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Big Boy (page 2)

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Frisch's was founded in Cincinnati in 1923. Dave Frisch ran into Bob Wian around 1949 and arranged a franchise. Frisch's used tartar sauce rather than 1,000 Island dressing on their burgers. Frisch's bought the rights to the Big Boy name in late 2000 after the Elias Bros. bankruptcy. There are now 88 company-owned Frisch's and 26 franchise units, all using the Frisch's Big Boy name. They are located in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. For more about Frisch's, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Frisch's Big Boy [gone]
Columbus, OH
The Columbus Frisch's location on Route 40 was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The sign was original but the building had a retro remodeling at some point. The statue appeared to be modern as well. In 2009, the restaurant closed and the building was demolished. The Walgreens which replaced the restaurant adapted the sign. I'm not sure what happened to the statue. This photo shows a Frisch's (most likely gone or remodeled) in Columbus, IN.

Frisch's Big Boy
Wilmington, OH		 Frisch's Big Boy
Moraine, OH		 Frisch's Big Boy
Hamilton, OH		 Frisch's Big Boy
Lawrenceburg, IN		 Mid City Plaza
Owensboro, KY
The Wilmington Frisch's Big Boy features a similar sign to the one in Columbus, minus the neon. This location also has a Big Boy statue. For more, see this website.

The Moraine Frisch's Big Boy sign is another of the same style. Apparently, the top part of these signs revolved originally.

The Hamilton Frisch's Big Boy sign has neon and bulbs which are still lit at night. For more, see this website.

The Lawrenceburg Frisch's Big Boy sign is the same style as the one in New Richmond, OH.

This Mid City Plaza sign appears to be an adapted Frisch's Big Boy sign.

Frisch's Big Boy
Anderson, IN
This Frisch's Big Boy opened in 1959. This location features the original building, sign and statue. This is the oldest Frisch's statue that I know of. Note the Big Boy's striped paints, curved eyebrowns, and projecting slingshot. Later statues had the slingshots flush with the statue's body to prevent them from being broken off. The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati has another old statue with the striped pants.

Frisch's Big Boy
Milford, OH
This Frisch's Big Boy features an old sign like the one in Anderson shown above. These photos are from 2009. In 2008, part of the sign was painted green. This Big Boy statue has the projecting slingshot but wears checkered pants. It might have been repainted. For more, see this website.

Frisch's Big Boy
Fairfax, OH
This Frisch's Big Boy sign was built in the 1950s. The airplanes' propellers spin. Around 2008, the sign was repainted. It was previously green and the planes were white. This is a modern Big Boy statue.

The "Mainliner" name on the sign is a reference to a passenger plane that operated out of Cincinnati's Lunken airfield. Frisch's Mainliner Drive-in opened here in 1939 and was the first drive-in in Cincinnati. Cincinnati's first Big Boy sandwich was sold here in 1946. The current building is from 1988. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Frisch's Big Boy
Grove City, OH
This relatively new Frisch's Big Boy still features the Big Boy statue. Note that this statue has no eyebrows.

More Frisch's Big Boys
Tampa, FL
Indianapolis, IN [gone]
Covington, KY
Louisville, KY [gone]
Bethel, OH
Cincinnati, OH [gone]
Cincinnati, OH: 1, 2 [gone]
Hillsboro, OH
Moraine, OH

Azar's Big Boy
Fort Wayne, IN		 former Parkette Drive-in
Charleston, WV
Big Boy went by the name of Azar's Big Boy in Northern Indiana and Colorado. I believe this is the only Azar's left. In 1954, the first Azar's opened in Fort Wayne but I don't know if this is the same place. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Parkette Drive-in opened here in 1947. In 1954, the owner, Alex Schoenbaum, renamed the restaurant Shoney's Big Boy and began operating other locations as part of the Big Boy chain. There are conflicting reports of just when Shoney's went independent. Some say 1976, others claim it happened in the early 1980s. In 2008, this Big Boy statue was installed on top of a 14 foot tall pedestal as a tribute to Schoenbaum and the Shoney's chain. It was built in the style of the second Parkette Drive-in building which was round. That building was demolished in 1974. The monument functions as the Shoney's Museum with photos and information in the windows of the structure's base.

Big Boy International did not approve of this monument. The company felt that it created confusion about between the two chains and demanded that the statue be removed. In 2009 with the threat of lawsuits, it seemed inevitable that the statue would be removed. Sometime after 2010, the sign on the monument was changed from Shoney's Museum to Parkette. Perhaps that was enough to satisfy Big Boy International. The statue remained in 2012 when these photos were taken. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

former Bob's Big Boy
Garden Grove, CA		 former Bob's Big Boy
San Jose, CA
This former Bob's Big Boy in Garden Grove now houses Coco's Restaurant & Bakery. This Armet & Davis design was developed in 1958. For more, see this website.

This former Bob's Big Boy in San Jose now houses Flames Coffee Shop. This location opened in the mid-1960s and was the first one in Northern California. It closed in the late 1980s. Flames has retained much of the interior and exterior details. The sign was adapted with its spike shortened. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

former Bob's Big Boy
Mesa, AZ
This former Bob's Big Boy now houses Y-Knot Party & Rentals.

former Bob's Big Boy
Las Vegas, NV
This former Bob's Big Boy now houses the Chapel of Love. Does anyone know more when the Bob's opened/closed and the Chapel took over the building?

Big Boy
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