BIG BOY (page 2)

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			Frisch's Big Boy Wilmington, OH	Frisch's Big Boy Hamilton, OH	Frisch's Big Boy Lawrenceburg, IN

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. 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. The Wilmington Frisch's Big Boy features a similar sign, minus the neon. This location also has a Big Boy statue. For more, see this website. 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.

Frisch's Big Boy Milford, OH

This Frisch's Big Boy features an old sign and a vintage Big Boy statue.

Frisch's Big Boy Anderson, IN

This Frisch's Big Boy opened in 1959. This location features a nice mid-century building in addition to its old sign and vintage statue.

Frisch's Big Boy Grove City, OH

This modern Frisch's Big Boy features the newer Big Boy statue. The immediate give-away is the slingshot in his back pocket. The slingshot projects outward from his body in the older statues (see the Milford statue above).

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

former Beehive Family Dining Wayne, MI

The Beehive Family Dining restaurant occupied a former Big Boy (note the roof and stonework). I have not seen a cheese-hole Big Boy sign before so I don't know if this is original. The interior was gutted and the building was being converted into "Hypnotic" (a nightclub?) when I was there in 2005. However, it seems that never happened and the building is still vacant as of 2008. The Beehive seems to have/had two other locations (another one in Wayne and one in Flat Rock) but I don't believe they occupied former Big Boys.

Coco's Restaurant & Bakery Garden Grove, CA	Flames Coffee Shop San Jose, CA

Coco's Restaurant & Bakery occupies a former Big Boy's restaurant. This Armet & Davis design (now remodeled) is from 1958. For more, see this website. The Flames Coffee Shop was originally a Bob's Big Boy. It opened in the mid-1960s and was the first location in Northern CA. 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.

Chapel of Love Las Vegas, NV

The Chapel of Love occupies another former Bob's Big Boy restaurant. Does anyone know more when the Bob's opened/closed and the Chapel took over the building?

Big Boy page 1

Main Eateries Page

Links & Books

[Main Roadside Page] [Home Page]

all photos contained at this website are copyrighted and may be used only with consent