Bob Wian also settled trademark infringements allowing the rogue operator to become a licensed franchisee, such as McDowell's Big Boy in North Dakota. Fields in Bold are required. "[90] If some disruption occurred at a restaurant, such as a new manager or renovation, Wian would postpone advertising until operations would return to his standards. Its corporate headquarters is in Detroit. get notified of new specials & promotions and get a FREE dessert! [22][23] Since 1956, the Wian "West Coast Big Boy" design was used exclusively by all franchisees other than Frisch's, Manners and Azar's. Movie fans who have never dined at Big Boy are probably still very familiar with the restaurant chain's iconic mascot. Each regional franchisee typically operated a central commissary which prepared or processed foods and sauces to be shipped fresh to their restaurants. With these funds, he bought a diner and named it Bob's Pantry. Arizona Big Boy Restaurants locations (1) California Big Boy Restaurants locations (10) Florida Big Boy Restaurants locations (3) Hawaii Big Boy Restaurants locations (1) Illinois Big Boy Restaurants locations (1) Transfer Agreement between The Liggett Restaurant Group and Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. "Big Boy Restaurant & Bakery/Frisch's Big Boy", Order of United States Patent and Trademark Office, Concurrent Use Proceeding Number 94002189, "Here's what's different about the Fountain Square Frisch's", "A Green Township Frisch's closes its doors", "Frisch's Restaurants Announces Transaction with Affiliate of NRD Partners I, L.P. at $34 Per Share", "Zensho Group: Big Boy, Hamburger Steak & Grill Restaurant", "Richard Woodruff Dies at 54; Model for 'Big Boy' Statues", "Bye-bye, Big Boy: Comic creator loses meal ticket", "Springtime is Big Boy time [advertisement]", "Now your enjoy the famous Parkette Foods in downtown Charleston [advertisement]", "Theory: Big Boy and the Power of Licensing- A Cautionary Tale", "How well do you remember Big Boy restaurants? Five years later, the name was changed to Big Boy Restaurants - only to be renamed three years later to what is now known as Shoney's. 1977: A New Era. View the Bob's Big Boy menu, read Bob's Big Boy reviews, and get Bob's Big Boy hours and directions. big boy food truck! Most adopted a common graphic design of menus and promotional items, offered by Big Boy but personalized to the franchise. The serial sometimes called "King of the Giveaways"[21][52] once had distribution estimated at three million copies. 989-269-9515. Location Data, Training The name "Bob's" would be used by all Marriott owned Big Boys and became common in parts of the eastern U.S. and elsewhere, far away from Bob's historic territory. That's because Big Boy is operated under different names in different parts of the country. Robert Liggett, Jr. (Chairman, 20002018). Oregon Big Boy Restaurants. Fill out the form below. In this sense it is confusing when referring to a chain, as each named franchisee was itself a chain and Big Boy could be considered a chain of chains. Ft.: 2,500 Rent: $7,609.00 Per Month Lease Expiration: 4/3/2034 Contact About the Sale . Second Store hits Nevada Skye Canyon has opened! directions. The "flagship" Kip's in OK and there was three more Kip's Big Boy units to follow Kip's #2 122 W main St. OKC, 24 hours, SW 59th St. at Western Ave. Kip's #3 , 205 W. Main St. OKC and 6805 SE 15th St. Midwest City, OK, now a Jimmy's Egg Restaurant. - Shap's", "Print ads in The Contest of the Century", "Graph of Shoney's net income since 1974; At Shoney's, details count", "Restaurateur, innovator and philanthropist Ted Fuller of Gregg's has died", "2 local Big Boys close; only 2 are left", "Corporation closes another TJ's Big Boy", "Tote's Home of the Big Boy New Restaurant Opening [Advertisement]", "Applications Now Being Taken (Help Wanted Advertisement)", "Levittown's Newest Citizen is here [Advertisement]", "Big Boy Restaurant Discontinues Operation", "Matchbook - Vip's Big Boy Hamburgers Cheyenne Torrington WY FULL", "VIP's officials announce sale of restaurants", "[Advertisement] Mady's Big Boy Turns Back the Clock on Food Prices! [34] A 2004 compromise allows the existing statue to remain with the words "Big Boy" removed from the figure's bib. "[89][80] He believed "the customer is always right" and instructed employees that, "if any food item is not satisfactory, return it cheerfully and apologize for the error". On the weekends, that same Bob's Big Boy even reverts back to a carhop, so customers can relive the drive-in days of old. Shoney's Catering With pickup or delivery available for breakfast, lunch or dinner, let Shoney's cater your next event, and bring the party to your place. Stock plans of restaurant designs were provided by Los Angeles architects Armet and Davis or Chicago architectural designer Robert O. Burton, and modified as needed. The inspiration for Big Boy's name, as well as the model for its mascot, was Richard Woodruff of Glendale, California. Frisch's Big Boy hamburgers are sold at two of the park's concession booths. Very quickly the Big Boy name and even the Big Boy character were being widely used without permission. [112] Franchises who resisted the change were forced to remove Kentucky Fried Chicken menu items and physically relocate those operations. [69] His fundamental restaurant principles were: "serve the best quality food, at moderate prices, in spotless surroundings, with courtesy and hospitality. Delligatti later admitted he was inspired by Big Boy, saying "This wasn't like discovering the light bulb. The restaurant appears in the film as the location where one of the characters works as a cook, and who is later convinced by Robert De Niro to join a group of bank robbers. [35] When a Brighton, Michigan franchise closed in early 2015 for financial reasons, zoning codes caused the entire signtopped with a rotating Big Boy statuebe taken down before the restaurant could be reopened. The hotel giant owned the restaurant company for the next 20 years. [13], Immediately after Liggett's purchase, Big Boy Restaurants Internationalthen known as Liggett Restaurant Enterprisesnegotiated an agreement with the other large franchise operator, Frisch's Restaurants. If you're craving something classic, they also have chicken nuggets and french fries. Service, Retail Store (Regardless, the Big Boy condiment used was often simply referred to as "special sauce" on menus chainwide.) "We decided that she's going to be the star of this sandwich as Big Boy was the star of his double-decker sandwich," Frank Alessandrini, Big Boy's director of training, said (via Wood TV). On menus from that period, it was called, "the Nationally Famous, Original DoubleDeck Hamburger". The monitor then responds, "In many ways, Bob's Big Boy never left, sir. [65][66] After 63 issues, the Big Boy Magazine was itself cancelled in 2008. Well, for one, it's been around in one form or another for a long time since the 1930s. 26300 Telegraph Rd # 102 He's always offered the same high-quality meals at competitive prices" (via YouTube). Big Boy may seem iconically American, but travel across the sea to Japan and you'll be able to dine at more than 270 Big Boy restaurants. Vip's Big Boy was not in Oklahoma, it was in New Mexico. Big Boy is a classic American hamburger restaurant, so much so that when The Beatles came to America in 1965 on a tour supporting their album Help!, they wound up eating at the Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, California. These days, Frisch's Big Boy restaurants are actually an independently run group of Big Boy restaurants. In 1952, Wian instituted a formal franchise process and Elias Brothers became the first such "official" franchisee paying Wian 1% of sales. ), In March 2017, Frisch's unveiled a restyled statue. When Marriott purchased Big Boy (Wian Enterprises) in 1967, this included Bob's Big Boy. We've grown a lot since our first location opened doors in 1947. [87], Big Boy offers breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, salads, dinner combinations, and various desserts. Trying to find a Bob's Big Boy? In February 1937, some local big band musicians, who were regular customers of Bob's Pantry, visited the restaurant. He relays this information to his commander, who exclaims, "Good God. In 2018, Big Boy was sold to a group of Michigan investors and renamed Big Boy Restaurant Group. Dave withdrew from school as a teenager to work full-time in his father's restaurant. Believe it or not, Lee and other comic book legends including Bill Everett, Sol Brodsky, and Dan DeCarlo all worked on The Adventures of Big Boy, which debuted in 1956. In the late 1960s, both characters were redrawn to appear similar, incorporating the checkered outfit, pompadour and hamburger above the raised arm from the West Coast design, and the running pose and direction of the East Coast design. Big Boy also operated (or planned to open) restaurants in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Brazil, the Philippines and Thailand. [265] The restaurants adapted the menu to local tastes. order online. Wian used a sesame seed bun while Frisch's used a plain bun and included pickles. "He was about 6 and rolls of fat protruded where his shirt and pants were designed to meet. Frisch's owns the rights to the Big Boy trademark and name in Kentucky and Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee, and in return gave Liggett Restaurant Enterprises LLC (the owner of Big Boy Restaurants LLC) their Big Boy franchise rights in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. What really turned Big Boy into a success was the Big Boy burger, which Bob Wian invented in 1937. Big Boy's mascot has become an iconic character in the fast-food industry and in doing so, has helped the chain remain in business for nearly a century. Big Boy restaurants were cobranded with at least 34 different names representing various franchisees. The oldest Big Boy restaurant in the country is Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, California, which was built in 1949. Before 1954, Parkette (Shoney's) used both versions, though never together. [21] The "West Coast Big Boy" mascot was revised, fiberglass statues molded, schemes created for menus and building designs, and a comic book for children launched. He was slimmer, wore a side cap, saddle shoes and striped overalls. The first Big Boy was opened up by founder Bob Wian in 1936. Monitoring, Location Full liquor license (transferable). * Open hours are not displayed here as it is too big to show on a Having reddish or blonde hair he was portrayed in a running pose. [269] Both properties have been sold to developers. Most popular Bob's Big Boy locations: Map: Show Map Prev 1 2 3 4 Next Are we missing your local Bob's Big Boy location? [285][286] In June 2021, it was reported that a Big Boy restaurant will open on July 14, 2021, in Germantown, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb. [251] In 1965 Bob Wian sued Mady's for trademark infringement but failed because (his) Big Boy was judged not widely known in Canada. The blonde-haired little girl first appeared in the "Adventures of the Big Boy" comic books back in the 1950s. View the Big Boy Restaurants menu, read Big Boy Restaurants reviews, and get Big Boy Restaurants hours and directions. Soon after news of Dolly's arrival came to light, the chain cleared up the confusion by tweeting, "Our Big Boy is just sharing the stage for a hot minute with his old pal Dolly.". Marc's Big Boy Express units were modeled on. fields Choose your state to find the nearest one or view the Big Boy Restaurants menu. Woodruff, who was only a child at the time, apparently loved Wian's double-decker hamburgers so much, he started doing chores for the restaurant, like sweeping the floors, in exchange for free burgers. However, as Glendale Councilwoman Ginger Bremberg said, his memory lives on. Location & Hours. for a long time only 6 remained . Big Boy might be synonymous to some with double-deck burgers, but for others, the restaurant brings to mind classic cars. Because many of the early franchisees were already in the restaurant business when joining Big Boy, "Big Boy" was added to the franchisee name just as the Big Boy hamburger was added to the franchisee's menu. 139 . You could be the first review for Big Boy's Burger Haus und Bar. The series features the iconic chubby Big Boy, as seen in the restaurant's logo and in its famous sculptures. But in other parts of the country, like the midwest, you grew up eating Frisch's Big Boy, and others may have found themselves at Abdow's Big Boy, Shoney's Big Boy, and more. 3.6 overall rating across This motivated a common Big Boy mark, derived with elements of both predecessors, (B) and (C). Customers would drive into the restaurant, and waiters would come out to the car to take their order. Big Boy Restaurant Locations in USA, Price Thank you! [71]:D4 Other than wait staff, employees typically started as dishwashers and busboys, and advanced to short-order cooks, and then possibly to management. only, we are not responsible for how it is used. You can download the full list of Big Boy Restaurant locations used for this analysis [note 12] The Big Boy hamburger originally called for a quarter pound (4ounces) of fresh ground beef, but later, franchisees were permitted to use frozen beef patties, and the minimum content reduced to a fifth of a pound to offset increasing food costs. The first one opened in 1936 in Glendale, California. 139. and Journalism, Web Scraping Great. [36] In contrast the planning commission in Norco, Californiaknown as Horsetown USAwas concerned that the statue was not western enough. Towards the end of that two-decade span, Big Boy began losing money. Well, actually, those scenes were filmed in Johnie's Broiler, a diner that was torn down in 2007. 900 N Van Dyke Rd, Bad Axe, MI 48413, USA, Big Boy, 2183 W Columbia Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49015, USA, 8510 W Grand River Rd, Brighton, MI 48116, USA, 12920 Brookpark Road, Brookpark, Ohio 44142, USA, 4211 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505, USA, 1310 S Mitchell St, Cadillac, MI 49601, USA, 13961 White Creek Ave NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319, USA, 16880 Hall Road, Clinton Township, MI, USA, 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241, USA, 1222 South U.S. 23, East Tawas, MI 48730, USA, 28340 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135, USA, Wisconsin Big Boy, N116W15841 Main Street, Germantown, WI 53022, USA, 11432 S Saginaw St, Grand Blanc, MI 48439, USA, 407 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USA, 1500 W Washington St, Greenville, MI 48838, USA, 20710 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe, MI 48236, USA, 10587 Highland Rd, Hartland, MI 48353, USA, 1949 S Cedar St, Imlay City, MI 48444, USA, 185 South Frontage Road, Indian Springs, NV 89018, USA, 4940 South Baldwin Road, Orion Township, MI, USA, 30460 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071, USA, 607 E Lake Shore Dr, Manistique, MI 49854, USA, 2555 Gratiot Boulevard, Marysville, MI 48040, USA, 1513 S Saginaw Rd, Midland, MI 48640, USA, 1720 E Sternberg Rd, Muskegon, MI 49444, USA, 29300 23 Mile Rd, New Baltimore, MI 48047, USA, 8876 Corbin Ave, Northridge, CA 91324, USA, 24th Avenue, Port Huron, Michigan 48060, USA, 90 E Tienken Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48306, USA, 3756 Rochester Rd, Oakland charter Township, MI 48306, USA, 9800 W Skye Canyon Park Dr, Las Vegas, Nevada 89166, USA, 26400 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, MI 48033, USA, 29700 Southfield Rd, Southfield, MI 48076, USA, 1408 South US 27, St Johns, MI 48879, USA, 10450 Telegraph Rd, Taylor, MI 48180, USA, 2701 E Monroe Rd, Tecumseh, MI 49286, USA, 3828 U.S. 31, Traverse City, MI 49684, USA, 7800 Granger Rd, Valley View, OH 44125, USA, 11587 Twelve Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48093, USA, 1180 W Superior St, Wayland, MI 49348, USA, 3366 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte, MI 48192, USA, 4950 Wilson Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49418, USA, Copyright 2022 Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC Listen to our CEO, Tamer Afr, in this interview! 54 Bob's Big Boy restaurants, born in Southern California before covering the nation under different names, led the way in restaurant architecture and gave us the double-decker hamburger. Evil cryogenically freezes himself before launching into outer space inside a giant Big Boy statue that's been transformed into a rocket. Add a store to let us know about it. Nonetheless, in the late 1960s and 1970s, Bob's, Shoney's and JB's also opened Big Boy Jr. stores, designed as fast food operations which offered a limited menu. [257][258] Like Frisch, Big Boy Japan operates independently of the Big Boy Restaurant Group. Unlike other comics that came under fire for featuring violence or that were censored by the Comics Code Authority, the Big Boy comic series was thought to be a wholesome, family-friendly option, perhaps one of the reasons why The Adventures of Big Boy comic was awas a hit for so many years. "Mega Burgers and Much More YUM So, she's taken the forefront right now. ", "Frisch's Big Boy Loses His Checkered Pants", "Rare Ceramic Big Boy Figural Salt & Pepper Shakers from the 1950s/1960s", "Big Boy Pewter Figurine Statue Collector Series #2 Ltd Ed of 500 "1956", "Inflatable Mascot for Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants - Landmark Creations", "End of an Era for King of the Giveaways", "After 40 years, remembering the enchanted era of Eat'n Park", "Marvel Mysteries and Comics Minutiae: Sol Brodsky, Big Boy and Marvel's Unknown 1960s comics (Updated)", "The Humble History of The Adventures of Big Boy", "Big Boy cartoonist Manny Stallman dies here at 70", "Adventures of the Big Boy Cover Gallery", "1977 Big Boy Restaurants comic book ADVENTURES OF THE BIG BOY #237 comics MLK", "Oldest and Biggest Comic Book Turning 25", "Restaurant icon Big Boy shrinks from competition", "Big Boy Magazine, YOE Studio!, 1997 Series", "From Dishwasher to Owner of Chain of Restaurants Is the Story of Bob Wian", "Big Boy's original Bob takes it easy in Newport", "Vintage famous Bob's Big Boy menu 1938 Burbank CA | #42474613", "The Big Mac: Americana on a sesame-seed bun", "Burger Chef has something big for big appetites. Suggest an edit. [16] Frisch's operates or franchises 84 Big Boy restaurants in the United States. [6][2] The company is the operator or franchisor for 66 Big Boy restaurants in the United States[12] and two in Thailand. CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Frisch's Big Boy says it will permanently close several of its restaurants in Ohio and Kentucky due to the impact of the pandemic. a random sample of 10 records for you to look at the [270] The Tecumseh[273] and Alma, Michigan[274] restaurants announced they will allow their franchise agreements to expire on November 1, 2017, and early 2018, respectively, and both will continue to operate independently. Book the big boy food truck! . But if you've ever tried to reminisce about your days at the Big Boy with someone from another part of the country, both of you probably got confused, and fast. In fact, its architecture, along with its 35-foot-tall neon sign, are so iconic that the Burbank Bob's Big Boy was declared an official historical landmark by the California Office of Historic Preservation in 1992. There are 64 Big Boy Restaurant locations in the United States as of January 27, 2023. Have no fear; weve compiled a list of all the Big Boy Restaurants locations. [294][295], This article is about the general history of the Big Boy restaurant chain, including Big Boy Restaurant Group. The name will always be Big Boy but as far as the logo, she's leading the charge and we'll see when he comes back if he does. [192] During the mid to late 1980's there was one in Nassau, Bahamas. Intelligence, Robotic He soon realized that he was actually interested in how the restaurant was run, and began formulating a plan to open up his own restaurant one day. He's back!" [42] (The restaurant was rebuilt in 2016, and no longer displays the modified statue. [56][52][57][note 5] DeCarlo continued drawing in the second year and Lee writing the series through 1961. [118] Franchisees were permitted to subfranchise; these early subfranchisees often used their own name and operated independently: Frisch's licensed Azar's, and Manners; Shoney's licensed Adler's, Arnold's, Becker's, Elby's, Lendy's, Shap's, Tune's, and Yoda's. Big Boy, 2183 W Columbia Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49015, USA. The . 20, 2020 at 6:07 PM PDT. Frisch's Big Boy will permanently close seven of its restaurants, including the new downtown Cincinnati Carew Tower location. It offers a unique dining experience with its tasting menu and excellent service. Big Boy Japan may feature the same chubby Big Boy mascot, but the restaurants are actually run independently of the Big Boy restaurants in the US, as franchises. With its "Googie" architecture, embrace of car culture, and of course its hamburgers, Big Boy was just the place. The land was then acquired by Big Boy, and they rebuilt the diner almost exactly as it was, using the original building plans from 1958 and using salvaged materials from the original diner. Hey there trendsetter! [8]:11 The restaurants became known as "Bob's", "Bob's Drive-Ins",[9][10][note 1] "Bob's, Home of the Big Boy Hamburger",[10] and (commonly as) Bob's Big Boy. One Big Boy franchisee tried to mitigate that impact, but lost his "Big Boy" rights along the way. Download the complete database of The only thing that could make your double-deck cheeseburger from Big Boy taste any better is getting an understanding of the history of the man who made it all possible, and of the company that just won't quit. Big Boy Restaurants in 43614 at 3535 Heatherdowns Blvd. Big Boy developed named franchisees in several ways. Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC 26300 Telegraph Road Southfield, MI 48033 Email us comments@bigboy.com (248) 448-9800 Many sources mistakenly report that Shoney's began in 1959 because Ray Danner became a Shoney's Big Boy franchisee in 1959 and he is assumed to be the founder. In November of 2020, as COVID-19 infections spiked across Michigan, the state ordered all restaurants and bars to close. The hamburger remained a part of the Frisch's East Coast statues, though the slingshot was eliminated from the figure's back pocket. [11] Wian said he had five basic rules for building his business: "be a good place to work for, sell to, buy from, and invest in. [119][120] (An eastern Pennsylvania Elby's franchisee briefly operated as Franklin's Big Boy before dropping Big Boy.). 29700 Southfield Rd Southfield, Michigan 48076 $13.59. do Although Marriott had given up its franchise stores, it held on to its company-owned Big Boy restaurants, which at the time totaled 208. . [33] The early statues always included the Big Boy hamburger above mascot's raised right arm; much later versions eliminated the hamburger with both arms clutching the suspenders instead. Franklin's continued to advertise the Big Boy hamburger and mascotnow with "Franklin's" on the mascot's chef haton March 15, 1977. big boy imlay city, mi < Back to Locations Back to Locations The new statue resembles the West Coast design but wears striped overalls like the original East Coast Big Boy. 26300 Telegraph Rd # 102 Other scenes in the movie were filmed at a different Big Boy, in Downey, California. When Wian's double-deck hamburger took off, he didn't have an official name for it yet. provide. Like the Golden Arches of McDonald's or the shining bell of Taco Bell, the statues outside of Big Boy restaurants, featuring a chubby little boy in overalls holding a plate with a hamburger on it, are something of a fast food icon, with more than 70 percent national marketplace recognition, meaning that seven in 10 people know what you're talking about when you bring up Big Boy. Find a Big Boy Restaurants near you or see all Big Boy Restaurants locations. Friedberger Str. Movies including Short Cuts, Bounce, What's Love Got to Do With It, Unstrung Heroes, and Reality Bites, and an episode of the television show Mad Men, were filmed at the Big Boy in Downey, California too. [58][note 6] For 17 years, starting in the mid-1970s, Manny Stallman drew the (Marriott) series,[59] followed by Bob Bindig who drew the series until 1995. The Big Boy trademarks in Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee transferred to Frisch's ownership; all other Frisch's territories transferred to Liggett. [9][98][99][100] However, some items might be prepared at the restaurants daily, such as soups and breading of seafood and onion rings. [254], Outside of North America, Big Boy Japan owns and operates 274 Big Boy Hamburger Steak & Grill Restaurants in Japan. Chicken Club + Chicken Cordon Bleu + Sunrise Ham & CHeddar. Southfield, MI 48033, privacy policy | terms & conditions | accessibility. [117] These mega franchisees paid practically no fees, e.g., Frisch paid $1 per year for its core four state territory. In 1915, Samuel opened Frisch's Stag Lunch in Norwood, a suburb of Cincinnati. 1. [52][note 9], In 1996, after 39 years and 466 issues,[64] Big Boy cancelled the comic book and hired Craig Yoe's Yoe! [51], Adventures of the Big Boy (initially The Adventures of Big Boy) was a promotional comic book given free to children visiting the restaurants. [note 8] Contracted to Paragon Products, this version featured an older, leaner Big Boy, with his siblings Katie and Tripp replacing Dolly and Nugget,[52] and was adopted by the JB's and Azar's Big Boy franchises. If you want to get an idea of what it was like to eat at one of the original Big Boy's, you can head to this still-standing location. [note 10] Bob Wian improvised, creating the first (then unnamed) Big Boy, intending the thing "look ridiculous, like a leaning tower". Streetsboro Big Boy Restaurants. The Los Angeles Conservancy says that Bob's Big Boy has a transitional style, and that's one of the things that makes it such a special building. Sadly, Woodruff passed away in 1986 at the age of 54 after a long illness. of 8' X 18', 8 mounted TVs, moving heads as light show and a large sound system for any occasion. What set this restaurant apart from other burger-and-fry joints? All, including Bob's, remain in operation today, albeit Elias Brothers is simply known as Big Boy, and Eat'n Park and Shoney's dropped Big Boy affiliation in the 1970s and 1980s. Differences between the East and West Coast designs, including the statues, created confusion along the Ohio-Michigan border where Frisch's and Elias Brothers operated. not "Big Boy" wasn't written on the chest of the East Coast mascot. To conform with Gaylord, Michigan's Alpine theme, the local restaurant's statue previously wore a green Tyrolean hat. I was so amused by the youngsterjolly, healthy-looking and obviously a lover of good things to eat, I called him Big Boy," he said.