Big Boy Restaurants

Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	Casual dining restaurant chain
Founded	1936 in Glendale, California, United States
Founder	Bob Wian
Headquarters	Southfield, Michigan, United States
Area served	United States, Thailand, Japan (Big Boy Japan operates separately)
Key people	Tamer Afr (CEO), Bruce Ferguson (CFO)
Products	Casual dining menu including Big Boy hamburger, Brawny Lad sandwich, Hot Fudge Cake, Slim Jim sandwich, Strawberry pie, Fish and Chips

Big Boy is a casual dining restaurant chain based in Southfield, Michigan, primarily operated by Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC. Established in 1936 by Bob Wian as Bob's Pantry in Glendale, California, the brand has undergone several ownership changes, including periods under Marriott Corporation and Elias Brothers Restaurants. Since 2001, the U.S. trademark ownership has been split: Big Boy Restaurants oversees most regions, while Frisch's Big Boy functions independently in certain Midwestern areas.

By May 2025, Big Boy Restaurant Group manages 61 locations across the United States: 51 branded as "Big Boy" situated in Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, and Ohio; six operating as “Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes” within Frisch’s territory; and four "Bob's Big Boy" restaurants located in California. There is also a single outlet in Thailand. Frisch's controls 31 Big Boy establishments in the U.S., including 13 franchised units. Separately, Big Boy Japan runs 274 restaurants throughout the country.

Leadership includes CEO Tamer Afr, who has been at the helm since 2020, along with CFO Bruce Ferguson. The menu highlights signature offerings such as the Big Boy hamburger, Brawny Lad sandwich, Hot Fudge Cake, Slim Jim sandwich, Strawberry pie, and Fish and Chips.

Big Boy’s strategy centers on franchising combined with regional branding to sustain its presence across various markets. Its organizational framework demonstrates strategic leadership focused on adapting to evolving industry trends and competitive challenges within casual dining. The company continues to capitalize on its historic brand identity while aiming for growth through targeted expansion and revitalization of established locations.

The Big Boy hamburger

The iconic Big Boy hamburger was introduced by founder Bob Wian in 1937 as the first double-decker burger. Originally crafted as a novelty for local musicians, it quickly gained popularity and earned the name "Big Boy." Priced at 15¢ in 1938, by 2018 its cost had risen to $6.49 at Michigan outlets.

Throughout the 1950s to 1970s, various slogans promoted the Big Boy burger, including "A Meal in One on a Double–Deck Bun" and "Twice as Big, Twice as Good." It was advertised as the "...Nationally Famous, Original Double–Deck Hamburger...".

This burger played a significant role in shaping the fast-food landscape by inspiring competitors’ double-decker creations such as McDonald's Big Mac, Burger Chef's Big Shef, and Burger King's Big King.

The sandwich consists of two thin beef patties layered on a three-part bun with lettuce, American cheese, and an assortment of sauces: mayonnaise blended with red relish (pickle relish, ketchup, chili sauce), the chain’s signature "special sauce" (a thousand island-style dressing), or tartar sauce available at select franchises. Initially, it was made with a quarter-pound of freshly ground beef and buns measured to exact specifications to ensure uniformity. Over time, franchisees have been permitted to use frozen patties and reduce beef weight to help offset increasing food expenses.

The Big Boy hamburger remains the sole mandatory item on every franchisee’s menu, highlighting its fundamental importance within the company’s product range and overall business approach.

Other signature menu offerings

In addition to Bob Wian's original hamburger, early Big Boy franchisees introduced their own distinctive menu items. Frisch's created the "Brawny Lad" and "Swiss Miss" burgers, Shoney's featured the "Slim Jim" sandwich along with Hot Fudge Ice Cream Cake, and Eat'n Park became known for its Strawberry Pie. While Hot Fudge Cake and Strawberry Pie remain popular throughout the chain, other selections varied among franchises and were sometimes renamed—for instance, Frisch's rebranded the "Slim Jim" as the "Buddie Boy," and Elby's renamed the "Swiss Miss" burger to "Brawny Swiss."

When franchises parted ways with Big Boy, they typically rebranded the iconic Big Boy hamburger under new titles such as Eat'n Park’s "Superburger," Lendy's "Buddy Boy," Franklin's "Big Ben," and Elby's "Elby Double Deck hamburger." Approximately ten years after leaving the Big Boy system, Shoney's brought back a variation called the "Classic Double Decker."

Currently, Big Boy operates with a broad menu that includes breakfast selections, burgers and sandwiches, salads, dinner plates, and dessert options.

The Big Boy mascot

The company's well-known mascot is a plump boy sporting a pompadour hairstyle and dressed in red-and-white checkered overalls, holding a double-decker cheeseburger. The character and brand name were inspired by Richard Woodruff from Glendale, California, who served as the model when Bob Wian named his new hamburger. The original cartoon figure was created by Warner Bros. animator Ben Washam and became the official trademark symbol.

In 1955, Bob Wian commissioned Manfred Bernhard—son of graphic designer Lucian Bernhard—to refresh the corporate image. Bernhard found Washam’s initial mascot design untidy and redesigned it, producing fiberglass statues, menu layouts, architectural elements, and a comic book to reinforce brand identity.

Distinct franchise versions appeared early on: in 1951, Dave Frisch designed a leaner "East Coast Big Boy" featuring a side cap, saddle shoes, and striped overalls for his franchise. This design was copyrighted by Frisch's and utilized by its subfranchisees Manners and Azar's. Meanwhile, after 1956, other franchisees exclusively adopted Wian’s original "West Coast Big Boy" design.

By the late 1960s, these two mascots were unified into a single design that combined the West Coast’s checkered outfit and pompadour with the East Coast’s running pose. During the 1980s, North American Big Boy locations removed the hamburger from the mascot’s hand to downplay that item and align with Japanese franchises that do not serve hamburgers on buns.

This evolving mascot reflects ongoing strategic branding initiatives aimed at preserving market presence and competitive strength across various regions and international markets.

Big Boy statues

Initial West Coast Big Boy statues stood approximately tall; subsequent models were scaled down to around . Early statues displayed the hamburger held above the raised right arm; later versions replaced it with suspenders gripped in hand. The hamburger remained part of Frisch's East Coast statues, although some have adopted the West Coast style.

Occasionally, these statues have encountered local zoning restrictions. For example, a 7-foot statue in Canton, Michigan faced challenges under sign ordinances but was permitted to stay provided "Big Boy" was removed from its bib. In Brighton, Michigan, zoning issues led to removal of a rotating statue atop a sign before reopening following financial difficulties. Conversely, Norco, California mandated that its statue be dressed in Western attire for approval.

Some customized statues serve promotional roles: near concession areas at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park stands a Frisch’s statue outfitted in a 1970s Reds baseball uniform promoting Frisch’s hamburgers. In Michigan communities such as Manistique and St. Ignace, moose statues wearing checkered overalls symbolize local franchise connections.

In March 2017, Frisch’s unveiled an updated statue blending West Coast elements with original East Coast striped overalls to revitalize brand appearance; these are gradually replacing older figures.

As closures and franchise separations occurred, many West Coast statues transferred into private hands and are now traded online. Smaller collectible replicas are marketed as coin banks and bobbleheads; additionally, the mascot appears on merchandise like ashtrays and salt shakers.

Inflatable Big Boy figures are deployed for marketing events and restaurant openings to enhance brand visibility across global operations.

Adventures of the Big Boy Comic Book

Adventures of the Big Boy served as a complimentary promotional comic provided to children dining at Big Boy restaurants, aimed at entertaining young patrons during meal wait times. The stories featured Big Boy alongside his companion Dolly and their dog Nugget, while also advertising the Big Boy Club, which granted members complimentary hamburgers and collectible items such as decoder cards and pin-back buttons. At its height, the comic's circulation approached three million copies.

Initiated by Manfred Bernhard and created by Timely Comics, the inaugural creative team included Sol Brodsky as manager, Stan Lee as writer, and artists Bill Everett, Brodsky, and Dan DeCarlo. DeCarlo remained the primary illustrator into the second year with Lee continuing as writer until 1961. Throughout its nearly 40-year run, other distinguished artists like Manny Stallman and Bob Bindig also contributed to the series.

Due to separate East Coast and West Coast Big Boy mascots, two distinct versions of the comic were produced until July 1969, when they consolidated into one edition featuring a standardized character design. In 1976, Shoney's launched its own series via Paragon Products that introduced a redesigned Big Boy and a new supporting cast; this iteration was adopted by JB’s and Azar’s franchises. After 75 issues, it transformed into Shoney's Fun and Adventure Magazine, expanding its target audience beyond just Big Boy patrons.

Following 466 issues over 39 years, the original comic was discontinued in 1996. Subsequently, Craig Yoe's Yoe! Studio was engaged to revive it as a magazine-format publication titled Big Boy Magazine, which ran for 63 issues before concluding in 2008. The comic series remains an integral element of Big Boy’s promotional legacy and brand engagement efforts.

Regional Franchises

<imagemap> File:Historic Big Boy Restaurant Franchisee Logos.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|alt=Historic Big Boy franchisee logos|Logos of historical Big Boy franchisees.
Franchise operators were mandated to display their own business name alongside the Big Boy brand and mascot. Many logos evolved from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s. Eat'n Park, Shoney's, and JB's are no longer connected to the brand. Logos for Adler's, Arnold's, Bud's, and Chez Chap are not available.

circle 206 83 42 #Bob's circle 77 177 32 #Abdows circle 162 177 32 #Azars circle 248 177 32 #Beckers circle 332 177 32 #Eat'n Park circle 73 264 31 #Elbys circle 160 264 36 #Elias Brothers circle 246 264 36 #Franklins circle 332 264 35 #Frejlachs circle 72 351 35 #Frischs circle 159 349 32 #JBs circle 245 349 31 #Kebos circle 332 351 33 #Kens circle 73 437 33 #Kips circle 159 436 36 #Lendys circle 245 437 32 #Leos circle 333 437 35 #Manners circle 73 522 31 #Marcs circle 159 523 33 #McDowells circle 245 523 32 #Mr Bs circle 333 523 32 #Shaps circle 76 610 31 #Shoneys circle 163 609 31 #Teds circle 249 609 31 #TJs circle 336 609 31 #Tops circle 74 696 32 #Totes circle 161 697 34 #Tunes circle 247 696 31 #Vips circle 334 696 34 #Yodas desc none </imagemap>Originally, the Big Boy brand identity—including concept, menu offerings, and mascot—was licensed to numerous regional franchise operators. Many early franchisees were established restaurateurs who incorporated "Big Boy" into their preexisting business names and menus, effectively forming a network of interconnected chains.

Customers often associate Big Boy with specific regional franchises such as Bob's Big Boy in California, Shoney's Big Boy throughout the Southern United States, Frisch's Big Boy in Ohio, Marc's Big Boy in the Upper Midwest, or Elias Brothers' Big Boy in Michigan.

Current franchising expenses

Big Boy Restaurant Group along with Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants continue to grant franchises within designated exclusive areas, typically under agreements lasting twenty years. As of 2023, the Big Boy Restaurant Group requires a franchise fee of $50,000, coupled with ongoing royalties of approximately four percent and advertising contributions up to three percent of gross sales. In Michigan, the fee structure varies, featuring reduced advertising charges but additional local marketing obligations. Frisch's Big Boy franchises demand fees ranging from $40,000 to $45,000, with continuous royalties set at four percent and advertising fees near two and a half percent.

In comparison, Shoney's Restaurants imposes a $35,000 franchise fee with comparable royalty and advertising percentages. The majority of Big Boy Restaurant Group’s outlets operate under franchising agreements, whereas Frisch's primarily manages company-owned locations. Importantly, Big Boy Restaurant Group mandates new franchise contracts rather than renewals.

Founding by Bob Wian

The origins of Big Boy trace back to 1936 when Bob Wian established Bob's Pantry in Glendale, California. Wian crafted a unique double-decker hamburger initially as a special request for a customer, which rapidly became popular. The sandwich’s memorable name inspired the restaurant’s rebranding to Bob's Big Boy.

The brand became widely recognized as "Bob's," "Bob's Drive-Ins," and most notably as Bob's Big Boy. National franchising was managed by Robert C. Wian Enterprises, which required franchisees to incorporate "Big Boy" in their names but did not mandate the use of Wian’s personal name.

In the late 1940s, Wian licensed operators such as Frisch's Big Boy in Cincinnati and Eat'n Park Big Boy in Pittsburgh to help establish a nationwide trademark presence. By 1951, under licensee Alex Schoenbaum of Shoney's, a formal franchise system was introduced. This development spurred growth during the 1950s drive-in restaurant surge. Franchisees were obligated to sell the Big Boy hamburger and combine their own brand with Big Boy branding, excluding the use of "Bob's."

Ownership by Marriott and Elias Brothers

Marriott Corporation acquired the Big Boy chain in 1967. Two decades later, in 1987, Elias Brothers—then a significant franchisee—purchased the chain from Marriott, moved the headquarters to Warren, Michigan, and operated it until filing for bankruptcy in 2000.

Big Boy Restaurants International era

Amid bankruptcy proceedings, investor Robert Liggett Jr. took ownership of the chain, renaming it Big Boy Restaurants International and maintaining its base in Warren. Liggett brokered a trademark agreement with Frisch's Restaurants that transferred rights for Kentucky, Indiana, most of Ohio, and Tennessee to Frisch's while Liggett gained control over other Frisch’s territories. This arrangement resulted in Frisch's and Big Boy Restaurant Group becoming independent co-owners of the Big Boy trademark.

Since then, the Michigan-based company has experienced a consistent reduction in franchised units—from roughly 175 locations in 2006 down to 76 by 2019. Between 2016 and 2018, several Michigan franchises either closed or exited due to sales to developers or non-renewal of franchise contracts. The final Detroit Big Boy location shuttered its doors in 2017. Likewise, the sole Illinois location independently rebranded that same year.

Company-operated restaurants have also ceased operations due to poor performance. Despite these setbacks, Big Boy welcomed a new franchisee in Woodhaven, Michigan early in 2018. Nonetheless, some sites encountered operational difficulties; for example, the Coldwater restaurant closed following health code violations and negative customer feedback.

This timeframe underscores the difficulties faced in preserving market share and expanding franchise operations amid evolving industry conditions and increased competition.

Big Boy Restaurant Group

In 2018, ownership of Big Boy transferred to investors from Michigan, leading to its rebranding as Big Boy Restaurant Group, with David Crawford appointed as chairman, CEO, and co-owner. In January 2020, Tamer Afr took over these leadership roles from Crawford. That same year, the company moved its corporate headquarters from Warren to Southfield, Michigan.

Big Boy broadened its footprint by collaborating with Terrible Herbst to enter the Southern Nevada market. The initial Nevada outlet launched in Indian Springs in November 2020, followed by a second location in the Centennial Hills area of Las Vegas in May 2022. This latter site operates as Big Boy Tavern and includes a bar alongside a small casino. In June 2021, Big Boy returned to Wisconsin with a new restaurant in Germantown and announced intentions to open more venues and deploy food trucks over the next three years.

The brand also tested a fast-casual model called Big Boy's Burgers and Shakes, which debuted in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, in 2016; however, this concept was discontinued by January 2020. In November 2020, the Sandusky, Michigan franchise lost its Big Boy affiliation after declining to follow state-mandated COVID-19 measures and now functions independently as Sandusky Family Diner.

June 2023 saw Big Boy introduce fast-food style outlets under the Bob's Big Boy banner in Farmington and Lansing, Michigan, focusing on streamlined service and a simplified menu.

On February 14, 2025, New Frisch’s—the proprietors of Frisch’s Big Boy—initiated legal action against Big Boy Restaurant Group for allegedly violating a 2001 contract by negotiating to reopen previously closed locations under the Big Boy name. In response, Big Boy Restaurant Group began launching new establishments in those sites using the "Dolly's Burgers and Shakes" brand.

Southeast Asia and Western Pacific locations

During the early 2000s, a franchise operated briefly with three Big Boy restaurants in Bangkok and one in Pattaya; however, it struggled as American-style cuisine did not resonate with Thai consumers at that time. The menu was adjusted to include German and Thai dishes, which shifted sales toward European and local flavors rather than traditional American fare. Interestingly, some Thai patrons viewed the Big Boy statues as objects of religious significance.

In 2019, Singapore-based Destination Eats secured a franchise agreement with Big Boy Restaurant Group to establish restaurants initially in Thailand, later extending into Australia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines. The first Thai Big Boy opened in Bangkok in May 2020 operating solely as a delivery service due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, followed by a second outlet launching in Pattaya in October 2020. Destination Eats has committed to opening seventy locations within its designated region.

External links

Official Big Boy company websites

Additional resources

The Elby's (Big Boy) Legacy. Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Roadside Peek: Big Boy Big Boy East Big Boy Japan
RoadsideArchitecture: Big Boy Frisch's Big Boy
Lendy's Web Pages
Armet & Davis architectural renderings for Bob's Big Boy for Azar's Big Boy for Frisch's Big Boy for Kip's Big Boy