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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Big Boy (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
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Bob's Big Boy and Big Boy restaurants started with Bob's Pantry in 1936 when founder Bob Wian bought a local Glendale restaurant. Wian supposedly originated the double-decker hamburger and came up with the Big Boy character. Bob's Big Boy became a California chain and began franchising in the 1940s. Unlike other chains like McDonald's, Wian did not require uniformity. Franchise owners were free to name their restaurants whatever they wanted. The restaurants were known as Frisch's Big Boy in Ohio and Elias Brothers Big Boy in Michigan.
The Elias brothers had their own restaurants before becoming a Big Boy franchisee in 1952. They kept the Elias name and added the Big Boy character and "Home of the Big Boy" to their signs and advertising. In 1987, they acquired the Big Boy chain's franchise rights from Marriott Corp. Big Boy is now Michigan-based and has about 450 restaurants in CA, AZ, HI, ND, IL, MI, OH and NC. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| former Bob's Big Boy Los Angeles, CA |
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| This former Bob's Big Boy now houses Panang Restaurant. It was originally known as the Hinky Dick restaurant. It became a Bob's Big Boy in 1937. It closed in the mid-1970s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Bob's Big Boy Burbank, CA |
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| This Bob's Big Boy was designed by Wayne Mc Allister and built in 1949. It is the oldest restaurant left in the chain. The building was saved in the early 1990s and restored to its original design. It is now the top revenue-producing Big Boy in the country. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| Boomers Bike Shop Clarkston, MI |
Hi-Boy Sandwich Shop Lyndonville, VT |
former Big Boy Northridge, CA |
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Boomers Bike Shop, a motorcycle store, has turned this Big Boy into Biker Boy. The statue is about nine feet tall.
The Hi-Boy Sandwich Shop has a Big Boy statue on the roof, altered to hold a plate with a sandwich. There are three Hi-Boy Drive-ins in Independence, MO using Big Boy images. I don't know if this place is related or just coincidence. For more, see this website. The arm of a former Big Boy statue has been put to use as a mailbox at this residence. |
| Nick's Barbecue Burbank, IL |
Dari Joy Bellows Falls, VT |
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Nick's Barbecue features a Big Boy-like statue. I don't know whether it was inspired by the Big Boy statue or if it is actually one that has been heavily adapted. Nick's Barbecue has another location in Palos Heights, IL but it doesn't appear to have a statue like this one.
Dari Joy has been serving ice cream here since 1952. They have had the Big Boy (nicknamed "Big Joy Boy"), altered to wave, on the roof since the 1960s. I believe he gets put in storage for winter. For more, see this website. [photo at right thanks DinerFan] |
| Bob's Big Boy Hesperia, CA |
Bob's Big Boy Alhambra, CA |
Bob's Big Boy St. Louis, MO |
Kennedy's Cakes and Donuts Cambridge, OH |
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This Bob's Big Boy (#188) opened in 1982, closed in 2001, and reopened in 2003. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
The Bob's Big Boy statue in Alhambra is located inside Noodle World. The building had housed a Big Boy restaurant until 1996. Noodle World's owner bought the statue at a flea market. He pays Big Boy $1 per year for the right to display the statue. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. This St. Louis Big Boy is at the City Museum. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] Kennedy's Cakes and Donuts has a repainted Bob's Big Boy statue next to their building. His hamburger leaned against the side of the building when I was there. I don't know if it is being repaired or if they are preparing to put something more appropriate atop his hand. The classic Big Boy statue is 10' tall and holds a 40" hamburger. |
| Big Boy Livonia, MI |
Big Boy Brighton, MI |
Big Boy Coldwater, MI |
Big Boy Fenton, MI |
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| Big Boy Alma, MI |
Big Boy Detroit, MI |
Big Boy Mason, MI |
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| Big Boy Novi, MI |
Big Boy Ann Arbor, MI |
Big Boy Pittsfield Township, MI |
Big Boy Chesterfield, MI |
Big Boy Milan, MI |
Big Boy Waterford, MI |
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There are still lots of old Big Boy restaurants in Michigan and they are still being built.
The Livonia location features a revolving Big Boy statue on top of its sign. I don't know of any other Big Boy's that have a sign like this or if this one was unique. The Big Boy statue in front of the restaurant holds both of his suspenders instead of a burger. I believe this is an older, rarer 1950s Big Boy statue. There is also another sign on the sidestreet entrance that I missed. For more, see this website. The Brighton location's statue also still revolves. There are still a few signs of this design in Michigan. The Coldwater statue is installed on top of the restaurant's sign. For more, see this website. I believe this Alma sign is the only one of its kind left. The Detroit Big Boy statue still revolves on top of the sign. This is the only Big Boy location in Detroit. The Novi Big Boy statue is believed to have come from a Saginaw location which closed. The Ann Arbor Big Boy features a "Suspenders Bob" like the one in Livonia shown above. The Pittsfield Township and Mason locations feature Big Boy statues in front of their restaurants. The Pittsfield Township location was built in 2005. The Chesterfield Big Boy statue spins above the sign. The Milan Big Boy statue has been here since at least the 1980s. The Waterford Big Boy statue is another oldie perched on top of a sign. [bottom row of photos & Mason Bob in the snow photo, thanks Mark Comstock] |
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More Big Boy statues
Norco, CA Willimantic, CT Denver, CO Sault Ste. Marie, MI [gone] St. Ignace, MI Kaatsheuvel, Holland |
| Big Boy Farmington, MI |
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| This Big Boy is still housed in one of the very rare, old-style buildings. There is a statue of Bob in front of the building. The old sign has been replaced with a modern, plastic one. |
| former Big Boy Wayne, MI |
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| This former Big Boy restaurant was vacant in 2005 when the top two rows of photos were taken. The interior has been gutted and the building was still vacant in 2011 when the bottom photo was taken. I believe Beehive Family Dining was the last occupant. |
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Big Boy page 2 |
Main Eateries Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |