Big Boy (Restaurant)
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The chain is best known for its trademark boy in red and white with suspenders holding a double decker hamburger. (the predecessor of the Big Mac). Children attending some restaurants often received a free comic book chronicling the adventures of Big Boy.
Big Boy is also known for its signature "Big Boy" double decker hamburger, which was a predecessor of the Big Mac. Children attending some restaurants often received a free comic book chronicling the adventures of Big Boy. Advertisements in the comic book implored readers to join the Big Boy Kids Club.
Other Regional Franchises
In addition to the Bob's Big Boy name, the "Big Boy" concept, menu, and mascot were originally franchised to a wide number of regional franchise holders, listed below (with approximate original territory in parentheses). Of these, only Frisch's still maintains franchise rights to the "Big Boy" name, and many of the other former franchise owners (Shoney's, and the original Bob's, for example) have now moved into areas that used to be regional territory for another franchise holder.
- Abdow's (Massachuetts, Connecticut)
- Azar's (Colorado, N. Indiana)
- Bob's (California, Arizona)
- Elias Brothers (Michigan, Ontario)
- Franklin's (?)
- Frisch's (S. Ohio, Kentucky; N. Tennessee, S. Indiana), a Cincinnati restaurant chain, began serving Big Boy hamburgers in 1946, and now franchises a further 88 Big Boys.
- Frisch's Elby's (West Virginia, E. Ohio, Pennsylvania)
- JB's (Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Rhode Island, Arizona, New Mexico)
- Kip's (Texas, Oklahoma)
- Lendy's (Virginia)
- McDowell's (South Dakota)
- Manner's (N. Ohio)
- Marc's (Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota)
- Shoney's(Southeast: S. Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina), founded by and named after Alex Schoenbaum, no longer displays the Big Boy Statue.
- TJ's (New York)
- Top's Drive (Illinois --used Big Boy food but not Big Boy name)
- VIP's (New Mexico)
Trivia
- Filmmaker David Lynch ate lunch at Bob's every day for 7 years. He has personally said the combination of caffeine and sugar from the chocolate shakes and coffee he ordered gave him many ideas for his films.
- In the movie Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and his cat Mr. Bigglesworth make their escape in cryogenic rocket that is the shape of a statue of Big Boy.
External links
- Big Boy Restaurants, official site
- Bob's Big Boy restaurant, Burbank, California, site of oldest remaining Big Boy restaurant. Includes historical information.