| Eateries |
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| BIG BOY (page 1) |
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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 chains like McDonald's, Wian did not require uniformity and 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 adding the Big Boy character and "Home of the Big Boy" to their signage 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. |
| 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 |
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Boomers Bike Shop, a motorcycle store, has turned this Big Boy into Biker Boy. The statue is about 9' 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. |
| 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 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]
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 Plymouth Road Livonia, MI |
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| Big Boy Farmington Road Livonia, MI |
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| Big Boy Ann Arbor, MI |
Big Boy Pittsfield Township, MI |
Big Boy Mason, 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.
This Plymouth Road location features a nice revolving Big Boy statue atop their old sign. The Big Boy in front of the restaurant holds his suspenders instead of a burger. This Farmington Road location features an original building with stonework, Big Boy's unique mid-century roof, and a fairly intact interior. These Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, and Mason locations feature Big Boys in front of their restaurants. The Pittsfield Township location was built in 2005. The Chesterfield Big Boy is mounted above the sign and rotates. 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 photos, thanks Mark Comstock] |
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More Big Boy statues
Willimantic, CT Sault Ste. Marie, MI [gone] St. Ignace, MI Charleston, WV: 1, 2 |
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Big Boy page 2 |
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