|work=The Waynedale News|location=Fort Wayne|url=https://waynedalenews.com/2020/06/azars-big-boy-will-not-reopen/|url-status=live|access-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625073727/https://waynedalenews.com/2020/06/azars-big-boy-will-not-reopen/|archive-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref> Alex Azar became a member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.<ref name="Ceremony 06251965">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-celebrity-clipping-jun-25-1965-488869/|title=Bob's Big Boy restaurant holds opening ceremony|date=June 25, 1965|work=Van Nuys News|access-date=December 13, 2017|edition=Central|page=21–A|via=Newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>  [T]

{{Anchor|Beckers}}
*'''Becker's''' (Rochester and Buffalo, New York, 1956<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15580280/first_beckers_big_boy/|title=Becker's Grand Opening [Advertisement]|date=August 31, 1956|work=The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=December 5, 2017|pages=8–9|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{ndash}}1965,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15494053/|title=Auction: By order of the Board of Directors, Becker's Big Boy Inc. [Legal Advertisement]|date=September 14, 1965|work=Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=December 17, 2017|location=Rochester|page=7C|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> founded by Abe Becker) Shoney's opened a restaurant in Rochester in the mid-1950s which may have become Becker's Big Boy.<ref name="ShoneysFranchisees">{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-17-1962-34518/|title=Charleston Drive-In Zooms To Huge 10-State Business|last=Schaffer|first=Frank|date=April 17, 1962|work=Charleston Daily Mail|pages=12, 17|quote="Then came the expansion outside West Virginia with franchised stores. Before 1956, Shoney's restaurants were operating in Richmond, Salem, Hampton, Norfolk and Newport News, Va., Rochester, N. Y., Philadelphia, Chattanooga, Charlotte and Wheeling &#91;WV&#93;... [I]n 1958, the expansion continued. Three openings were held in Roanoke, one in Lynchburg, and five in Nashville."|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]|access-date=February 26, 2013}} In this list, the Rochester franchise is Becker's, the Wheeling franchise is Elby's, the Philadelphia franchises are Tune's and Arnold's, the Chattanooga franchise is Shap's, and the Roanoke, Virginia franchises are Lendy's and Yoda's.</ref> By 1957, Becker's was operating four Big Boy restaurants in Greater Rochester.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15582558/beckers_1957/|title=Year–round drive–in service at your favorite Becker's Big Boy [advertisement]|date=November 28, 1957|work=Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=March 20, 2018|location=Rochester, New York|page=24E|quote=975 Ridge Rd. East, 1280 Buffalo Rd.... 814 Brown St., 2947 Monroe Ave.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Trying to expand too quickly created a financial crisis and the end of the franchise.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Hamburg%20NY%20Sun/Hamburg%20NY%20Sun%202009-2010/Hamburg%20NY%20Sun%202009-2010%20-%200449.pdf|title=Out of the Past: Johnson's Drive-In, Route 5 in Athol Springs, 1957|last=Baker|first=Jim|date=March 18, 2010|newspaper=The Sun|location=Hamburg (NY)|page=12|quote=The Johnson family continued to run the business until 1959 ... When the Johnson's left the business, they sold out to the Becker family of Rochester who owned the "Big Boy" franchise restaurants. They had successful restaurants in Buffalo, but for whatever reason, they never re-opened the former drive-in at the circle. It is believed that they tried to expand too fast and fell on hard financial times.|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref>
<imagemap>
File:Historic Big Boy Restaurant Franchisee Logos.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|alt=Historic Big Boy franchisee logos|<big>'''Logos of historic Big Boy franchisees.'''</big><br />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>

{{Anchor|Bob's}}
*'''[[Bob's Big Boy|Bob's]]''' (California, Arizona, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont; and Indiana, Ohio, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania toll roads and airport locations operated in several states by the Marriott Corp. or others, 1936+, founded by Robert C. "Bob" Wian) The original Big Boy chain, which in Wian's time was confined to Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. Because Marriott developed and acquired Big Boy restaurants elsewhere, principally the northeastern U.S., Bob's developed a more diverse territory and identity. Bob's in Nevada and Arizona were purchased by JB's Big Boy.<ref name="ar-1974jul03" /> Currently, Bob's operates only five restaurants – all in Southern California. Bob's units are the only operators under the domain of the Big Boy Restaurant Group now permitted to use a franchise name for public identity. Wian was the original chairman of the Big Boy Board of Directors.  [A]

{{Anchor|Buds}}
*'''Bud's''' (Montana, Wyoming, 1966{{ndash}}197?) Operated two units. Acquired by JBs in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news | title =JB's Restaurant being demolished, property listed for $1.2 million | first =Amanda | last=Rickner | url =http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/economy/article_bf765366-6e2d-11e1-abab-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm | newspaper =Bozeman Daily Chronicle | publisher =Pioneer News Group | location =Bozeman MT | date =March 15, 2012 | access-date =October 8, 2013 | quote =The restaurant was constructed in the early 1970s, according to city building records. For a time, it was a Bud's Big Boy restaurant before becoming JB's.}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Chez Chap}}
*'''Chez Chap''' ([[Westmount, Quebec|Westmount]], a suburb of Montreal, Quebec, 1978{{ndash}}?, founded by Chapman Baehler) Baehler was Bob Wian's stepson.<ref>{{cite news | last=Rochester | first=Helen | date=August 9, 1978 | title=Lunch in Westmount: Modified Big Boy is no treat | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19780809&id=eYIuAAAAIBAJ&pg=1008,3005040 | newspaper=The [Montreal] Gazette | publisher=Southam Press | access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Dons}}
*'''Don's''' ([[Burlington, Vermont]], 1984, founded by Donald Allard) One of several chain restaurants operated by Allard.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18206058/the_burlington_free_press/|title=No Big Boy in St. Albans this year|date=May 31, 1984|work=[[The Burlington Free Press]]|access-date=March 11, 2018|page=2|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18205983/the_burlington_free_press/|title=2 for 1 special [advertisement]|date=May 30, 1984|work=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=March 11, 2018|page=7B|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Restaurant was rebranded as Bob's Big Boy about 1986,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18207782/the_burlington_free_press/|title=You just can't stop yourself [advertisement]|date=April 20, 1986|work=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=March 11, 2018|page=8D|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and closed, with plans to construct a [[Red Lobster]] Restaurant on the site in 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18207959/the_burlington_free_press/|title=Downtown Wendy's opening delayed by design|last=Debbie|first=Salomon|date=July 9, 1991|work=The Burlington Free Press|access-date=March 11, 2018|page=1D|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> As of 2020, there has been an Olive Garden on that site for some years.

{{Anchor|Eat'n Park}}
*'''[[Eat'n Park]]''' (metro Pittsburgh, 1949{{ndash}}1975,<ref name="McKay 1989">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20629329/pittsburgh_postgazette/|title=Eat'n Park in high gear|last=McKay|first=Jim|date=June 6, 1989|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=June 2, 2018|pages=13, 15|quote=Eat'n Park dropped the Big Boy franchise in 1975|via=Newspapers.com}} [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20629322/pittsburgh_postgazette/ Part 1]</ref> founded by Larry Hatch and William Peters) Hatch and Peters were supervisors at [[Isaly's]] in Pittsburgh.<ref>"[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_35_34/ai_65077457/ Peters, co-founder of Eat'n Park, dead at 87]", ''[[Nation's Restaurant News]]'', August 28, 2000.</ref> On Isaly's business in Cincinnati, Hatch saw the success of the Frisch's Big Boy Drive-In prompting contact with founder Bob Wian, who needed national exposure to gain national trademark protection.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: William D. Peters / President of Eat'n Park restaurants |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20000820peters4.asp |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=August 20, 2000 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213042837/http://old.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20000820peters4.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Within a year Eat'n Park opened as the second Big Boy franchisee. When the 25 year franchise agreement expired Eat'n Park dropped Big Boy, attributed to the loss of drive-in popularity but primarily motivated by the end of the $1 per year license fee the franchise had enjoyed.<ref>Kapner, Suzanne, "[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n37_v29/ai_17435047/?tag=content;col1 After 46 years, Eat'n Park still revs sales, appetites]", ''[[Nation's Restaurant News]]'', September 18, 1995.</ref> Pittsburgh area Big Boy rights were reassigned to Elby's in 1977.<ref name="TimesRecorder 03201979">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15268230/elbys_penna_big_boy_rights/|title=Elby's given rights to franchise|date=March 20, 1979|work=The Times Recorder|access-date=December 2, 2017|location=Zanesville, Ohio|page=14|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>  [D]

{{Anchor|Elbys}}
*'''Elby's''' (Northern West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, Maryland,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35353758/the_boston_globe/|title=Friendly, Elby deal called off|date=August 3, 1986|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=August 27, 2019|agency=United Press International|page=84|quote=[Elby's] includes 70 restaurants In West Virginia, Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and Maryland.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 1956{{ndash}}1984, 1988{{ndash}}2000, founded by brothers George, Ellis and Michael Boury) Named after a brand of flavoring syrup sold by the Bourys' restaurant supply business.<ref name="Novotney 4">{{Cite web|url=http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-4/|title=The Elby's Empire: Part 4 - My Elby's|last=Novotney|first=Steve|date=March 5, 2016|website=Weelunk|language=en-US|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Some sources say Elby's came from the childhood nickname of Ellis Boury.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 21, 1979|title=Boury Businesses Expanding|page=27|work=The Intelligencer|place=Wheeling WV|url=https://ohiocountywv.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?fn=the_intelligencer_usa_west_virginia_wheeling_19790221_english_27&df=1&dt=10|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>|group="note" }} Originally acquired the Big Boy rights to northern West Virginia through Shoney's.<ref name="ShoneysFranchisees" /><ref name="ShoneysMenu1959" /><ref name="leagle" /> In 1960 Elby's expanded into Ohio,<ref name="Morristown 1960">{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-mar-28-1960-37481/|title=and... NOW THERE ARE 3 Elby's [advertisement]|date=March 28, 1960|newspaper=Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian|page=7|access-date=July 30, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> licensed through Frisch's. Six years later, Bob Wian awarded Elby's franchisor rights to Pennsylvania, excluding the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas; Pittsburgh was awarded Elby's in 1977.<ref name="TimesRecorder 03201979" /> When Frisch's refused existing terms on a fourth Ohio unit in 1971,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jan-11-1971-37470/|title=Advertisement: Grand opening our 16th special|date=January 11, 1971|work=The Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian|page=9|access-date=September 7, 2016|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]}}</ref> Elby's withdrew from Big Boy affiliation in Ohio, leading to a long running trademark battle by Frisch's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-aug-01-1973-81087/|title=Narcotics Evidence Is Found Illegal|date=August 1, 1973|work=Cumberland Evening Times|page=27|access-date=September 7, 2016|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]}}</ref> In August 1984 Elby's paid $500 thousand to buy out its Big Boy franchise, four months after Shoney's—franchisor for Elby's West Virginia stores—broke affiliation.<ref name="Leininger 1984" /><ref name="leagle">{{cite court |litigants= Frisch's Restaurant, Inc. v. Elby's Big Boy |vol=661 | reporter=F.Supp. | opinion=971 |court=S.D. Ohio, E.D. | date=1987 | url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/661/971/2372457/ | access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Harvilla 2000">{{Cite news|last=Harvilla|first=Michael|date=October 9, 2000|title=Boury Says He Is Sad to See Big Boys Leave|page=16|work=The Intelligencer|department=Business|location=Wheeling, WV|url=https://ohiocountywv.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?fn=the_intelligencer_usa_west_virginia_wheeling_20001009_english_16&df=1&dt=10|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|George Boury referred to paying $500,000 to break their franchise agreement in the late 1970s.<ref name="Harvilla 2000" /> This occurred in 1984 and likely only involved restaurants in Pennsylvania, since West Virginia stores were subfranchises of Shoney's, who already bought out their franchise agreement in April 1984. Elby's Ohio stores were not affiliated with Big Boy.<ref name="Leininger 1984" /><ref name="leagle" />|group="note" }}  Opened units in Maryland after leaving Big Boy. The Elby's name and most company restaurants were sold to Elias Brothers in 1988 becoming Big Boys again. (George and Michael Boury retained nine Ohio units that could not become Big Boys because of nearby Frisch's operations; they were rebranded as Shoney's restaurants until placed for sale in 1993.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/11B86B4E174D02F8?p=AWNB|title=Elby's franchise switch makes it Shoney's today|last=Amatos|first=Christopher A.|date=April 2, 1989|work=Columbus Dispatch|via=[[Newsbank]]|url-access=subscription|page=7D|quote=Shoney's, ironically, ... has never been in Columbus because of restrictions imposed by the Big Boy system, of which Shoney's was once a member. West Virginia-based Elby's also was once a Big Boy franchise.}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/10E0D98E7A26F298?p=AWNB|title=Franchisee's 9 Shoney's Restaurants in area up for sale|date=March 25, 1993|work=Columbus Dispatch|access-date=September 8, 2017|via=[[Newsbank]]|page=1G|url-access=subscription|quote=The nine units consist of seven in Columbus and one each in Newark and Heath.}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/10E0DA27C0BB5120?p=AWNB|title=Owner closes five area JT's Restaurants|last=Amatos|first=Christopher A.|date=August 5, 1993|work=Columbus Dispatch|access-date=September 8, 2017|via=[[Newsbank]]|page=1B|url-access=subscription|quote=In May [Boury Enterprises] dropped the Shoney's franchise and converted six of the nine units to JT's Family Restaurants. It sold three closed restaurants to Shoney's.... Shoney's said that it plans to reopen in November, December and January the three stores it purchased.}}</ref>) Although officially stripped of the Elby's name, identity was so strong that the Elby's name continued in print advertisements.<ref name="big boy name">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19880801&id=NKtdAAAAIBAJ&pg=1897,412538|title=Elby's rejoins Big Boy chain|date=August 3, 1988|newspaper=Observer Reporter|location=Washington, PA|page=C-6|via=Google news|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oqtdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5933,5159444|title=Elby's Big Boy Strawberry Festival (Advertisement)|date=April 26, 1994|newspaper=Observer Reporter|location=Washington, PA|page=B-2|via=Google news|access-date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> The last remaining Elby's closed in 2000 in response to the Elias Brothers financial crisis.  [E]

{{Anchor|Elias Brothers}}
*'''Elias Brothers''' (Michigan, Northeastern Ohio, Ontario, Canada, 1952{{ndash}}2000, founded by Fred, John and Louis Elias) In 1938 the brothers opened Fred's Chili Bowl in Detroit and later the Dixie Drive-In in [[Hazel Park, Michigan|Hazel Park]], which would become the first Elias Brothers Big Boy. Considered the "first official franchisee" because they were the first to formally apply to Bob Wian.{{r|"Hansen 2002"|page=111 }} They worked with Wian, Schoenbaum and Manfred Bernhard to create the 1956 Big Boy character design and launch the comic book. Owned the Big Boy system from 1987 through 2000 when the bankrupt company was sold to Robert Liggett. Many Michigan units continue operations stripped of the Elias Brothers name and these are the vast majority (90%) of Big Boy Restaurant Group's Big Boy stores. Fred Elias became a member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.<ref name="Ceremony 06251965" />  [F]

{{Anchor|Franklins}}
*'''Franklin's''' (Eastern Pennsylvania, 1966{{ndash}}1976, founded by Marvin and Joseph Franklin) Subfranchised by and originally operated as Elby's.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-dec-23-1969-119890/|title=Elby's Opens in Scranton|date=December 23, 1969|work=The Weirton Daily Times|access-date=November 10, 2016|publisher=Thompson - Brush - Moore Newspapers|page=5|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-sep-07-1970-119884/|title=Opens 16th Elby's|date=September 7, 1970|work=The Gettysburg Times|access-date=November 10, 2016|page=3|via=newspaperarchive.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://standardspeaker.com/news/former-friendly-s-sold-to-investors-1.1933451|title=Former Friendly's sold to investors|last=Dino|first=Jim|date=August 28, 2015|work=Standard Speaker|access-date=November 10, 2016|publisher=Times-Shamrock Communications|location=Hazelton, PA|quote=In the late 1970s, Marvin Franklin changed 13 Elby's restaurants he owned in Pennsylvania and elsewhere on the East Coast into Franklin's Family Restaurants, with a menu similar to its predecessor.}}</ref> Sued Elby's in 1975 for receiving commissions from approved vendors. inflating prices of supplies, and using continued franchising as an incentive.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Briley|first=Kathie|date=September 27, 1975|title=Elby's Sued for $5 Million|page=4|work=The Intelligencer|location=Wheeling, WV|url=https://ohiocountywv.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?fn=the_intelligencer_usa_west_virginia_wheeling_19750927_english_4&df=1&dt=3|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref> Elby's denied the charges,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Briley|first=Kathie|date=October 29, 1975|title=Elby's Denies Charges|page=10|work=The Intelligencer|location=Wheeling, WV|url=https://ohiocountywv.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?fn=the_intelligencer_usa_west_virginia_wheeling_19751029_english_9&df=1&dt=3|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref> which were settled out of court in 1978.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 18, 1978|title=Boury Settles Out of Court|page=13|work=The Intelligencer|location=Wheeling, WV|url=https://ohiocountywv.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?fn=the_intelligencer_usa_west_virginia_wheeling_19780718_english_13&df=1&dt=10|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref> Franklin discontinued use of the Elby's name in 1976, but initially continued to operate as Big Boy Restaurants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31453755/the_timestribune/|title=Attention All Grade School Students [Advertisement]|date=January 16, 1976|work=The Times-Tribune|access-date=May 11, 2019|location=Scranton, PA|quote=Franklin's Family Restaurants (Formerly Elby's)|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31453589/wilkesbarre_times_leader_the_evening/|title=Title Transfer|date=January 28, 1977|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader|access-date=May 11, 2019|page=3|quote=Several Elby's Restaurants have been changed to Franklin's Family Restaurants...|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Franklin's continued to advertise the Big Boy hamburger and mascot—now with "Franklin's" on the mascot's chef hat—on March 15, 1977.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31712202/standardspeaker/|title=Special Big Boy Platter [Advertisement]|date=March 15, 1976|work=Standard-Speaker|access-date=May 19, 2019|location=Hazleton, PA|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A month later Franklin's advertised an unbranded "double-decker hamburger" instead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31712207/the_timestribune/|title=Attention All Grade School Students! [Advertisement]|date=April 16, 1976|work=The Times-Tribune|access-date=May 19, 2019|location=Scranton, PA|page=4|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By February 1978, Franklin's began to advertise the "Big Ben" (Double-Decker) Hamburger.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31712323/the_tribune/|title=Attention All Grade School Students! [Advertisement]|date=February 10, 1978|work=The Tribune|access-date=May 19, 2019|location=Scranton, PA|page=8|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>| group="note" }} Elby's sued Franklin's. In August 1978, a federal court cancelled Franklin's contracts with Elby's, awarded Elby's an undisclosed cash settlement and enjoined Franklin's from use of the "Elby's" and "Big Boy" names, food items, recipes and other materials.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31453611/wilkesbarre_times_leader_the_evening/|title=Elby's Plans 8 Restaurants In The Area|date=August 30, 1978|work=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader|access-date=May 11, 2019|page=3|quote=[A] court settlement ... resulted in cancellation of contracts between Elby's and Marvin Franklin... The U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., has prohibited Franklin from using the registered trademarks "Elby's" and "Big Boy,".... In addition, Franklin's organization was directed to return all originals and copies of Elby's and Boury Inc.'s recipes, food formulas, manuals, bulletin books, advertising materials and other plan's to Elby's, .... Franklin's organization also agreed not to produce food products from Elby's and Boury Inc.'s recipes without substantial variation. Franklin and his organization agreed to pay "a substantial sum of money" to the Bourys as part of the Settlement.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Nonetheless, Franklin's renamed the "Big Boy" the "Big Ben" and adopted a [[Benjamin Franklin]] theme.<ref name="Big Ben" /> Elby's subsequently built new restaurants adjacent to several Franklin's units.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31453539/the_timestribune/|title=Franklin Rebuked: Elby's Gets OK To Build|date=July 12, 1983|work=The Times-Tribune|access-date=May 11, 2019|location=Scranton, PA|page=3|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31453547/the_timestribune/|title=It's Sandwiches vs. Meals In Battle of Restaurants|date=June 28, 1983|work=The Times-Tribune|access-date=May 11, 2019|location=Scranton, PA|page=15|quote=Marvin Franklin Enterprises, Inc. ... alleges that ... a new Elby's Big Boy restaurant next to Franklin's in Chinchilla would hurt the appearance of Franklin's and damage employee morale. Marvin Franklin, ... testified that construction of a new and shiny restaurant and building next to us would make us look bad.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The 12 unit chain was sold to [[The Hershey Company|Hershey's Foods]] and [[Friendly's|Friendly's Restaurants]] in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-05-1986-119877/|title=Firms agree on sale of 70 Elby's locations|date=April 5, 1986|work=The Altoona Mirror|agency=Mirror and United Press International|page=D3|access-date=November 10, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Frejlachs}}
*'''Frejlach's''' (Illinois, 1954{{ndash}}196?, founded by Irvin Frejlach) Added Big Boy to their established chain of [[Ice cream parlor|ice cream shops]].<ref name="Frejlachs1954">{{cite news |title= Big Boy Hamburger Now At Frejlach's |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-oct-07-1954-44171/ |newspaper=Arlington Heights Herald |location=Arlington Heights, IL |date= October 7, 1954|page=12 |access-date=September 30, 2012|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]}}</ref> Unlike other franchisees, the stores did not directly use the Big Boy name; they remained Frejlach's Ice Cream Shoppes not Frejlach's Big Boy.<ref name="frejlachname">{{cite book | title=1956 Oak Park Telephone Directory| url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-advertisement-clipping-may-01-1956-267466/| year=1956| page=133}}</ref> The company also owned [[History of McDonald's#Frejlachs|rights to McDonald's restaurants in Cook County]] (Chicago), Illinois which were sold back to Ray Kroc in 1956. Irvin's brother Lucian "Lou" Frejlach became a member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.<ref name="Ceremony 06251965" />

{{Anchor|Frischs}}
*'''[[Frisch's]]''' (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee; Florida until the early 1990s, 1947+, founded by David Frisch) The [[Cincinnati]] restaurant chain and first franchisee, began serving Big Boy hamburgers in 1946, but opened their first Big Boy Drive-In restaurant in 1948; Frisch's now operates 96 Big Boys and franchises 25 Big Boys to others. Frisch's subfranchised to Azar's and Manners, which used the Frisch's styled Big Boy, to Milton and David Bennett in 1955, who operate as Frisch's in northwest Ohio and also licensed Elby's to operate three Big Boy units in the upper Ohio Valley until 1971. In 2001 Frisch's became the perpetual owner of the Big Boy trademark in most of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, and received $1.2 million to relinquish all other Big Boy territories to Big Boy Restaurants International, to whom Frisch's is no longer a franchisee or licensee.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New Owner of Big Boy Gobbles Up Franchise Rights|last=Kosdrosky|first=Terry|date=February 2001|work=Crain's Detroit Business|issue=7|volume=17|page=32}}</ref> On August 24, 2015, Frisch's was sold to an Atlanta-based private equity fund, ending family ownership and control of the chain.<ref name="frischunits" /><ref name="leagle"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frischsnwo.com/press_news_2013_May1.html |title=Frisch's Big Boy Celebrates Founder's Day May 3 |website=[Official] Frisch's Big Boy of Northwest Ohio |access-date=July 29, 2013 |quote=Toledo brothers Milton & David Bennett purchased the franchise rights to build and operate Frisch's Big Boy restaurants in Northwest Ohio. Bennett Enterprises owns and operates 13 family-style restaurants with drive-thru service under the name Frisch's Big Boy. |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202180222/http://www.frischsnwo.com/press_news_2013_May1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  [X]

{{Anchor|JBs}}
*'''[[JB's Restaurants|JB's]]''' (Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Washington, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Nebraska, Kansas, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut;<ref name="ar-1974jul03">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15047735/bobs_big_boy_restaurants_in_arizona/ |title=Big Boy chain in state is sold for $2.7 million |work=[[Arizona Republic]] |location=Phoenix |date=July 3, 1974 |page=43 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |quote=JB's Big JB's Big Boy Restaurants ... is licensed to operate in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, South Dakota, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Jersey, and in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.<br />{{in5}}In New Mexico, JB's operates as Vip's Big Boy and in Nevada as Bob's Big Boy, the same as Arizona.}}</ref> 1961{{ndash}}1988, founded by Jack M. Broberg.) The first JB's Big Boy opened in 1961 in Provo, Utah. In the 1970s JB's expanded by acquiring neighboring Big Boy franchisees: Vip's, Leo's, Kebo's and Bud's. After Marriott refused granting additional territory, in 1984, JB's sued to leave Big Boy. The parties settled, JB's paying $7 million in exchange for additional territory, including central and northern California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona where it operated as Bob's Big Boy; JB's also purchased 29 existing Bob's Big Boy restaurants from Marriott.<ref name="map86">{{cite map|publisher=Big Boy Restaurants|title=Big Boy Restaurants 1986 50th Anniversary Western-Central US Road Map|edition=1986|at=back cover|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/380659418026?_trksid=p2048036|access-date=June 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/summit-family-restaurants-inc-history/|title=History of Summit Family Restaurants Inc.|last=FundingUniverse|website=www.fundinguniverse.com|access-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref> Citing a lack of benefit except use of the Big Boy symbol for its over $1 million annual franchise fees, in 1988 JB's allowed its Big Boy franchise to expire, removing 110 units from the Big Boy system.<ref name="Bradsher 1988">{{cite news | url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-03-18/business/fi-1644_1_big-boy-franchisee | title=Chubby 'Big Boy' May Disappear as Restaurant Changes | first=Keith | last=Bradsher | work=Los Angeles Times | date=March 18, 1988 | access-date=October 22, 2017}}</ref> As of December 2016, fifteen JB's Restaurants operate in five states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jbsfamily.com/locations/|title=Locations|website=JB's Restaurants|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220152435/http://jbsfamily.com/locations/|url-status=dead}} Using Salt Lake City zip code 84101, and a 500 mile radius.</ref>  [H]

{{Anchor|JBsCanada}}
*'''JB's''' (Canada - Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, 1969{{ndash}}1979, founded by [[John Bitove, Sr.]]) Bitove, a well known Canadian businessman, was the franchisee for Canada generally, along with [[Roy Rogers Restaurants]], both Marriott owned brands. JB's of Canada grew to 32 Big Boy restaurants before selling to Elias Brothers.<ref name="bitove" />

{{Anchor|Kebos}}
*'''Kebo's''' (Seattle and Tacoma, Washington area before JB's dba Bob's, ?{{ndash}}1974, founded by W. Keith Grant.) "Kebo" came from the owners, <u>K</u>eith, <u>E</u>d and <u>Bo</u>b. Two units were sold to JB's in 1974.

{{Anchor|Kens}}
*'''Ken's''' (Maryland, Washington DC,<ref name="Ken's 1969">{{cite magazine |date=January 1969 |title=Ken's |url=http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wLAAAOSwU8hY7pDC/s-l1600.jpg |url-status=live |magazine= Adventures of the Big Boy|at=back cover|issue=151|edition=Ken's|type=comic book |publisher=WEBS Advertising Corp.|format=jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003013236/http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wLAAAOSwU8hY7pDC/s-l1600.jpg |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=October 2, 2017 }} ([http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I0MAAOSwc-tY7pDA/s-l1600.jpg front cover]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20171003014918/http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I0MAAOSwc-tY7pDA/s-l1600.jpg archive])</ref> 1963{{ndash}}?, founded by Bill Bemis) named in honor of Bill Bemis' father Ken Bemis, who founded the White Log Coffee Shop chain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/930/|title=White Log Coffee Shop, Los Angeles, CA|website=Pacific Coast Architecture Database|access-date=March 22, 2016|quote=Designed for the chain of coffee shops started by Kenneth Bemis}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WWl29hn0C9gC&pg=PA249|title=An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles|last1=Winter|first1=Robert|last2=Gebhard|first2=David|publisher=Gibbs Smith|year=2009|isbn=9781423608936|pages=249|language=en}}</ref> Three Maryland ''Ken's Big Boys'' operated in 1969.<ref name="Ken's 1969" /> "Ken's" became "Bob's" in the early 1970s.  [K]

{{Anchor|Kips}}
*'''Kip's''' (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, 1958{{ndash}}1991, founded Fred Bell, Thomas W. Holman and James Reed) Bell owned and operated Kip's of Texas, while Holman and Reed owned and operated Kip's of Oklahoma and Kansas.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.preservationdallas.org/new_site/issues/kipsBigboy.php |title= EZ's Coffee Shop (formerly Kip's Big Boy) at Northwest Highway & Hillcrest, North Dallas To Be Demolished? |website= Preservation Dallas |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101212071417/http://www.preservationdallas.org/new_site/issues/kipsBigboy.php |archive-date= December 12, 2010 |access-date=September 9, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Acquired by Frisch's in 1972. Kip's territory was transferred to Big Boy Restaurants International in 2001. Bell became an original member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.  [B]

{{Anchor|Lendys}}
*'''Lendy's''' (Western Virginia, 1955{{ndash}}1964, founded by Leonard Goldstein) Owned by Goldstein but operated as Shoney's 1955–1959.<ref name="ShoneysMenu1959" /> Territory proximity to Yoda's angered Goldstein and concurrent franchise with Kentucky Fried Chicken antagonized franchisor Alex Schoenbaum, prompting Lendy's to leave Big Boy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.cox.net/lendys/lendys4.htm |title=Lendy's Web Page, part 4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805045017/http://members.cox.net/lendys/lendys4.htm |archive-date= August 5, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lendys2">{{cite web |url=http://members.cox.net/lendys/lendys42.htm |title=Lendy's Web Page, part 2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805045017/http://members.cox.net/lendys/lendys2.htm |archive-date= August 5, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Renamed the "Big Boy" hamburger as the "Buddy Boy" and created a Buddy Boy mascot similar to Frisch's Big Boy character. Goldstein replaced the Big Boy statues with statues of Buddy Boy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Dennis|date=November 20, 2013|title=Lendy's|url=http://that70sblacksburg.blogspot.com/2013/11/lendys.html|access-date=September 17, 2021|website=That 70's Blacksburg}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Leos}}
*'''Leo's''' (Spokane, Washington, Montana, 1966{{ndash}}1971, founded by Leo A. Hansen, Jr.<ref>{{cite news | title =Owner Realizes Early Ambitions | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R14zAAAAIBAJ&pg=7538,355491&dq=leo+hansen+big+boy&hl=en | newspaper =Spokane Daily Chronicle | date =May 1, 1970 | page =23 | access-date  =June 14, 2013}}</ref>) The first Leo's Big Boy opened in [[Great Falls, Montana]] in 1966. Grew to four units before being acquired by and renamed JB's in 1971, Hansen becoming a vice-president of JB's Big Boy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jul-18-1971-35261/|title=Big Boy picks new directors|date=July 18, 1971|work=Provo Daily Herald|access-date=December 24, 2017|page=5|via=Newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Manners}}
*'''Manners''' (Northeastern Ohio (Cleveland TV market), 1954{{ndash}}1979, founded by Robert L. and Ramona Manners) Franchisee through Frisch's, used the Frisch styled mascot design. Like Frisch's, Manners was already established having opened Manners Drive-In in 1939, 15 years before becoming a Big Boy franchisee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=R3|title=Restaurants|first=Bette Lou|last=Higgins|date=August 9, 2009|website=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History|publisher=[[Case Western Reserve University]]|access-date=September 9, 2016|quote=The first California-style drive-in in the Cleveland area, Manners Drive In, opened in 1939 (17655 Lake Shore Blvd.). It operated 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and was opened by Robert L. and Mona Manners. Manners introduced the double-decker hamburger in 1954. By 1964 there were 30 Manners Big Boy Restaurants in northeast Ohio ... In 1968 Manners merged with Consolidated Food Corp. of Chicago. In 1974 Marriott purchased 39 Manners Drive Ins from Consolidated Foods.... In 1995 the Big Boy Corp. was operating under the Elias Big Boy name.}}</ref> Paid Frisch's $10 per month for each location. In 1968 Manners Big Boy was sold to Consolidated Foods (now known as [[Sara Lee Corporation]]). Marriott purchased the 39 units in 1974 and five years later dropped the name "Manners".<ref>{{cite news | last=Feran | first=Tom | date=September 2, 2005 | title=Manners Big Boy's secret is on the tip of my tongue | url=http://plaindealer.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419204707/http://plaindealer.com/ | archive-date=April 19, 2011 | newspaper=The Plain Dealer | location=Cleveland | publisher=Newhouse Newspapers | access-date=July 7, 2014}} [http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2011/04/manners_big_boys_secret_is_on.html Alt URL]</ref> Marriott sold 26 remaining restaurants to Elias Brothers in 1985.<ref name="Byard 1985">{{cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB625B9CCCB1EB0?p=AWNB|title=Michigan Firm To Purchase 26 Ohio Big Boys|work=Akron Beacon Journal|date=February 16, 1985|first=Katie|last=Byard|department=Business|page=B-7|access-date=September 23, 2017|quote=Elias Brothers Restaurants Inc.... has agreed to purchase the 26 Bob's Big Boy outlets in Northeast Ohio from owner and Big Boy franchiser Mariott Corp.... Mariott purchased the Northeast Ohio Big Boy outlets, then under the name of Manners Big Boy Restaurants, from Chicago- based Consolidated Foods Corp. in the mid-1970s.|via=[[NewsBank]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>  [W]

{{Anchor|Marcs}}
*'''Marc's''' (Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, 1958{{ndash}}1995, founded by Ben Marcus and Gene Kilburg{{r|"Lawrence 1958"}}) Owned by the [[Marcus Corporation]], Marc's Big Boy debuted in [[Milwaukee]] in November 1958.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c8EdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5560%2C127012|title=Milwaukee Welcomes BIG BOY [advertisement]|date=November 21, 1958|work=The Milwaukee Journal|access-date=June 2, 2018|page=22|quote=A free Coca-Cola with every food order during our opening week. Just clip the Marc's symbol from this ad and turn it in with your order.|via=Google news}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The chain grew to 4 units by 1962, 22 units by 1970,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/11/The-Marcus-Corporation.html|title=The Marcus Corporation - Company Profile on The Marcus Corporation|website=Reference for Business|publisher=Advameg, Inc.|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> doubling this number within 4 years<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20631060/the_postcrescent/|title=Marcus reports 26 per cent profit increase|date=August 10, 1973|work=The Post-Crescent|access-date=June 3, 2018|location=Appleton, Wisconsin|page=B–6|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and eventually operated as many as 64 Big Boys over a 4 state territory.<ref name="Marcs Back Page" /><ref name="Big Boy Express">{{Cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB827D72D229F72?p=AWNB|via=[[NewsBank]]|title=Marcus returns to fast-food's beginnings with Big Boy Express|last=Bednarek|first=David J.|date=June 4, 1993|work=The Milwaukee Journal|publisher=Journal/Sentinel, Inc.|page=C6}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Among these, acquiring Illinois Top's Big Boy restaurants by 1974—rebranding those in Chicago suburbs Marc's.<ref name="Tops 1974" /> In 1989, Marc's Big Boy Corporation was renamed Marc's Restaurants<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20631227/wausau_daily_herald/|title=Tehan heads foundation; Big Boy changes name|last=Pirkl|first=Tim|date=May 5, 1989|work=Wausau Daily Herald|access-date=June 3, 2018|department=Taking Stock|page=C1|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and a two-year experiment launched completely removing Big Boy at two of its stores, the test demonstrating no effect on business. In 1992, the Marc's format was upscaled and renamed ''Marc's Big Boy Cafe''s;<ref name="Marcs Back Page">{{Cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2017/01/24/our-back-pages-when-they-locked-up-big-boy/96666878/|title=Our Back Pages: When they locked up Big Boy|last=Chris|first=Foran|date=January 24, 2017|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502101022/http://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2017/01/24/our-back-pages-when-they-locked-up-big-boy/96666878/|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1993 13 Big Boy Cafes were converted to ''Marc's Cafe and Coffee Mill''s, and the company launched 2 ''Big Boy Express'' drive-thru stores.<ref name="Big Boy Express" />{{#tag:ref|Marc's Big Boy Express units were modeled on [[Checkers and Rally's|Rally's Hamburger stores]] which operated in the Midwest.| group="note" }} The following year, the 13 Cafe and Coffee Mill restaurants were sold to a group of employees, with 3 remaining Big Boys and 2 Big Boy Express units offered for sale.<ref name="Marcs 1994">{{Cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB82882D0373B44?p=AWNB|via=[[NewsBank]]|title='BYE, BOY Marcus selling cafes, Big Boys|last=Waterbury|first=Kathleen|date=September 14, 1994|work=The Milwaukee Sentinel|publisher=Journal/Sentinel Inc.|page=1D}}{{subscription required}}</ref> In 1995, the company closed its last Big Boy operation.<ref name="Wisconsin History">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963805&dsRecordDetails=R:CS2812|title=Big Boy|date=January 31, 2005|website=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> Some former units later operated as Annie's American Cafe and as [[Perkins Restaurant and Bakery|Perkins Restaurants]]. However, in 2017 the Marcus Corporation sold Big Boy hamburgers at the Kil@wat restaurant in its downtown Milwaukee hotel;<ref name="Marcs Back Page" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/dining/articles/on-the-burger-trail-kilawat.html|title=On the Burger Trail: Big Boy burger at Kil@wat|last=Fredrich|first=Lori|date=April 7, 2017|work=OnMilwaukee.com|access-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311205840/https://onmilwaukee.com/dining/articles/on-the-burger-trail-kilawat.html|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> in March 2017, the sandwich is priced at $11 on the lunch menu<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kilawatcuisine.com/pdf-kilawat-milwaukee/lunch-sept13.pdf|title=Kil@wat lunch menu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311210003/http://www.kilawatcuisine.com/pdf-kilawat-milwaukee/lunch-sept13.pdf|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref> and $12 on the dinner menu both served with fries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kilawatcuisine.com/pdf-kilawat-milwaukee/dinner-menu.pdf|title=Kil@wat dinner menu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311210050/http://www.kilawatcuisine.com/pdf-kilawat-milwaukee/dinner-menu.pdf|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=March 8, 2017}}</ref>  [J] Now known as Aria Café and Bar at Saint Kate hotel, as of 2019 the Big Boy goes for $15.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Christenson|first=Ann|date=2019-09-25|title=Restaurant Review: Aria at Saint Kate is Homey and Delicious|url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/restaurant-review-aria-saint-kate-homey-delicious/|journal=Milwaukee Magazine}}</ref>  [J]

{{Anchor|Marks}}
*'''Mark's''' (Hyattsville, Maryland, 1960<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1960|title=This Comic Book is a gift from Mark's|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-Adventure-Big-Boy-Magazine-47-Comic-Book-Club-News-Coca-Cola-Xmas-Burger-/264515120354?hash=item3d96546ce2%3Ag%3AWRYAAOSwc8ZduIsn&nma=true&si=Fnj1YcYt9r%252BjbJ470XfawMA68B8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557|journal=Adventures of the Big Boy|type=Comic Book|issue=47|pages=Back Cover|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102231332/https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-Adventure-Big-Boy-Magazine-47-Comic-Book-Club-News-Coca-Cola-Xmas-Burger-/264515120354?hash=item3d96546ce2%3Ag%3AWRYAAOSwc8ZduIsn&nma=true&si=Fnj1YcYt9r%252BjbJ470XfawMA68B8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557|archive-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref>{{en dash}}1962?<ref name="Marks1962">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41555838/marks_big_boy_hyattsville_md/|title=Opportunity Young Men [advertisement]|date=September 18, 1962|work=The Evening Sun|access-date=January 2, 2020|location=Baltimore|page=B 20|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>) A single unit existed at 3050 East-West Parkway, Hyattsville, which was a Ken's Big Boy in 1964.<ref name="Marks1962"/><ref name="Ken's 1969" />

{{Anchor|McDowells}}
*'''McDowell's''' (North Dakota, 1954{{ndash}}1960 independently as "Big Boy Drive-Inn", 1960+ as franchise, founded by Harley McDowell)  A trademark infringement suit against McDowell was filed by Wian in 1959 ultimately resulting in a franchise agreement.<ref name="mcdowellsuit">{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jul-26-1959-37504/|title='Big Boy' Trademark Suit Opens, Glendale Firm Asks Verdict|date=July 26, 1959|location=Pasadena|page=11|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]|newspaper=The Independent Star News}}</ref> Operates exclusively as a drive through. McDowell's name was dropped and the remaining store is now called the [[Bismarck, North Dakota|Bismarck]] Big Boy. Along with Big Boy hamburgers, the single restaurant sells flying pizza-burgers and french fries by the pound with chicken gravy.  [L]

{{Anchor|Mr Bs}}
*'''Mr. B's''' (New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41564089/manfred_bernhard_franchise_territory/|title=Big Boy Buys Vt. Square|date=January 11, 1966|work=The Brattleboro Reformer|access-date=January 2, 2020|page=5|quote=Manford Bernhard, [is] owner of the franchise for the Big Boy restaurants in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 1963{{ndash}}1969,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporate/soskb/Corp.asp?1097969|title=New Hampshire Corporate Record: Keene Big Boy, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502072532/https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov/online/BusinessInquire/BusinessInformation?businessID=466439|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=February 12, 2013}}</ref> founded by Manfred Bernhard){{r|"Hansen 2002"|p=75}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/Pugwm/enterprise.html |title=(Mr. B's Image at) Janies's Big Boy Webpage |last1=Glassett |first1=Janie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725232503/http://members.aol.com/Pugwm/enterprise.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> Operated a restaurant in Keene, New Hampshire and Brattleboro, Vermont.

{{Anchor|Shaps}}
* '''Shap's''' (Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1959{{ndash}}1964?, founded by I. Shapiro, Pem Cooley, and E. D. Latimer) Franchised by Shoney's. Shap's was abbreviated for Shapiro's. Operated two small units in Chattanooga. Latimer bought out the other partners and changed the name to its franchisor's, Shoney's.<ref>{{cite news | title =What Did That Building Used To Be? - Shap's | url =http://wew.chattanoogan.com/2002/7/16/24146/What-Did-That-Building-Used-To-Be--.aspx | newspaper =The Chattanoogan.com | date =July 16, 2002 | last =Jolley | first =Harmon | access-date =September 30, 2013 | archive-date =May 1, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140501235639/http://wew.chattanoogan.com/2002/7/16/24146/What-Did-That-Building-Used-To-Be--.aspx | url-status =dead }}</ref>

{{Anchor|Shoneys}}
* '''[[Shoney's]]/Parkette''' (Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Philadelphia, PA, 1952{{ndash}}1984,{{refn|group=note|Many sources mistakenly report that Shoney's began in 1959 because Ray Danner became a Shoney's Big Boy franchisee in 1959 and he is assumed to be the founder. However, Alex Shoenbaum founded the original Parkette in 1947 and became a Big Boy franchise in 1952. The matter is further confounded because after Schoenbaum changed the public name of his restaurants from "Parkette Big Boy Shoppes" to "Shoney's Big Boy" in 1954, the parent company remained named "Parkette Foods" until it merged with Ray Danner's company in 1971, then being renamed "Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises.}} founded by [[Alex Schoenbaum]]), Originally called the Parkette, in 1952 it became Parkette Big Boy Shoppes. An unrelated "Parkette Drive-In" had opened in Kentucky<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theparkette.com/history.asp|title=The Parkette at the Beginning|website=Parkette Drive-In|access-date=December 4, 2016|quote=Joe Smiley opened the Parkette [Drive-In] on November 11, 1951.... Joe created his own version of the Double-Decker hamburger called the 'Poor Boy'. Joe brought this burger idea with him from West Virginia.|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101755/http://www.theparkette.com/history.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> so in 1954, a public contest for a new name resulted in Parkette becoming Shoney's, which was also a reference to founder Alex "Shoney" Schoenbaum.<ref>{{Citation| url=http://www.mywvhome.com/fifties/contest.htm| title=Print ads in The Contest of the Century|work=The Charleston Gazette and The Charleston Daily Mail|location=Charleston, WV| year=1952–55| access-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref> Shoney's also subfranchised to Arnold's, Becker's, Elby's,<ref name="leagle" /> Lendy's, Shap's, Tune's, and Yoda's.,<ref name="ShoneysFranchisees" /><ref name="ShoneysMenu1959">{{Cite book|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHONEYS-Big-Boy-Menu-1950s-with-Menu-insert/282478019767|title=Shoney's Home of the Nationally Famous Big Boy [Menu]|year=1959|at=back cover|quote=In West Virginia... Elby's of Wheeling - 2 locations, Elby's of Moundsville... In Virginia... Lendy's of Roanoke, Lendy's of Lynchburg, Yoda's of Roanoke|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528021000/http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHONEYS-Big-Boy-Menu-1950s-with-Menu-insert/282478019767|archive-date=May 28, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=May 28, 2017}} ''Note: This includes a [https://web.archive.org/web/20170528021242/http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YZgAAOSwt0FZBn-A/s-l1600.jpg photograph] of an early 1960s Shoney's menu cover, which lists then current Shoney's Big Boy restaurants including self-named subfranchises in Shoney's territory.''</ref> and many using the Shoney's name. Ray Danner, the Nashville Shoney's franchisee purchased the company in 1971 and five years later dropped Big Boy from the company name.<ref name="Name Change 1976">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15758442/|title=Shoney's Changes Corporate Name|date=October 30, 1976|work=The Charleston Daily Mail|access-date=December 17, 2017|page=5B|quote= Our company is quite diversified within the food service business ... We believe the new name is less restrictive and more appropriate to the broader operations we have developed |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The company name was not always the name as used with the public. The company was named "Parkette Foods" until 1971, when Ray Danner changed it to "Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises". Writing about the 1976 name change the ''[[Charleston Daily Mail]]'' reported, "Top management ... believes Shoney's is much more than the southern reincarnation of the Frisch's Big Boy."<ref name="Name Change 1976" /> | group="note" }} In April 1984 Shoney's—by then the largest Big Boy franchisee with 392 units—paid $13 million to break its contract with Big Boy, allowing expansion into Frisch's and other franchisees' Big Boy territories.<ref name="Leininger 1984" 
/><ref name="Zuckerman 1984">. . .
* {{cite journal|last=Zuckerman |first=David |date=May 7, 1984 |title=Shoney's secedes from Big Boy system |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v18/ai_3260566/ |journal=Nation's Restaurant News |access-date=April 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708055132/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v18/ai_3260566/ |archive-date=July 8, 2012 }}
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/08/business/graph-of-shoney-s-net-income-since-1974-at-shoney-s-details-count.html|title=Graph of Shoney's net income since 1974; At Shoney's, details count|date=June 8, 1984|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|quote=Shoney's started expanding outside of its franchise territory in 1982 by opening coffee shops without Big Boy markings in neighboring states. A fellow Big Boy franchisee sued to stop the move, but after Shoney's won a favorable court ruling in March, Marriott quickly agreed to scrap the franchise agreement for $13 million in cash.|access-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> Schoenbaum became a member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.<ref name="Ceremony 06251965" />  [M][P]

{{Anchor|Teds}}
*'''Ted's''' (Rhode Island, 1964–?, founded by Edmund D. Fuller III)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ciampa|first=Gail|date=January 29, 2021|title=Restaurateur, innovator and philanthropist Ted Fuller of Gregg's has died|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/01/29/ted-fuller-who-launched-greggs-and-technology-company-has-died/4301357001/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719210303/https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/01/29/ted-fuller-who-launched-greggs-and-technology-company-has-died/4301357001/|archive-date=July 19, 2021|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=The Providence Journal|quote=...he opened Ted’s Big Boy Restaurants in 1964. He ran them until he bought Gregg's in Warwick in 1972.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=April 23, 1965|title=Welcome to Carnston [advertisement]|page=11|work=The Rhode Island Herald|url=http://www.rijha.org/wp-content/uploads/voiceandherald/1972/1965-4-23.pdf|access-date=July 19, 2021|quote=...Rhode Island's own Ted Fuller was opening a spanking new BIG BOY Restaurant in Cranston, R. I.}}</ref>

{{Anchor|TJs}}
*'''TJ's''' ([[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], [[Batavia, New York|Batavia]] and [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], New York, 1972{{ndash}}?, founded by Anthony T. Kolinski, John Gazda and John Giamartino)<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Gazda v. Kolinski|vol=91|reporter=A.D.2d|opinion=860|court=N.Y. App. Div.|date=1982|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/198295191AD2d860_1406/GAZDA%20v.%20KOLINSKI?|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref> Grew to 9 stores by 1986.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bernhard|first=K|date=April 1986|title=TJ's Big Boy Family Restaurants|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-4-ADVENTURES-OF-THE-BIG-BOY-COMIC-Bobs-Marcs-1984-1986-TJs-Restaurant/333587304977?hash=item4dab5a5211:g:D4QAAOSwKlteqcJF:sc:USPSFirstClass!14075!US!-1|url-status=live|journal=Adventures of the Big Boy|volume=348|pages=back cover|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501024346/https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-4-ADVENTURES-OF-THE-BIG-BOY-COMIC-Bobs-Marcs-1984-1986-TJs-Restaurant/333587304977?hash=item4dab5a5211:g:D4QAAOSwKlteqcJF:sc:USPSFirstClass!14075!US!-1|archive-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> TJ's was purchased by Big Boy (Elias Brothers). Elias closed 4 stores in 1992<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Cliff|date=December 19, 1992|title=2 local Big Boys close; only 2 are left|page=10B|work=Democrat and Chronicle|location=Rochester|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49964377/democrat-and-chronicle/|access-date=May 1, 2020|quote=Big Boys at 1405 E. Ridge Road, Irondequoit, and 1601 Penfield Road, Penfield, are closed ... Elias Brothers' Big Boy Division also closed two stores in the Syracuse area.|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and sold one Syracuse store to a local investor. It closed 3 more Syracuse restaurants in 1994.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gibbs|first=Stephanie|date=November 6, 1992|title=2 Big Boy Restaurants To Close|page=B-6|work=Syracuse Post Standard|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-06-1992-1705288/|access-date=May 1, 2020|via=Newspaperarchive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Nedt|first=Bob|date=December 21, 1994|title=Corporation closes another TJ's Big Boy|work=Syracuse Herald Journal|department=Business|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-dec-21-1994-1705282/|access-date=May 1, 2020|via=Newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Tops}}
*'''Tops''' (Illinois, 1956{{ndash}}1993, founded by Lucian Frejlach<ref>{{cite news | title=Obituary: Lucian Frejlach | newspaper=Oshkosh Northwestern | publisher=Gannett | date=February 9, 2014 | url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenorthwestern/obituary.aspx?pid=169555514 | access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref>) Operated primarily in the [[Chicago metropolitan area|suburbs of Chicago]].<ref name="Tops 1966" >{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=This comic book is a gift from Tops |magazine=Adventures of the Big Boy |issue=126 |edition=Q: Tops Big Boy|date=December 1966 |at=back cover imprint }} Lists eight locations; six are in the Chicago metropolitan area: Norton Grove, La Grange, Aurora, Glen Ellyn, Downer's Grove, Berwyn, and the other two: Springfield, Jacksonville, are in central Illinois.</ref> By 1974, the Chicago area stores became Marc's Big Boys, while the central Illinois units remained Tops.<ref name="Tops 1974">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tops-1974-Big-Boy-Family-Restaurants-Menu-Wisc-Minn-Ill-Iowa/163078390815?hash=item25f83ac41f:g:QCcAAOSwrU1bEyeE|title=Top's 1974 Big Boy Family Restaurants Menu -Wisc., Minn., Ill., Iowa|date=June 2, 2018|website=eBay|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603072104/https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tops-1974-Big-Boy-Family-Restaurants-Menu-Wisc-Minn-Ill-Iowa/163078390815?hash=item25f83ac41f:g:QCcAAOSwrU1bEyeE|archive-date=June 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2018}}</ref>  [Q]

{{Anchor|Totes}}
*'''Tote's''' (Missouri, 1964–197?, founded by Edward R. Todtenbier)<ref name="Totes 1963">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15377534/totes_begins/ |title=New Chain Plans 33 Restaurants |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=June 9, 1963 |page=5F |access-date=November 25, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-27-1967-35251/|title=Tote's Home of the Big Boy New Restaurant Opening [Advertisement]|date=April 27, 1967|work=Saint Charles Journal|page=35|access-date=November 2, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> Todtenbier was a Frisch's franchisee in Anderson, Indiana, and planned to open 33 Tote's Big Boys in Missouri, 9 in the St. Louis area.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15377534/totes_begins/|title=New chain plans 33 restaurants|date=June 9, 1963|work=The St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=December 4, 2017|page=5F|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1972 the Missouri Big Boy territory was reassigned to Shoney's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15493991/shoneys_granted_missouri/|title=Shoney's Big Boy franchise|date=December 6, 1972|work=The St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=December 4, 2017|page=11C|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>  [U]

{{Anchor|Tunes}}
*'''Tune's''' ([[Philadelphia]] and [[Levittown, Pennsylvania]], 1956–1963,<ref name="ren 1956">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15356500/tunes_big_boy_begins/ |title=Real Estate News |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=February 22, 1956 |page=42 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Gaghan 1963">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15351209/shoneys_philadelphia/ |first=Jerry |last=Gaghan |title=Burton May Perform Here |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=December 16, 1963 |page=43 |quote=Alex Schoenbaum ... was in to look over the 50th unit in his chain of Shoney's restaurant drive-in at Cottman Ave. and Roosevelt Blvd. Shoney's first move in linking forces with local operator Jack Engel was a remodeling and expansion of the dining room facilities. |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Shoneys-Tunes 1963">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15353085/shoneys_formerly_tunes/ |title=Applications Now Being Taken ... (Help Wanted Advertisement) |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 8, 1963 |page=37 |quote=...Shoney's Restaurant (formerly Tunes Big Boy) Roosevelt Blvd. at Cottman |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref> founded by Jack Engel<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-dec-07-1957-35242/|title=Levittown Restaurant Opens|date=December 7, 1957|work=Bristol Daily Courier|access-date=December 13, 2017|page=2|via=Newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>) In the mid to late 1950s Alex Schoenbaum seeded various franchises including Tune's.<ref name="ShoneysFranchisees"/><ref>{{cite news |date=September 18, 1959 |title= [Advertisement] We Are Famous! |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201959/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201959%20b%20-%202255.pdf |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=February 10, 2015 }}</ref> Two drive-in restaurants opened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-dec-05-1957-35305/|title=Levittown's Newest Citizen is here [Advertisement]|date=December 5, 1957|work=Bristol Daily Courier|page=34|access-date=November 2, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> By the early 1960s, the Levittown unit closed<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-apr-15-1959-35218/|title=Big Boy Restaurant Discontinues Operation|date=April 15, 1959|work=Bristol Daily Courier|page=3|access-date=November 2, 2016|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref> and the other was rebranded as Shoney's.

{{Anchor|Vips}}
*'''Vip's''' (New Mexico, Texas,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-aug-29-1963-81887/|title=Restaurant Chain Expands to E.P.|date=August 29, 1963|work=El Paso Herald Post|access-date=September 9, 2016|page=32|quote=VIP's Big Boy restaurants of New Mexico, Inc. today announced a merger with the Big Boy restaurant organization in El Paso, which will serve as headquarters for expansion throughout West Texas. ... The firm has taken over a restaurant at 8409 Dyer Street formerly known as Kip's Big Boy Restaurant.|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]}}</ref> Wyoming,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matchbook-Vips-Big-Boy-Hamburgers-Cheyenne-Torrington-WY-FULL-/121690863841?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c555738e1 |title=Matchbook - Vip's Big Boy Hamburgers Cheyenne Torrington WY FULL |website=eBay |access-date=July 28, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150728112056/http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matchbook-Vips-Big-Boy-Hamburgers-Cheyenne-Torrington-WY-FULL-/121690863841?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c555738e1 |archive-date= July 28, 2015}}</ref> 1962{{ndash}}1982. founded by Daniel T. Hogan and James O'Conner<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jan-19-1962-267458/|title=New Restaurant Is Planned Here|date=January 19, 1962|work=[[Albuquerque Journal]]|publisher=Journal Publishing Co.|location=Albuquerque|page=2|via=[[newspaperarchive.com]]|access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref>) Vip's refers to two distinct restaurant chains. The Big Boy franchisee relevant here, ''Vip's Big Boy of New Mexico'', was acquired by JB's Big Boy in 1972 but continued using the Vip's name until rebranded in 1982.<ref>{{cite news | author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | date=September 1, 1972 | title=JB's Big Boy Plans Fall Stock Offering | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_iscAAAAIBAJ&pg=5897,418458&dq | newspaper=The Deseret News | location=Salt Lake City | page=4T | access-date=July 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-aug-15-1982-114710/|title=Children's project gets $1,000 gift|date=August 15, 1982|work=Santa Fe New Mexican Sun|access-date=November 2, 2016|page=4|quote=Commenting on the name change from Vip's Big Boy to JB's Big Boy, Clark D. Jones, president of the Salt Lake City-based restaurant chain, said it was done with several new changes in the restaurants and to add more cohesiveness to the operation of the company.|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref><ref name="ar-1974jul03" /> The other, [[VIP's (restaurant)|Vip's Restaurants]] of Salem, Oregon, was ''not'' a Big Boy franchisee but sold units to JB's Big Boy, which operated them as Bob's Big Boy.<ref name="map86" /> The non-Big Boy, Salem-based chain had 53 locations at its peak, all sold and rebranded, including 35 to [[Denny's]] in 1982 and 16 to [[JB's Restaurants|JB's]] in 1984.<ref name="register-guard1984">{{cite news|title=VIP's officials announce sale of restaurants|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OqxQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3629%2C4575781|access-date=June 17, 2013|newspaper=[[The Register-Guard]]|date=August 18, 1984|location=Eugene, Oregon|page=9B}}</ref> [R]

{{Anchor|Yodas}}
*'''Yoda's''' (Western Virginia, founded by Jack Young and Bill Schroeder) Young was Leonard Goldstein's (Lendy's) brother-in-law. Merged with Lendy's.<ref name="lendys2" /><ref name="ShoneysMenu1959" />

=== Outside the United States ===

[[Image:Big Boy Restaurant Chofu Tokyo M3343.jpg|thumb|375px|right|A Big Boy Restaurant in [[Chōfu, Tokyo|Chōfu]], Tokyo, Japan]]

'''Mady's''' Big Boy of [[Windsor, Ontario]], was ''not'' a franchisee, though sometimes identified as one and using a similar looking mascot.<ref>{{cite news| date=March 23, 1968 | title=[Advertisement] Mady's Big Boy Turns Back the Clock on Food Prices! | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=se1fAAAAIBAJ&pg=2508,354702 | newspaper=The Windsor Star| page=D3 | access-date=July 7, 2014}}</ref> In 1965 Bob Wian sued Mady's for trademark infringement but failed because (his) Big Boy was judged not widely known in Canada. The case is considered important in Canadian and international trademark law.<ref>{{cite SAFLII|litigants=McDonald's Corporation v Joburgers Drive-Inn Restaurant (Pty) Ltd. and Another; McDonald's Corporation v Dax Prop CC and Another; McDonald's Corporation v Joburgers Drive-Inn Restaurant (Pty) Ltd. and Another|court=ZASCA|year=1996|num=82|date=August 27, 1996|courtname=auto}}</ref> In 1973 Elias Brothers bought Mady's and established an Elias Big Boy on Mady's original site.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent |first=Jack |title=Business Highlights: Elias Big Boy to open here |newspaper=[[The Windsor Star]] |location=Windsor, ON, Canada |date=December 26, 1973 |page=20 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3DY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=1152,2758584 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> [[John Bitove, Sr.]] owned the rights to Big Boy for the remainder of Canada, which he sold to Elias Brothers in 1979.<ref name="bitove">{{cite web |url=http://www.makemigration.com/aktivnosti/biznismeni/bitof.htm |title=Executive Summary: John Bitove, Sr. |access-date=September 29, 2012}}</ref> During the mid to late 1980's there was one in [[Nassau, Bahamas]].

Big Boy also operated (or planned to open) restaurants in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Brazil, the Philippines and Thailand.<ref>. . .
* {{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19920401&id=R8MfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1530,74229&hl=en|title=Memories of unforgettable food|last=Weir|first=Nancy|date=April 1, 1992|newspaper=Gadsden Times|page=C1|quote=[T]oday there are 963 franchise units in the United States, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia|access-date=March 22, 2016}}
*{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16325758/tallahassee_democrat/|title=Deal brings Big Boys to Spain, Portugal|date=August 17, 1993|work=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=January 8, 2018|department=In Brief|edition=Main|page=6B|via=Newspapers.com}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19980701&id=DkIiAAAAIBAJ&pg=5921,7276&hl=en|title=Big Boy restaurant returns to Owosso|date=July 1, 1998|publisher=The Argus-Press Company|newspaper=The Argus-Press|location=Owosso, MI|edition=180|page=1|quote=Today, Elias Brothers Restaurants, based in Warren, franchises nearly 900 units in the United States, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Brazil and the Philippines.|access-date=March 23, 2016|via=Google News Archive}}
* {{cite magazine|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/9505241361|first=Mark|last=Hamstra|title=Big Boy sets foot on European soil|magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]] |date=May 8, 1995|volume=29|issue=19|access-date=September 7, 2017|via=MasterFILE Premier|url-access=subscription}} {{Subscription or libraries}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=20010620&id=3Ys1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1450,4258773&hl=en|title=Big Boy comic book contest announced|date=June 20, 2001|work=The Argus-Press|publisher=The Argus-Press Company|location=Owosso, MI|page=6|quote=Big Boy Restaurants International LLC is the exclusive worldwide franchiser of more than 455 Big Boy Restaurants in the United States, Japan and Egypt.|access-date=March 23, 2016|via=Google News Archive}}</ref>

====Japan====

{{anchor|Big Boy Japan}}Outside of North America, '''Big Boy Japan''' owns and operates 274 Big Boy Hamburger Steak & Grill Restaurants in Japan. Founded in 1977, Big Boy Japan now also operates 45 [[Victoria Station (restaurant)|Victoria Station]] restaurants in Japan and is a subsidiary of [[Zensho Holdings|Zénsho Holdings Co., Ltd]].<ref name="BigBoyJapanUnits" /><ref name="zensho">{{cite web |url=http://www.zensho.co.jp/en/group/fr/bb.html |title=Zensho Group: Big Boy, Hamburger Steak & Grill Restaurant |website=Zénsho Holdings Company |access-date=December 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009151203/http://www.zensho.co.jp/en/group/fr/bb.html|archive-date=October 9, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Matsutani |first=Minoru |date=January 25, 2011 |title=Family restaurants falling from flavor |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2011/01/25/reference/family-restaurants-falling-from-flavor |newspaper=[[Japan Times]] |location=Tokyo |publisher=Toshiaki Ogasawara |access-date=July 7, 2014}}</ref> The Japanese Big Boy Restaurants do not offer the Big Boy hamburger or most other American Big Boy menu items, offering a distinct menu instead.<ref name="bbjapan">{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.bigboyjapan.co.jp/ |title=Big Boy Japan Menu Items |publisher=Big Boy Japan |access-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> They also offer beer and wine.<ref name="bbjapan" /> Zensho had purchased Big Boy Japan from the ailing [[Daiei]] in 2002 for 8.65 billion yen.<ref name="cnn-2002dec01">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/BUSINESS/asia/12/01/japan.daiei/index.html |title=Daiei seen selling restaurant chains |website=[[CNN]] |date=December 1, 2002 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name="jwm-2002dec09">{{cite news |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Daiei+to+sell+2+units+to+Zensho+group.-a095100576 |title=Daiei to sell 2 units to Zensho group |work=Japan Weekly Monitor |date=December 9, 2002 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref> Like Frisch, Big Boy Japan operates independently of the Big Boy Restaurant Group.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mashed.com/176193/the-untold-truth-of-big-boy/ |title=The Untold Truth Of Big Boy |first=Justina |last=Huddleston |date=November 22, 2019 |work=[[Mashed.com]]}}</ref>

====Southeast Asia and Western Pacific====
{{anchor|Big Boy Thailand}}In 2019, Singapore-based Destination Eats signed a franchise agreement with the Big Boy Restaurant Group to initially open restaurants in Thailand,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/big-boy-joining-bangkoks-burger-battles/ |title='Big Boy' to join Bangkok's burger battles |date=July 10, 2019 |work=[[Coconuts Bangkok]]}}</ref> and later in Australia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines.<ref name="dtn-2020-08-28">{{cite news |url=https://destinationthailandnews.com/lifestyle-news/dining-out-take-away/destination-eats-debuts-big-boy-brand-in-thailand-with-delivery.html |title=Destination Eats Debuts Big Boy Brand In Thailand With Delivery |date=August 28, 2020 |work=Destination Thailand News |access-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726160411/https://destinationthailandnews.com/lifestyle-news/dining-out-take-away/destination-eats-debuts-big-boy-brand-in-thailand-with-delivery.html |url-status=dead }}</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>{{cite news |url=https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/food/2020/05/26/we-tried-big-boy-burger-heres-how-michigan-tastes-in-bangkok/ |title=We Tried Big Boy Burger – Here's How Michigan Tastes in Bangkok |first=Asaree |last=Thaitrakulpanich |date=May 26, 2020 |newspaper=[[Khaosod English]]}}</ref> A second restaurant was opened in [[Pattaya]] in October 2020.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 2020|title=Big Mouth Burger|work=Pattaya News Flash|url=http://www.pattayanewsflash.com/2020/october.html|access-date=July 14, 2021}}</ref> The company is obligated to open 70 restaurants in its overall territory.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Michaels|first=Laura|date=September 28, 2020|title=Big Boy Restaurants arrives in Thailand as brand plans U.S. revival|url=https://www.franchisetimes.com/international_franchising/big-boy-restaurants-arrives-in-thailand-as-brand-plans-u-s-revival/article_b50846df-6f7b-5fcd-9ca6-cd037800ceb2.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116201502/https://www.franchisetimes.com/international_franchising/big-boy-restaurants-arrives-in-thailand-as-brand-plans-u-s-revival/article_b50846df-6f7b-5fcd-9ca6-cd037800ceb2.html|archive-date=January 16, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021|website=The Franchise Times}}</ref>

A previous 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">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB955495963493981335 |title=When Small Chains Go Abroad, Culture Clashes Require Ingenuity |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=April 12, 2000 |first=Robert |last=Frank |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|398734798}} |quote="People thought he was a little, well, creepy," says Peter Smythe, the head franchiser for Big Boy restaurants in Thailand, dusting off his giant Big Boy statue on Bangkok's main thoroughfare. "They kept asking me, `Is he a Chinese Ronald McDonald?' " Eventually, a few Thai visitors decided Big Boy was a religious icon and laid bowls of rice and incense at his feet... Culture clashes, food shortages and government run-ins are common. Consider the story of Mr. Smythe and Big Boy, and their five-year journey into the belly of Thailand... Mr. Smythe and Big Boy's 78-year-old patriarch, Louis Elias, flew to Thailand to hammer out a deal, and a beaming Mr. Elias told Mr. Smythe, "This is a great brand. All you have to do is open the door, and they will come!" About a year later, Mr. Smythe, still acting as an adviser, did open the doors. But no one came. "I called Detroit and screamed, `They're not coming! Now what?' " says Mr. Smythe... After interviewing hundreds of customers, Mr. Smythe found multiple reasons... Many explained that they would rather get a sweet satay, noodle bowl or grilled squid on the street for one fifth the price of a greasy burger. "It suddenly dawned on me that, here I was, trying to get a 3,500-year-old culture to eat 64-year-old food," says Mr. Smythe... Mr. Smythe studied the customers who were walking past his restaurants and discovered that they fell into two broad categories: European tourists and Thai young people, including a large number of the young women who work in nearby bars. With help from a Swiss chef, Mr. Smythe filled the menu with Germanic specialties like spatzle, beef and chocolate cake. For the Thais, he added country-style specialties like fried rice and pork omelets. He also added sugar and chile powder to Big Boy's burgers to better match Thai taste buds. Yet the restaurants now make over half their money from Thai food, and the rest from European dishes and the occasional milk shake or burger. "We thought we were bringing American food to the masses," he says. "But now we're bringing Thai and European food to the tourists. It's strange, but you know what? It's working."}}</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>{{Cite book|last=Gillespie|first=Kate|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQYXCgAAQBAJ&dq=big+boy+thailand&pg=PA86|title=Global Marketing|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2015|isbn=9781317508335|pages=86}}</ref>

=== Big Boy Restaurants International ===
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">{{cite magazine|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/21789414|first=Jack|last=Hayes|title=Family brands undergo updates to meet diners' changing needs|magazine=[[Nation's Restaurant News]]|date=July 24, 2006|volume=40|issue=30|page=78|quote=...the chain now boasts approximately 175 directly franchised and company-owned locations...|access-date=September 7, 2017|via=MasterFILE Premier}}{{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">{{Cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/04/01/detroit-islandview-big-boy-closing/99911836/|title=Death of Detroit's last Big Boy sparks east side angst|last=Aguilar|first=Louis|date=April 1, 2017|work=Detroit News|access-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401231654/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/04/01/detroit-islandview-big-boy-closing/99911836/|archive-date=April 1, 2017|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> The Big Boy in [[Fenton, Michigan]], was expected to close in 2017.<ref name="Fenton">{{Cite news|url=http://www.tctimes.com/news/people-love-their-big-boy/article_9e6bd9ce-ff7e-11e6-a2b7-43ce4a2a5ff8.html|title=People love their Big Boy|last=Rummell|first=Sally|date=March 2, 2017|work=Tri-County Times|access-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409171740/http://www.tctimes.com/news/people-love-their-big-boy/article_9e6bd9ce-ff7e-11e6-a2b7-43ce4a2a5ff8.html|archive-date=April 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</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, Illinois|Danville]] Big Boy, the only unit in Illinois, dropped Big Boy and rebranded as the Border Cafe.<ref name="Danville">{{Cite news|url=http://www.commercial-news.com/news/local_news/big-boy-restaurant-gets-new-name/article_08147fbe-a264-5acf-90d5-b524ec27ca47.html|title=Big Boy Restaurant gets new name|last=Bailey|first=Jennifer|date=April 13, 2017|work=Danville Commercial News|access-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311204434/http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3AEQU0dkA7YJMJ%3Awww.commercial-news.com%2Fnews%2Flocal_news%2Fbig-boy-restaurant-gets-new-name%2Farticle_08147fbe-a264-5acf-90d5-b524ec27ca47.html+&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|quote=[T]he restaurant no longer has a contract with Big Boy and the owners are opening their own restaurant at 369 Lynch Rd.<br />{{in5}}The name of the restaurant will now be Border Cafe.}}</ref> In 2016 both the [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]], restaurant (on North Zeeb Road)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/04/ann_arbor_area_big_boy_closes.html|title=Ann Arbor area Big Boy closes suddenly|last=Durr|first=Matt|date=April 21, 2016|work=[[Booth Newspapers|MLive.com]]|access-date=April 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006173233/http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/04/ann_arbor_area_big_boy_closes.html|archive-date=October 6, 2016|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref> and the restaurant in [[Houghton Lake, Michigan]] continued to operate but not as Big Boy restaurants.<ref name="Closings 2016">. . .
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2016/09/jackson_1.html|title=Big Boy in Jackson closes its doors|last=DesOrmeau|first=Taylor|date=September 26, 2016|newspaper=Jackson Citizen Patriot|quote=[The Jackson, Michigan] Big Boy officially closed Monday, Sept. 26, [2016]. ... The restaurant opened as a Big Boy between 1960 and 1961, the source said.|access-date=October 19, 2016}}
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.houghtonlakeresorter.com/news/2016-10-06/Front_Page/GOODBYE_BIG_BOY.html|title=Goodbye Big Boy|last=Reznich|first=Thomas|date=October 6, 2016|work=Houghton Lake Resorter|access-date=October 18, 2016|quote=The Big Boy that graced the top of the Big Boy restaurant sign on M-55 at Houghton Lake was lowered to the ground Oct. 3.... Libby Whittington, daughter of restaurant building owner Barb Whittington, ... said the restaurant will continue to operate, but will now be known as Mikey's.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709173153/http://www.houghtonlakeresorter.com/news/2016-10-06/Front_Page/GOODBYE_BIG_BOY.html|archive-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Tecumseh, Michigan|Tecumseh]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20170108/tecumseh-big-boy-to-drop-franchise-affiliation|title=Tecumseh Big Boy to drop franchise affiliation|last=Shapiro|first=Dmitriy|work=[[The Daily Telegram]]|access-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507122903/http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20170108/tecumseh-big-boy-to-drop-franchise-affiliation|archive-date=May 7, 2017|url-status=live|language=en|quote=The family-owned restaurant on M-50 on the western edge of Tecumseh is planning not to renew its contract when the current 20-year franchise agreement expires Nov. 1.<br />{{in5}}[The owners] said ... they felt that it was the right time to move on when 'six or seven years' prior, the company told its franchisees to undertake a complete renovation if they wanted a new contract ... adding that most of the franchises appear to be making the same decision.'}}</ref> and [[Alma, Michigan]]<ref name="Bradley 2017">{{cite news|last=Bradley|first=Sean|date=October 24, 2017|title=Big Boy in Alma renovation ongoing, plans to reopen as 'Piper's' next year|work=Morning Sun|location=Mount Pleasant, MI|url=http://www.themorningsun.com/general-news/20171024/big-boy-in-alma-renovation-ongoing-plans-to-reopen-as-pipers-next-year|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113011617/http://www.themorningsun.com/general-news/20171024/big-boy-in-alma-renovation-ongoing-plans-to-reopen-as-pipers-next-year|archive-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> restaurants announced they will allow their franchise agreements to expire on November 1, 2017, and early 2018, respectively, and both will continue to operate independently. The [[Marine City, Michigan]] Big Boy closed in February 2018, to reopen independently by a new owner.<ref name="Shepard 2018">{{Cite news|last=Shepard|first=Liz|date=February 13, 2018|title=Marine City Big Boy sold, will reopen as Valentino's|language=en|work=The Times Herald|location=Port Huron, Michigan|url=https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/marine-city/2018/02/13/marine-city-big-boy-sold-reopen-valentinos/332698002/|url-status=live|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311204041/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3AuzxXnMxPyEIJ%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimesherald.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fmarine-city%2F2018%2F02%2F13%2Fmarine-city-big-boy-sold-reopen-valentinos%2F332698002%2F+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|archive-date=March 11, 2018|quote=The Marine City Big Boy closed its doors Monday evening [February 12, 2018].}}</ref> However, in the same month, Big Boy added a new franchisee, an existing restaurant reopening as a Big Boy, in [[Woodhaven, Michigan]].<ref name="Martin 2018">{{Cite news|last=Harrison-Martin|first=Jackie|date=February 27, 2018|title=Big Boy shares big news; franchise takes over old Toast Restaurant building in Woodhaven|language=en|work=News-Herald|location=Southgate, Michigan|url=http://www.thenewsherald.com/news/business/big-boy-shares-big-news-franchise-takes-over-old-toast/article_777885f4-ce7d-5a62-a38f-f29e10350688.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302181104/http://www.thenewsherald.com/news/business/big-boy-shares-big-news-franchise-takes-over-old-toast/article_777885f4-ce7d-5a62-a38f-f29e10350688.html|archive-date=March 2, 2018}}</ref> In April 2018, the [[Coldwater, Michigan]] location closed, media sources noting multiple health code violations and poor customer reviews.<ref name="Reid 2018">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/20180403/big-boy-restaurant-closes|title=Big Boy restaurant closes|last=Reid|first=Don|date=April 3, 2018|work=[[The Daily Reporter (Coldwater)|The Daily Reporter]]|access-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405165849/http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/20180403/big-boy-restaurant-closes|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live|location=Coldwater, Michigan}}</ref><ref name="Delaney 2018">{{Cite web|url=http://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2018/apr/03/big-boy-restaurant-in-coldwater-closes-monday/|title=Big Boy restaurant in Coldwater closes Monday|last=Delaney|first=Ken|date=April 3, 2018|website=[[WTVB]] AM|location=Coldwater, Michigan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405170304/http://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2018/apr/03/big-boy-restaurant-in-coldwater-closes-monday/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref>

Company-owned restaurants have also closed for under-performance.<ref name="Mt Clemens">{{cite news|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20170901/big-boy-in-mount-clemens-closes-after-40-years|title=Big Boy in Mount Clemens closes after 40 years|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|date=September 1, 2017|work=The Macomb Daily|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311204713/http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20170901/big-boy-in-mount-clemens-closes-after-40-years|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|publisher=Digital First Media|location=Township, MI|quote=[T]he eatery closed after the last shift on Sunday night [August 27, 2017].}}</ref><ref name="Eastpointe">{{cite news|url=http://www.macombdaily.com/lifestyle/20170906/big-boy-on-gratiot-in-eastpointe-also-shuts-down|title=Big Boy on Gratiot in Eastpointe also shuts down|last=Hotts|first=Mitch|date=September 6, 2017|work=[[The Macomb Daily]]|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311205207/http://www.macombdaily.com/lifestyle/20170906/big-boy-on-gratiot-in-eastpointe-also-shuts-down|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live|publisher=Digital First Media|location=Township, MI|quote=The landmark Big Boy on Gratiot Avenue near Nine Mile Road closed in August [2017].}}</ref><ref name="Westland">{{Cite news|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/big-boy-restaurant-westland-closes|title=Big Boy restaurant in Westland closes|last=Jibrell|first=Anisa|date=July 19, 2019|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=July 23, 2019|quote=Its last day of business was July 15 [2019]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Big Boy Restaurant Group ===
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, Michigan|Southfield]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://www.bigboy.com/contact-us/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902200416/http://www.bigboy.com/contact-us/ |archive-date=September 2, 2014 |website=Big Boy |quote=4199 Marcy St. Warren, MI 48091}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In August 2020, a partnership was announced with [[Terrible Herbst]] to expand into [[Southern Nevada]].<ref name="Bradley-Nevada">{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Bradley|date=December 2, 2020|title=Big Boy Returns to Nevada With Classic Burgers and Shakes|url=https://vegas.eater.com/2020/12/2/21825180/big-boy-opens-indian-springs-nevada|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614210540/https://vegas.eater.com/2020/12/2/21825180/big-boy-opens-indian-springs-nevada|archive-date=June 14, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=Eater Las Vegas}}</ref> On November 8, 2020, the first Big Boy restaurant opened in [[Indian Springs, Nevada]].<ref name="Rzucidlo-Nevada">{{Cite web|last=Rzucidlo|first=Jason|date=December 16, 2020|title=PHOTOS: Big Boy restaurant opens for business in Indian Springs, NV|url=https://americajr.com/news/2020/12/16/photos-big-boy-restaurant-opens-for-business-in-indian-springs-nv/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125100217/https://americajr.com/news/2020/12/16/photos-big-boy-restaurant-opens-for-business-in-indian-springs-nv/|archive-date=January 25, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=AmericaJR|quote=The restaurant opened for the first time on Nov. 8, 2020.}}</ref> A second Big Boy opened in May 2022 in the Centennial Hills neighborhood of [[Las Vegas]];<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Bradley|date=September 21, 2020|title=Bob's Big Boy to Bring Its Famed Burgers and Shakes to Centennial Hills|url=https://vegas.eater.com/2020/9/21/21447957/bobs-big-boy-opening-2021-centennial-hills|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623050028/https://vegas.eater.com/2020/9/21/21447957/bobs-big-boy-opening-2021-centennial-hills|archive-date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=Eater Las Vegas}}</ref> called Big Boy Tavern, it includes a bar and small casino area.<ref name="Thilmont-Las-Vegas">{{cite news | last = Thilmont | first = Greg | title = Big Boy classic food finds a new spot in the Las Vegas Valley | newspaper = Las Vegas Review-Journal | date = May 20, 2022 | url = https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/food/big-boy-classic-food-finds-a-new-spot-in-the-las-vegas-valley-2579726/
| access-date = May 26, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Lilly-Las-Vegas">{{cite web | url = https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/05/23/big-boy-tavern-opens-northwest-las-vegas-valley/ | title = Big Boy Tavern opens in northwest Las Vegas Valley | last = Lilly | first = Caitlin | date = May 23, 2022 | website = Fox 5, KVVU-TV | access-date = May 26, 2022}}</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>{{Cite web|last=Anderegg|first=Brandon|date=June 7, 2021|title=Big Boy franchise returns to Wisconsin after 26 years|url=https://biztimes.com/big-boy-franchise-returns-to-wisconsin-after-26-years/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623044812/https://biztimes.com/big-boy-franchise-returns-to-wisconsin-after-26-years/|archive-date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=BizTimes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Steffes|first=Judy|date=June 17, 2021|title=Press conference at 5:30 p.m. as Big Boy to open in Germantown|url=https://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com/big-boy-wisconsin-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623045353/https://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com/big-boy-wisconsin-2/|archive-date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=Washington County Insider}}</ref> The grand opening was pushed back to July 21 due to equipment shipping delays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/bestburgerwi/photos/a.247118575463901/1901696480006094/  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/125003174342109/1901696480006094 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=NEW grand opening date |work=Wisconsin Big Boy |date=July 7, 2021 |via=FaceBook}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Big Boy Restaurants International tried a new [[fast casual restaurant|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>{{Cite web |url=http://burgersandshakes.com/ |title=Big Boy's Burgers and Shakes |website=burgersandshakes.com |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730232011/http://bigboyburgersandshakes.com/ |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Fenton" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/2016/02/big_boy.html |title=Big Boy is back with opening of restaurant in Mayfield Heights |date=February 9, 2016 |first= Jeff |last=Piorkowski |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]}}</ref> The restaurant was closed by January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=B|first=Krista|date=March 1, 2021|title=Big Boy's Burgers and Shakes / Reviews|url=https://restaurantguru.com/Big-Boys-Burgers-and-Shakes-Mayfield-Heights/reviews?bylang=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719133135/https://restaurantguru.com/Big-Boys-Burgers-and-Shakes-Mayfield-Heights/reviews?bylang=1|archive-date=July 19, 2021|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=Restaurant Guru|quote=Closed permanently! 1/29/20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=gorden654|title=Big Boy's Burgers and Shakes|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g50623-d9981019-Reviews-Big_Boy_s_Burgers_and_Shakes-Mayfield_Heights_Ohio.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719135607/https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g50623-d9981019-Reviews-Big_Boy_s_Burgers_and_Shakes-Mayfield_Heights_Ohio.html|archive-date=July 19, 2021|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=Tripadvisor|quote=Just returned home with our take-out order.... Date of visit: August 2019}}</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 in Michigan|COVID-19]] restrictions.  It now operates as Sandusky Family Diner.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murdock|first=Riley|date=December 15, 2020|title=Former Thumb-area Big Boy temporarily shuts down after court order, owner says|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/12/former-thumb-area-big-boy-temporarily-shuts-down-after-court-order-owner-says.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225174523/https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/12/former-thumb-area-big-boy-temporarily-shuts-down-after-court-order-owner-says.html|archive-date=February 25, 2021|access-date=April 7, 2021|website=MLive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 27, 2020|title=Michigan Big Boy owner to terminate franchise agreement due to corporate legal action|url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/coronavirus/michigan-big-boy-owner-to-terminate-franchise-agreement-due-to-corporate-legal-action|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124025335/https://www.wxyz.com/news/coronavirus/michigan-big-boy-owner-to-terminate-franchise-agreement-due-to-corporate-legal-action|archive-date=January 24, 2021|access-date=April 7, 2021|website=WXYZ (TV)}}</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, Michigan|Farmington]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metrotimes.com/food-drink/new-fast-food-bobs-big-boy-spin-off-coming-to-metro-detroit-33410831 | title=New fast-food 'Bob's Big Boy' spin-off coming to metro Detroit }}</ref> and [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thegame730am.com/familiar-michigan-restaurant-brand-replacing-zeus-in-south-lansing/ | title=Familiar Michigan Restaurant Brand Replacing Zeus' in South Lansing | date=June 12, 2023 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of hamburger restaurants]]
* [[List of casual dining restaurant chains]]
* [[List of franchises]]

{{Portal bar|Food|United States|Los Angeles|Michigan|California|Companies}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="Searl 1986">{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jun-09-1986-145884//|title=Big Boy's original Bob takes it easy in Newport|last=Searl|first=Laura|date=June 9, 1986|access-date=February 16, 2017|location=Santa Ana, CA|via=newspaperarchive.com|newspaper=Orange County Register}}</ref>

<ref name="Lawrence 1958">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19581216&id=OexQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6932,3358626&hl=en|title=From Dishwasher to Owner of Chain of Restaurants Is the Story of Bob Wian|last=Lawrence|first=Larry|date=December 16, 1958|access-date=January 12, 2018|publisher=The Journal Company|via=GoogleNews|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="Finneman 1967">{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jan-26-1967-130685//|title=Big Boy Founder Turns $350 into $225 Million Business|last=Finneman|first=John T.|date=January 26, 1967|work=Racine Journal-Times|page=6A|access-date=February 26, 2017|via=newspaperarchive.com}}</ref>

<ref name="Hansen 2002">{{cite book | last=Hansen | first=Christian | title=The Big Boy Story: "King of Them All" | year=2002 | publisher=Haagen Printing | location=Santa Barbara | isbn=978-0967194363 | quote=(page 75) On a plane trip to Keene, New Hampshire ... to visit with [Big Boy] franchisee Manfred Bernhard, creator of the Big Boy Comic Book. ... Manfred greeted us at the plane in his car, loaded us in, and we drove in an opposite direction to his restaurant, Mr. 'B's'. }}</ref>

<ref name="Miller 1996">{{Cite news|url=http://cbgxtra.com/columnists/john-jackson-miller-longbox-manifesto/cbg-1192-96-end-of-an-era-for-king-of-the-giveaways|title=End of an Era for King of the Giveaways|last=Miller|first=John Jackson|date=September 20, 1996|work=Comics Buyers Guide|access-date=April 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126090326/http://cbgxtra.com/columnists/john-jackson-miller-longbox-manifesto/cbg-1192-96-end-of-an-era-for-king-of-the-giveaways|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=live|issue=1192}}</ref>

<ref name="comicguysince1977 2019">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/1977-Big-Boy-Restaurants-comic-book-ADVENTURES-OF-THE-BIG-BOY-237-comics-MLK/303347674195?hash=item46a0ee2c53:g:NxQAAOSw0ThdhlYk|title=1977 Big Boy Restaurants comic book ADVENTURES OF THE BIG BOY #237 comics MLK|last=comicguysince1977|date=November 7, 2019|website=eBay|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107124056/https://www.ebay.com/itm/1977-Big-Boy-Restaurants-comic-book-ADVENTURES-OF-THE-BIG-BOY-237-comics-MLK/303347674195?hash=item46a0ee2c53:g:NxQAAOSw0ThdhlYk|archive-date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite book | author=Hansen, Christian | title=The Big Boy Story: "King of Them All" | publisher=Haagen Printing | year=2002 | isbn=978-0967194363}}
* {{cite book | author=Langdon, Philip | title=Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: The Architecture of American Chain Restaurants | publisher=Knopf | year=1986 | isbn=978-0394741291}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Big Boy restaurants}}
; Official Big Boy company sites
* [https://bigboy.com/ Big Boy Restaurant Group]
* [https://www.frischs.com/ Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505232023/http://www.frischs.com/ |date=May 5, 2012 }}
* [https://www.bigboyjapan.co.jp/ Big Boy (Restaurants) Japan] [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.bigboyjapan.co.jp/ partial English translation by Google]
* [https://www.bobs.net/ Bob's Big Boy Restaurant, Burbank, CA]
* [https://bismarckbigboy.com/ Bismarck Big Boy, Bismarck, ND]
* [https://wibigboy.com/ Wisconsin Big Boy, Germantown, WI]
* [https://bigboy.co.th Big Boy Thailand]

; Other sites
* The Elby's (Big Boy) Empire. Part [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-1/ 1]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-2/ 2]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-3/ 3]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-4/ 4]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-5/ 5]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-6-rumors-truth/ 6]  [http://weelunk.com/the-elbys-empire-part-7-could-it-work-today/ 7]
* [http://www.roadsidepeek.com/coffeeeats/coffeeshop/bigboy/index.htm Roadside Peek: Big Boy] [http://www.roadsidepeek.com/rpeekeast/eatseast/bigboyeast/index.htm Big Boy East] [http://www.roadsidepeek.com/coffeeeats/coffeeshop/bigboy/bigboyjapan/index.htm Big Boy Japan]
* [http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/bigboy.html RoadsideArchitecture: Big Boy] [http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/bigboy2.html Frisch's Big Boy]
* [http://retroweb.com/oldroanoke/lendys/index.html Lendy's Web Pages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104185425/http://retroweb.com/oldroanoke/lendys/index.html |date=January 4, 2022 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150701113131/http://www.googieart.com/main02.htm Armet & Davis restaurant design renderings for Bob's Big Boy] [https://web.archive.org/web/20150104130417/http://www.googieart.com/Main03.htm for Azar's Big Boy] [https://web.archive.org/web/20150104130855/http://www.googieart.com/main04.htm for Frisch's Big Boy] [https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064412/http://www.googieart.com/Main05.htm for Kip's Big Boy]

{{Food chains in Japan}}
{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Boy (Restaurant)}}
[[Category:Big Boy Restaurants| ]]
[[Category:History of Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Restaurants in California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Macomb County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Warren, Michigan]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Michigan]]
[[Category:Economy of the Midwestern United States]]
[[Category:Culture of the Midwestern United States]]
[[Category:Regional restaurant chains in the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1936]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000]]
[[Category:Drive-in restaurants]]
[[Category:Hamburger restaurants in the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurant franchises]]
[[Category:Buffet restaurants]]
[[Category:Michigan culture]]
[[Category:Theme restaurants]]
[[Category:Marriott International brands]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1936]]
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[[Category:Male characters in advertising]]
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